7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to full product?

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6. What have you learnt about technologies when constructing this product?

Cameras;
To take my images I have used both Nikon d40 and Panasonic Lumix TZ10 cameras. When using these cameras I found the Lumix easier as it is a simpler design, however the Nikon took better quality photos. When taking photographs I found that the direction of the models eyes completely changes the look of an image e.g the cover's main image shows the female models eyes looking out, almost catching the readers eye.

Computers/ Laptop;
I used the school computers and a Toshiba laptop to create my coursework. I used these for researching my target audience, music genre, and magazine stylisation. I didn't learn anything new about these machines during this task, however I did learn a lot about the programs I've used on the computers.



Photoshop Elements;

I used this program to edit all my photographs, I learnt how to cut out accurately using the magnetic lasso tool, alter sizes (for example cover models lips) using the liquefy tool and remove any blemishes with the spot healing tool. All my pages were created on photoshop as you can layer all elements of the pages over each other. I have learnt a lot about this program as I had very little knowledge on this program.




Blogger;
I documented all stages of my coursework processes on Blogger, I posted each stage of research, drafting, final pieces and evaluating. This is my first blog and I have learnt how to use it during this course.


Scribd;
I used Scribd to post any longer written documents onto my
blog e.g my double page spread article. I hadn't used this website before this course.

Slide Share;
I used slide share to post any power point presentations onto my blog. I learnt how to use this website during this course and found it really useful as powerpoint presentations are an efficient way of showing information.

Animoto;
I uses animoto in my research to show images in a more interesting way then just listing. I also learnt how to use this website during this course as I had little knowledge on these websites before.

5. How did you attract/address your audience?

4. Who would be the audience for your media product?

Q4. media powerpoint.

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2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?

 

Both bands that i'm comparing my band (centre) too have a mixed sex group. The XX (top) have both a male and a female on vocals but there is also other members who are on instruments and technical sides. This is similar to Passonfontaine as they will apeal to both sexes equally. It's also good to have the variation as each gender brings differents qualitys and sounds of voice. Their style in music is similar to that of my band showing that they'll have similar audiences.

The photograph style is very similar with all 3 photos, all midshot on a blank background then idited to give an 'indie' feel. The bands styles are very different, The ting tings don't seem to be that fashionable, they're miss matched and would not appeal to the DRONE magazine audience. The XX look stylish but gothic. Although the music is similar to Passonfrontaine's (centre) their style is different, however although gothic they still have the alternative edge, thus appealing to the DRONE mgazine audience.

The Ting Tings (bottom) consist of just one male and one female which is the same as mine, this is quite unusual to find as they appeal to both audiences equally. However although the members sex is the same they're genre is more pop could be seen as more girly than Passonfrontaine. The audiences would be different down to the differences in genre and style. I liked the idea of a mixed sex band as it goes against the stereotype 'Girlbands' and 'Boybands'.

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? (i.e. of music magazines)

1. Magazine Title.

       For the masthead of my magazine 'DRONE' I used Blackout Midnight Font taken from AbstractFonts.com. The font uses block letters making it look bold and stand out from other magzine fronts. I used the DRONE as a motif throughout to link the pages together. I chose this font as it's pretty different from other magazines and suits the word, 'DRONE' as its a short punchy word. This is similar to the already exsisting mazing 'I LOVE FAKE' and 'INDIE' as both fonts are bold and block capitals.

          The white 'DRONE' masthead is similar to the 'INDIE' magazine I think this looks good and works well with the green tinted background. However, although the white looks good is doesn't stand out as clear as the black. This challenges the conventional magazine traits of having a bright title that stands out. The black 'DRONE' is similar to the style model 'I LOVE FAKE' I like the oidea of used a symbol in the title hoever it restricts the audience as male reader are less likely to buy a magazine with a heart on it.

2. Graphology & Page Layout.

      I wanted to keep the layout simple and the style of graphology similar throughout, using the saturation, hue's, contrast, sharpness and a few filters to create an 'indie' style of photograph. I've used this style throughout to link all pages together. the simplicity of the cover and other pages goes agaisnt the commersial magazines that are available. These commercial magazines use lots of colours and coverlines to grab the readers attention, whereas 'DRONE' magazine uses mainly the masthead and main image to get attention from the readers. 

3. Costumes, style and iconography.

 I have ensured that my models are wearing clothes suited to the genre of magazine. My genre is 'Indie/Alternative' so the top buttoned shirts and Barbour Jacket give an authentic feel to the magazine. Although I have used quite a cliche pose of two models on a black wall, the poses look natural and not forced as some magazines of this style do.

4. Camera Work and Framing
The angle of shots I've used is striaght on mid shots and a side angle mid-shot. I wanted to use shots similar to that of my style models i.e INDIE and I LOVE FAKE magazine, they show the models facial expression well and style. Their look is important as magazine audience focus on appearance so I needed to make sure they looked the part and the photostyle was sorrect. I used a 35mm frame around the photos to give them a film camera feel, and look authentic.

5. Fonts.
The 'PASSONFONTAINE' title uses an impact label from which looks as though it's been stamped onto the cover. This style of font works with the image as the image looks abit like a mugshot fitting in with the stamped font. The text of the article and contents is clear but not boring making the text easy to read but appropriate.

6. How written content represents genre.
The written content in the article represents genre by using an informal interview technique, there is not set questions and answer to avoid being boring and the taboo language shows the interview is interesting and relaxed. This is similar to magazines such a 'Vice' and 'i-D' who write real stories rather than forced questions.

7. How my Artists are represented.
 On the cover the band are shown face on, the image shows their style, it is important that the band have the correct characteristics for the 'indie' genre as it's widely based on appearance. If they don't look the part the readers won't be interested in reading about them. The artist shown in the contents also has this 'indie' style about her, this ensures authentisity throughout pages and makes the reader want to see whats on other pages not just whats on the cover. The double page spread shows the featured band. Again it shows the 'indie' 'alternative' style which will ensure the audience will want to read on. The quotes taken from the interview use taboo language and humerous anecdotes. This give the impression to the reader that the band are funny, interesting and will be enjoyable to read about. By showing this side of the band initially it will make sure the readers are interested enough to choose to read the entire article.

Double Page Spread Final

Contants Final

Front Cover (black masthead)

Front Cover

Contents final

Contents Page Photo

First Edit

Contents Photograph Location- Examples

Progress File

        I need to rethink my photograph choices in my magazine, The front and main article will be of the band, in my drafts I have used different female models which I will obviously change to make sure they're the same. The contents I will use a photograph of a different band/singer that is featured in my magazine, this will mean I will have to add their name into my list on the contents page. 

       I was originally was planning on using a photograph of either 'The Vaccines', 'Everything Everything', or 'Crystal Castles' as I recently went to see them. However, when it came down to taking a good photograph it seemed to be impossible as the crowd was fairly rowdy. As a result of this I will have to use another model, I plan to take these photos in half term. I'd like to use a background of a corrugated shop front shutter to add some variation to my photos rather then just a plain background. The location I will use is on Greencres Drive in Lutterworth as there is a large shop front which would be perfect for the shoot and backdrop.

Draft Article

Passonfontaine article

Double Page Spread Draft

          This draft is of the double page spread, I'm quite pleased with how it's turned out, however, it definitely needs some editing with pull quotes, fonts, and overall layout. I like this picture for the spread, although I might need to take a couple more to add in to add extra cutting out skills.

Contents Draft

        The first draft of my contents page, i'd like to perhaps use a different phot, so that I can include photos of other bands/models in my work. I'd like to change the colours slightly for ym final one, and perhaps work on using a differnent font. It is completely different to my mock up as I decided I wasn't sure about th layout, if I have enough time I will maybe create a second draft using the layout of my mock up, to see if it works.

Photo Effects

      This is a photograph of the female model used in my magazine that I took in 2009, I'd like to use in it the DPS as a 'photo from their past', I think this will make the band look authentic showing them in their early stages of fame. I'd like to edit it into a Polaroid style picture so it looks as if its been stuck or pinned in, similar to s scrapbook-esque style.

  
Below I have used a 'Leak' filter to make it look aged, as I have used on a previous post of a photo of Alice Glass. I don't think it works that well as the orange is too solid and bold causing the effect to be fake and tacky rather then authenticity.

Progress File

      On Tuesday I took a few more test shots using a different girl but same male model. These were quite rushed but I managed to get one or two suitable ones. In the next week or week during half term I plan to take more photos to see if any can be improved. In the photo session of Tuesday I used a borrowed camera as it was a better quality of my own however it ran out of battery quite quickly resulting in not as many photos as i would have hoped. I couldn't recharge the battery as it needs other equiptment.
      I will upload these photos to my blog in a post using Flickr is possible as it makes uplaoding a large amount of photos easier.

Draft one

      This is a first stage draft for my magazine cover. I think i need to add more coverlines however It could distract from the image in which case I'll use a different photo for my other drafts and final. After uploading it's apparent that the white cover line 'Ooo so alternaive' needs to be in a darker colour to be visible to the reader. I like the white font in the bottom right however, the texts part over the image giving it a dark background enabling the white to stand out. I wanted to keep the magazine cover simple however I need to use coverlines as it is a new magazine and needs to show what the genre/features/and bands featured are in order for people to choose it of the shelf. I like the 'impact label' font used to show the bands name 'Passonfontaine' I think it works well as the image has a 'mugshot' style look to it and the name stamped across then image fits in with the style.

New Mock up

I have decided to use this cover as my mock-up. This means that I can use my previous one, which includes my own photograph, as my draft as I don't think I need to redo too much to it do make it my draft.

I like the neutral tones contrasting with the stamp label font which is bold. In my magazine i'll cut out the letters in the title so there is no white band across the top.

Progress File

      So far i have finished my quick mock-ups using one of the few test shots i've taken and a few photos of the internet. I need to take more test shots to create different looks etc. i'm using Pat and Grace as my models as they have quite contemporary looks/hair styles and I can dress them to suit the genre. I'm working on my article at the moment and will finish it in the next lesson. Once that is completed I can finish my drafts which i'm also currently working on. I will use different photos in my final magazine cover, contents and DPS to the ones used in my drafts as I will ahve time to improve and change the pages.

Sergio Santos

       Santos is a Portugese photographer, I really like his style of photography the close ups and brightness of image. It relates to my magazine as its high fashin quite quirky images. I'd love to use a similar style for my cover. To create i'd use a contrast that causes the colours to stand out, but lover the opacity to give a muted feel.

DPS mock up

        This is a very quick mock up, giving a rough outline of how I will set out my double page spread, the draft with incule the actual article, title and subtitle. I wanted to have my background as a whole photograph as I've shown here however, it culd distract from the text. In that case I'll use a photo that has the models towards one side so the text can go over the plan blank part of the image. I like havibng the title take up one of the pages so the actual article takes up only one of the page, making it looks liss of a daunting text to read. I would like to use a 'poleroid' style photo, a bands personal photo that the magzine have been allowed to put in the magazine ,aking it look authentic. If I do I'll take photos of masking tape that i can cut out on photoshop and place at the edge og the 'poleroid' to give a sellotaped in scapboking type theme.

       I'll also add the 'DRONE' logo/title to the top og the page corners, to keep the magazine consistant.

Band Inspiration

These videos fit with my magazine theme, the music genre of 'drone' from Kraftwerk relates to the magazine title. The others fit with the modern/quirky style, the artists are pretty 'alternative' similar to the 'fashion' elements of my magazine.

Band Profile

Band Profile
Name: Passonfontaine
Music Style: Guitar, Synths, Vocal, Indie Alternatives.
Influences: Alernative- The xx, Passion Pit, James Blake.
                 Drone- Kraftwerk,
Members: Female vocalist- vocals similar to Florence Welch, Alice Glass, haunting, distorted voice.
                Male Guitarist, Vocals: James Blake style, repeated riffs, hooks.
                Male Synthesist: Works on synthesisers, reminiscent of Passion Pit and Krafwerks sound.

Cover-
 (Only two menbers on frot to avoid over crowding)
Style: Female: Dark eye make-up, dishevilled hair, fringe, red lips, buttoned up shirt.
         Male 1: Hat, t-shirt, denim jacket over tee.
         Male 2: Glasses, tshirt, black hoody worn open, scruffy hair.

                        

Contents Ideas

             
                  I had a go at making the first mock up of contents, I like the transparentcy however i need to finalise on what fonts to use. Ideally I would like to get a picture of a band from The NME Tour 2011 to use as a background as they will look authentic.

Mock up Front cover

Mock up with bar code price and coverlines. On my draft i'll add more coverlines and change the image.

Leaked Filter

           This picture of Alice Glass that I found on google shows an example fo the filter i'd like to use on me main image in the contents page. I'm planning to get a picture of Alice Glass or The Vaccines performing to use as my image in the contents, I'll apply this filter to the photo, I like the effect it gives making the photo an aged look like a photograph from a film camera.

Featured Artist's name

As i'm using more then one person on my cover, the main article will be about a band.
I have some ideas as to what to call the bandhere is a selection and then my final
choice. The names need to sound like 'indie' bands to fit with the genre, names
like 'Girls Aloud' or 'Mcfly' sound too poppy.

• Passonfontaine
• Vincent and the Grenadines
• Crime in Chicago
• Funpal
• State of Arms 

To be featured in the magazine the band will need to have released singles, I have come up
with some names for these and will chose a couple to be mention in the article. I don't
want these songs to sound cliche, like some of the songs around today which are about
'sexy girls' or how much they're in love.

• Overtow
• Thales
• Penny Domain
• Drawing Tool
• State
• Place of Home
• Moses Town
• Fournier
• Cistercian nuns
• Cryptography

Possible album/EP titles;

• Astoria Heights
• Luneray
• Helicodonta
• Wasteside Orchard
• Jalien

            

First Stage mock up

First stage of the mock up, when completed I'll do two covers; one with the title coverd (like above) and one with the title over the image. This is a test shot, I will probably use different people as my models, and use different filters so the image is less grainy.

Photo style

I think this style of image looks relly effective on the front of a magazine, the muted colours and neutral background make the models stand out and colours work together.

Fonts

Fonts for the titles or coverlines on the double page spread or front cover, all are bold and stand out, the scrabble font I would need to take a photo of the actual letters to cut out on photoshop and use.

Magazine Title

                   I have decided to call my magazine 'DRONE(S)', I'm currently undecided as to add the 'S' or not. I originally was going to call it 'tones' because it's linked to sounds and music, however changed my mind as that seemed a little boring. I chose this title because it describes some of the music these days which drones on and on, the title could be mocking the type of mainstream music that will not included in the magazine.
                  I chose this font because of its boldness, it looks like a statement which links in with the theme of magazine; making a statement with the music featured and style showed on the cover.

                    I've chosen these colour as i think the simpler the better in cases where the main photo in taking centre stage. The pastel colours show what colours I'd like to use mostly in the image which the black or bold colours used on the title and coverlines and perhaps splashes shown in the photograph. I want to keep my magazine sophisticated but not boring, using pale colour could make the frontcover seem dull, but using interesting people in the image and bold coverlines should keep people interested. These are not finalised as of yet, but a rough idea of what colours could be used/look good together.

Moodboard - Animoto

Pease watch on mute as I am unsure what music I have added due too lack of headphones.

Magazine Pitch

25 word presentation

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Moodboard