Evaluation 7:Looking back to your preliminary task,what do you feel that you have learnt in the progression from it to the final product

Looking back I can clearly see a difference in the quality of work between my college magazine and my final music magazine pages. This is due to the growth and understanding I have gained throughout the past months as I've research and discuss the ideals and purposes behind the conventions in a magazine and so because of this I have been influenced by existing magazines. Over the past months I have learnt to understand why conventions are a necessity within magazines as well as most forms of media for example sell lines mastheads and sell date are an important way to attract and give information to the consumer.

Due to this I also learnt about the importance of placement and layout of the page making it easy and comfortable for the viewer to read and locate information on the page.This was an incredibly important part of production for my music magazine as I wanted to attract a younger target audience therefore I used a more refined approach  

Evaluation 6:what have I learnt from the different technologies I have used throughout the course of making my product

Evaluation 5:How did you attract/address your audience

Evaluation 4:Who would be the target audience for your media product

Evaluation 3: what kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Evaluation 2: how does your media product represent particular social groups

Evaluation 1:In what ways does your media product develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

A pod-cast discussing how my media product develops or challenge forms and conventions of real media products with two of my fellow media classmates.

Final Double page spread

Final Contents page

Front cover Draft 3

In this draft I used a variety of different tools and techniques in the Photoshop program from merging layers to editing photographs. this draft strong expresses key themes in modern rock by conforming as well as challenge in stereotypes and conventions associated with rock, An example of this could be the stereotype of male dominance within the rock community Yet this front cover "smash's" these connotations through the use of font, layout , colour and photography.Personally I believe that this is a strong front cover as it demonstrates some conventions however it can be improved with the inclusion of more sell lines and conventions necessary in magazines during today's society due to high competition with other magazine producers.

Final front cover

Feedback at the Oscars.

At an Oscars evening held at Saint Bonaventures comprehensive school I was asked to present my work to numerous people and student who where unfamiliar with this course and so I asked asked them a number of question an example of which was "can you clearly see what type of magazine this is and who do you think it is aimed at". I found the evening to be extremely beneficial as I could talk to my target audience face to face and receive a combination of positive and constructive feed back which I could then use to understand what changes needed to be done in order to improve my product and so that's exactly what I did by collecting as much constructive feedback as I could so that I, the producer could give the target audience what they wanted from a magazine aimed towards them and how it would draw in there attentions by expressing the convention of rock by creating something new and exciting unlike any rock magazine.

Double page spread Draft #3

This draft is a greater improvement as it highlights the models importance,this is done by using big bold typography in order to convey her as being a very important individual reflecting on idea that rock is has an extremely load and in your face persona.

Double page spread Draft #2

I decide to make changes to this page in order to retain a strong house style to express ownership of the article to show to the audience that they are reading exclusive news and cannot find this information anywhere else.This also helps to maintain the colour pallet expressing themes of danger within rock this is done through the careful use of the colour red rather than using a colour pallet of greens.

Double page spread Draft#1

Using what I had learnt from In-design I was now able to develop my skills with the program and practice techniques in which i was able to distort text and indent letter. However I do feel as though this page is weak as it has few conventions and losses the house style that was featured in the two previous pages.

Contents page Draft #3

Using a program known as adobe in design I was capable of added and manipulating text in order to present the contents of my magazine in a refined manor making it easier to navigate around the page by using this program I was also able to line up text therefore giving this page a high quality finish, However it can be argued that the text maybe be hard to identify so I intend to resolve this problem.

Contents page Draft #2

By changing the format in which my contents  page was presented I have know made it easier for the reader to understand and locate information on the page (although there is not any on it at the moment). I have also chosen new images to be featured in this page as they suit the page more by demonstrating some conventions of rock through the clothing of the models.Another feature I have included is the replacement of contents with a far more memorable title "The Crack" as this will help to draw in the reader curiosity, this is also joined by rock iconography through the smashed class logo as symbolism of danger and give the page a sense of belonging to "Smash" magazine.

Contents page Draft #1

This Draft closely follows the format of contents pages seen in magazines such as 'Q'.Personally I find this draft to be weak as it is missing conventions to make the genre clear. it is also missing in the quality of how the pictures are presented to the audience, likewise with the text as it is not in line therefore no page border can be defined and finally there is no information highlighting the text thus the reader will be unaware of what articles are about.

Front cover Draft 2.

Here the strong improvement in typography allows the reader to clear identify who the cover story is about as well as this by using the 'quick select' tool in adobe Photoshop I was capable of cutting around the models head in order to bring it forward creating a more successful layout, thus breaking down the forth wall successfully building a relation ship between the reader and the model.

Front cover Draft 1.

This draft represents the connotations of the Rock genre expressing violence and Power through the use of the Posse of the model as she swing the guitar towards the viewer as well as making eye contact with them breaking the forth wall.This Front cover was created using Photoshop software. This front cover needs more work on photo manipulation in order to bring out the most in the photo and well as this I feel as though some of the fonts are weak and do not express the magazine as being one of a rock genre.

Double page spread sketch.

Although this sketch may not seem like much it demonstrates what is needed in my double page spread by showing me where my main articles will be laid out and what I can do in order to capture the audiences attention. By comparing my sketch to that of a real double page spread I can see how I must editing and manipulate the text to attract and interest the reader, therefore making an impact on them and allowing me to express themes of rock though the use of text and different font styles. 

Contents page sketch.

Above is a layout of how I wish to set up my contents page borrowing ideas from magazines such a 'Q' this layout will allow me to easily display the content within my magazine to my audience in order to provide a magazine that is easily to read and to use efficiently. This is especially important to me as "smash" focus' on the reader and their viewers and options  on the ever changing rock community.By having a similar layout to that of 'Q' my audience will be familiar in the positioning of the content page and thus find it an easy transition to switch between magazines and so it will not bother readers if they are already familiar with the layout.

Front cover sketch.

Here is a sketch of what I am planning the front cover of "smash." magazine to look like, hopefully it will fully express the connotations of rock I am trying to convey to my target audience. This will be done through the preparation and practice I have forgone in order to develop my skills using different styles of technology such as Photoshop as well as photography and also knowledge about the genre known as rock  in order to successfully depict the ideology and connotes surrounding rock. By comparing this sketch to one of  'NME's' front covers i can see how to two would differ and express different connotations of rock and so by doing this I can understand what may need to be added to my front cover when I begin production on Photoshop.

Photo-shoot.3

Within this photo-shoot the themes of rock are express with the use of wide shots in which the worn brick wall can clearly be seen conveying ideas of instability and the dangerous nature of rock and yet the model is leaning against it demonstrating his lack of fear and carelessness. This is also depicted by the camera angles in which no tripod was use in order to amplify connotations of danger.By exploring this new method of using a camera i feel as though my skills have improved yet again by demonstrating a variety of camera shots/angles expressing different themes within my genre.

Photo-shoot.2

Again, by closely following my photo-shoot plan i was successfully capable of capturing the connotations of rock, using different camera shots and angles (mainly close ups) in order to capture the expressions on the models face emphasising and magnifying his attitude as being one who lives a rebellious and unpredictable lifestyle therefore interesting the reader and drawing there attention towards him causing them to continue reading. This is also highlighting through the use of direct eye contact as the model gazes towards the reader creating a connection between them thus breaking down the forth wall.

Photo-shoot.1

The above images are a combination of outcomes from a Photo-shot using a screen as a Background along with lighting in order to produce high quality photos for the magazine. Props included in the photo- shoot include a guitar and wardrobe representing themes within the Rock genre giving my model a rebellious nature in the eyes of the viewer as she hurls the guitar downwards towards the floor. These images demonstrates the development in my skill when using a camera. Through the use of various camera shots/angles I have been able to capture a variety of connotations surrounding the genre of rock , This was successfully done by following my photo-shoot plan in which i discussed the reasons for the specific location, model, props, costume, shots and body language.

Fonts I'm planning  to use.

In order to support my magazine i chose many different fonts and express how they would benefit the different connotations I was trying to explore ,this was done using a website called 1001fonts.com I have collected a number of fonts(shown above) that could be used for many different purposes within my magazine for example catching the eyes of a passer-by to making a bold statement and so will make my magazine stand out from the crowd and appeal to my target audience of individualist’s. I will most likely use different fonts numerous times throughout the magazines in order to appeal to the reader highlighting key events and information. The key themes i will use the fonts to express will be of danger and rebellion as they reflect the nature of rock and its attitude, this will convey the genre clearly to the audience.The fonts used in my magazine will be cultural in the success of the pages as they will ether strike out a capture the audience or be easily passed by due to soft text that fails to make an impression and so because of this i will use a sans serif style font which will have an extremely large effect on the audience reflecting iconography within the genre as being load and 'in your face'.Thus making it difficult for my magazine to be easily passed by thus making the magazine more successful in showcasing the depictions on rock.

Kuler

After my experience in creating my college magazines i now understand that a colour scheme is a great way too produce a successful peace of work rather than using a uncoordinated set of colours Therefore I decided that using kuler.adobe.com would be the best way for me to improve the quality of my work by using a set of colours that work well together and support each other as well as highlighting and expressing connotations surrounding the modern Rock genre. Many different combinations of colours where available to me when using kuler, In order to determine which colour scheme would work best with my magazine I searched to many sets of colour combinations including cool colours and warm colours expressing contrasts. The colour palette above is the final selection I chose to stick with, when making my magazine cover, contents page and double page spread this will help to ensure the magazine maintains a house style through out. I chose this selection of colours due to its representations of the rock genre red being a very strong and dominating colour connoting themes of danger whist being supported by the binary opposite contrast between black and white, creating interest in passers-by and so drawing there attention which may possibly lead to a purchase.