Research Summary

This Prezi presentation elaborates on my final summary of all my research and planning that I have created on the preparation of my music magazine. I have thought about a range of different subjects and aspects of what I have learned during this process, and how I will incorporate it in my final magazine. 

Editing My Photos For My Magazine

 
In this slideshow, I have presented my final results of the images I will use for my music magazine, as I have changed/edited them to increase their quality. I have changed aspects of the original photos to allow the images to appear as professional and suitable as possible for my magazine and the target audience.

Music Magazine Flat Plans

As a way of planning my designs and layouts of my front cover, contents page and double page spread, I have created three flat plans which can show a brief idea of what  want my magazine to look like. My front cover includes the essential elements of a basic cover, including factors like a masthead, cover lines and a main image. My contents page includes more content, as this is expected for a contents page to include a range of information on the whole of the magazine. There a lot more sections on the contents page as I have tried to position it in a way that it would look professional but also helpful to the reader to look at and to find specific features. My double page spread is influenced by many magazines that include an interview, that spreads the content out on two pages.This looks effective as it allows the page to be not boring, but interesting to readers. Hopefully I will go by these flat plans and try to incorporate as many of these ideas as I can, to allow it to be as professional as possible.

I looked at current Hip-Hop contents pages, and took this conventional design for my magazine. The basic design is that the list of articles will feature on the left and will be organised with the use of boxes or titles so that the reader can easily find what they re looking for. I will then show a dominant or main image on the left of the page, that will show links to the mainz article on the double page spread further on in the mag. My masthead once again will be featured t the top left of the page, while also leaving room for another title or subhead that will read "contents page" so that it is clear and easy for the reader to recognise and find. The colour scheme will initially accompany the colours that the images present, while also keeping it traditional by adding colours that link to the genre like black, white, and grey. Again I have additional but essential infer lil the hoot credit, to show that the magazine is professional

I have designed my masthead in a way that has echoed ideas of traditional Hip-Hop magazines. I know from professional Rap magazine "XXL' that their masthead is in the top left hand corner, like I have featured mine. By doing this the masthead looks bold, and is eye-catching to readers, and also connotes ides of the genre, as it looks powerful and fierce. I know that from my research, most of the sell lines for Hip-Hop magazines are featured on the left, which is why I have added my main sell line on the left under the masthead, as this is a common convention for the Hip-Hop prints I have looked at. The sell lines that show ideas of articles inside the mag are also featured on the left, while individual names of artists featured in the articles of the magazine is usually shown in a list form on the right, which I have presented as over lines on my flat plan. My dominant image will cover the whole of the front cover, and will feature a female model. This image will suit the chosen colour scheme which will include colours such as black, grey, red, white and gold. I will make sure I do this through the manipulation of costume and makeup. I have also added little details and common conventions to this page, such as the barcode and essential information, which are small details but essential to the magazine and making it look professional. 

I have added a range of traditional conventions to my double page spread. The main sell line or article name will feature on the top left, as well as the subhead below, that will give a brief of the article. Below I have added written content, as for a double page spread it is essential to add as much written content as possible. The article will be based around a new female Hip-Hop artist making her way onto the scene. I will show her within my dominant image that I will show between the pages. As well as these conventions , I will use pull quotes to also show written content, and to also show ideas of the artist. I will also feature a column of written content on the right hand side of the page, this will make the age look fuller and more professional and informative. 

Peer Assessment Levels For blogs

For this task, we had to look at other peers' blogs, and give our advice and thoughts of their work. We  had to give each other a level, based on the standard of their blog and their work. The positive feedback that I received was that everything on my blog is detailed and that I have a variety of media platforms showing my work. One aspect that Jess said was missing from my blog was possible images for my magazine, which I have already updated since this task was took out. My improvements would include, putting titles on my posts, which I definitely agree with, and hope to change as soon as possible. She gave me level 3/4, which is probably accurate due to the current stage I am at with my coursework.

Possible Magazine Images

In this post, I will be presenting the images that I will probably be using in my magazine, and why I have chosen and created them in this form.

This is the image that I hope to use for the front cover of my magazine. This was taken just in front of a white wall, at my friend's house. I believed that standing in front of a white wall would look most effective and professional. The image shows my friend taking the part of a potential Hip-Hop star, as I tried to pick an outfit that would be significant to the genre. I believe that the image is effective, as I have angled and positioned it in a way that would be suitable to add the features needed on the front cover, like the headline and name of the magazine. No professional lighting was used, only sunlight, however I still believe that the image has extreme potential, and the natural light also gives the picture a clear effect. The contrast of the white wall and the black clothing makes this image extremely unique and effective. I asked her to stand in this position with her arm over her head, as it is a pose that would look effective and eye catching for a front cover.

         

These next two images are possibilities for double page spreads. One was taken at my friend's house and the other was took in a professional photography studio. The image shows my friend going into the act of a Hip-Hop star and I tried to apply some character into this, just to add a bit of quirkiness and fun to the magazine. I believe that the images are effective as they are reliable and suitable for a double page spread and visually set out well for a successful double page spread image. The picture on the left was took with natural light, but the one on the right was took with professional lighting. I tried to  make the clothing fit in with Hip-Hop culture while also showing a feminine side to it. I also took into consideration the positioning, as I wanted to take them in a way that would allow content and text to be placed on the image, and to make it visually effective at the same time. I will use one of these images as I believe that they are both suitable for a double page spread, and they both have potential and add character to the magazine and article. 


My contents page also needed potential images, and these are my options. Again, one was took in a professional photography studio, and one at my friend's house. The images show my friend leaning on a wall or keeping to the side of the room, I did this to allow text for my contents page. I believe that the images are effective, as they do look professional, as a lot of magazine companies choose to use this position in an image for a contents page, and it also allows advertisement for the main article/artist of the issue. Once again, one has been produced with natural light and one as been produced with professional lighting. It is a long image, which enhances the standard of a contents page image. I would definitely use one of these for my contents image, as it is a long shot, and includes potential and character, and enough room for text hat I would add in the process of adding my content.

            

Influences Of Other Magazines

This Prezi presentation explains and presents my personal favourite music magazines, that I am using for inspiration for my own creations. The point of this is so I can examine and identify what aspects I do admire and enjoy from these already existing magazines, so that I can incorporate these initial ideas and effects in my magazine.

Possible Magazine Colours

In the process of researching and planning what I could possibly do or produce for my music magazine to fit its genre and target audience, I had to think about the possible colours that I could use. I decided on these colours shown. My options I chose are:

• Black
• Red
• Grey
• White
• Purple
• Gold

I significantly decided on this range as they would all be suitable for a Hip-Hop magazine, and wouldn't allow it to hold any confusion of the genre or target audience. They are all popular and liked colours which would potentially help make my magazine to look as professional as possible.

What Makes A Good Image - Part 2

 
This slideshow presents what aspects could create a successful image, referring to aspects and themes I could use with my own photos to enhance their effect. These aspects include: Effective Lighting, The Facial Expression Theory, Effective Positioning and The Rule Of Thirds.

What Makes A Successful Image?

This slideshow presents my ideas on different camera angles and shots that I could potentially use in my Hip-Hop magazine. i have discussed how different shots could be effective for my magazine and how it will help impact my chosen genre, and also how it could not.