In order to increase the chance of my posts being up to date, I placed each post on a Monday or Friday. These are the days in which I have my media studies lessons, which are fully dedicated to completing coursework. Therefore, I had my frees during the week to complete any unfinished posts or drafts in order to ensure that I was prepared for the tasks I had set myself next lesson.
I really liked the way I planned this month as I felt so much more up to date and positive surrounding my posts. Some posts still need improvements in my opinion, so I will dedicate some of my free time and make a to do like like last month in order to ensure that all of my planned posts are completed to the highest standards.
Next month I plan on using the same days to schedule my posts in order to create the same outcome.
Friday 30 September 2016
Colour Schemes
I order for my magazine to maintain a constant house theme, I will employ a colour scheme that will run throughout the magazine. This will enhance the professionalism of my magazine, allowing my product to emulate a real magazine and creating an element of verisimilitude.
To explore a range of colour schemes, I have used a website called www.coolors.co. This website offers an online colour scheme generator, in which you can simply press the space bar and view random schemes of 5 colours. You are also given the ability to lock in any colour(s) you like within the random scheme and continue to press the space bar to explore other colours in relation to your locked colours. This provides you with the perfect way to find your desired colour scheme.
I used this website to produce 3 colour schemes which I particularly liked. I will paste these themes below.
Colour Scheme 1:
I love the colours in this scheme. I feel like they particularly suit the time of year that my magazine surrounds (autumn/winter/Christmas), appealing to my audience who will be directing their attention to more festive art.
I believe that the use of black is a pertinent colour in my magazine as it enhances the other colours, juxtaposing brighter shades such as yellow/golds and red shades. This allows them to stand out and creates a more eye-catching effect. I believe this would be a very suitable colour scheme for my magazine.
Colour Scheme 2:
This colour scheme is very subtle. It maintains the shade of black that I'd like to enhance lighter shades, creating a more eye-catching effect to gain the audience's best interest. The berry shades towards the centre relate directly in with autumn and the berry tones that are favourite through lipstick and eye shades within make-up artistry. However, one aspect I dislike about this scheme is the stereotypical shades that are used within make-up and how they are directed towards femininity. As my magazine is directed at both genders, I don't want the colour scheme to portray my magazine as solely for females, due to my magazine aiming to encourage all gender to explore makeup artistry.
Colour Scheme 3:
This colour is similar to colour scheme 2 in terms of it being subtle and moderately feminine. This colour scheme does not maintain any black shade, however, it employs a dark purple. I also feel as though despite the attractiveness of the shades, they are of a more pastel tone and therefore may not grab attention in comparison to the other colour schemes.
My Target Audience's Opinion:
I also created a poll for my target audience, in order to gain knowledge on what they would prefer. I then posted this link to social media, appealing to those of my targeted age range, who voted. I will insert the results of this poll below.
It is evident that my target audience prefers the first scheme, and I agree. The colour scheme completely suits the dark and wintery tones that I'd like my magazine to have, channelling the festive spirit and also preventing it from being gender specific. Therefore, I will be using the first colour scheme for my product.
To explore a range of colour schemes, I have used a website called www.coolors.co. This website offers an online colour scheme generator, in which you can simply press the space bar and view random schemes of 5 colours. You are also given the ability to lock in any colour(s) you like within the random scheme and continue to press the space bar to explore other colours in relation to your locked colours. This provides you with the perfect way to find your desired colour scheme.
I used this website to produce 3 colour schemes which I particularly liked. I will paste these themes below.
Colour Scheme 1:
I love the colours in this scheme. I feel like they particularly suit the time of year that my magazine surrounds (autumn/winter/Christmas), appealing to my audience who will be directing their attention to more festive art.
I believe that the use of black is a pertinent colour in my magazine as it enhances the other colours, juxtaposing brighter shades such as yellow/golds and red shades. This allows them to stand out and creates a more eye-catching effect. I believe this would be a very suitable colour scheme for my magazine.
Colour Scheme 2:
This colour scheme is very subtle. It maintains the shade of black that I'd like to enhance lighter shades, creating a more eye-catching effect to gain the audience's best interest. The berry shades towards the centre relate directly in with autumn and the berry tones that are favourite through lipstick and eye shades within make-up artistry. However, one aspect I dislike about this scheme is the stereotypical shades that are used within make-up and how they are directed towards femininity. As my magazine is directed at both genders, I don't want the colour scheme to portray my magazine as solely for females, due to my magazine aiming to encourage all gender to explore makeup artistry.
Colour Scheme 3:
This colour is similar to colour scheme 2 in terms of it being subtle and moderately feminine. This colour scheme does not maintain any black shade, however, it employs a dark purple. I also feel as though despite the attractiveness of the shades, they are of a more pastel tone and therefore may not grab attention in comparison to the other colour schemes.
My Target Audience's Opinion:
I also created a poll for my target audience, in order to gain knowledge on what they would prefer. I then posted this link to social media, appealing to those of my targeted age range, who voted. I will insert the results of this poll below.
It is evident that my target audience prefers the first scheme, and I agree. The colour scheme completely suits the dark and wintery tones that I'd like my magazine to have, channelling the festive spirit and also preventing it from being gender specific. Therefore, I will be using the first colour scheme for my product.
Wednesday 28 September 2016
The Recce
Are there any potential hazards that could pose a health and safety risk where your photo shoot will take place? (trailing cables/traffic/other objects )
The Quayside in Newcastle will most likely maintain a regular flow of vehicles during the day. Hopefully, due to my shoot being later at night, there will be less traffic to pose a risk.
What will you do to ensure these risks are minimised?
To avoid any safety risks when completing the shoot, my model I will be vigilant around busy roads in order to ensure that no accidents occur.
Will the time of day/weather affect the outcome of your photos? Have you allowed this?
My images will be taken at night, therefore my images will be considerably dark meaning I will need to use artificial lighting. This may be the soft Christmas lighting from the decorations at the Quayside or the flash from the camera I will be using. In relation to weather, I will double-check the weather forecast before embarking on the shoot in order to ensure that the weather will be suitable for my shoot (no rain).
Have you considered the background to your photos, particularly if take outside? How will you ensure you get the background you want?
The background to my photos will be the view of either the Tyne or Millenium Bridge, as these are immediately identified with Newcastle and will communicate to the audience that this regional magazine is tailored towards themselves and their area. I would like to ensure that I use the various lighting from the Millenium bridge, so have therefore organised my shoot later at night, in order to gain the full, bright effect of the lighting.
Have you considered lighting? What about the 'problems' of natural lighting, either outside or streaming through a window? Will you need to use a flash? Have you considered reflective objects that may ruin the effect?
I will not be using natural lighting due to the time of day that my shoot will commence. Therefore, I will be using the artificial lighting from my camera's flash and the Christmas lights around the location. My model has been instructed to wear considerable dark colours which will not reflect this flash in any way. I have also instructed this in order to enhance the model's eye makeup. The use of glitter may slightly reflect the flash, but I have purposely set this up in order to enhance the make-up further and hopefully grab the audience's interest.
Do you have permission to take photos in the place/venue you have in mind?
Yes, the Quayside is open to the public 24/7.
Are other people/crowds likely to be an issue for you? What have you done to ensure they will not spoil the effect?
People/crowds could be a potential issue for my shoot. However, due to my shoot commencing later at night, I believe that this will be less of a problem as it will be quieter. As my images will be taken right next to the River Tyne, there will be plenty of room for others to walk around myself in order to prevent the effect from being spoiled.
Are you reliant on lifts/props/friends equipment/models? How have you ensured that these things will come together at the appointed time? Do you have a Plan B?
I am reliant on my model to ensure that she if there on time. If she has any trouble with public transport, I have the ability to provide transport in my own car as a Plan B. If this fails to work, I will have to reschedule my photoshoot. This should be easy to organise around myself and my model's schedules as the location does not require booking etc.
Finally, have you thought of every eventuality?
I feel as though I have considered all eventualities through my Recce post, and I am feeling confident and excited about the shoot and it's outcome.
The Quayside in Newcastle will most likely maintain a regular flow of vehicles during the day. Hopefully, due to my shoot being later at night, there will be less traffic to pose a risk.
What will you do to ensure these risks are minimised?
To avoid any safety risks when completing the shoot, my model I will be vigilant around busy roads in order to ensure that no accidents occur.
Will the time of day/weather affect the outcome of your photos? Have you allowed this?
My images will be taken at night, therefore my images will be considerably dark meaning I will need to use artificial lighting. This may be the soft Christmas lighting from the decorations at the Quayside or the flash from the camera I will be using. In relation to weather, I will double-check the weather forecast before embarking on the shoot in order to ensure that the weather will be suitable for my shoot (no rain).
Have you considered the background to your photos, particularly if take outside? How will you ensure you get the background you want?
The background to my photos will be the view of either the Tyne or Millenium Bridge, as these are immediately identified with Newcastle and will communicate to the audience that this regional magazine is tailored towards themselves and their area. I would like to ensure that I use the various lighting from the Millenium bridge, so have therefore organised my shoot later at night, in order to gain the full, bright effect of the lighting.
Have you considered lighting? What about the 'problems' of natural lighting, either outside or streaming through a window? Will you need to use a flash? Have you considered reflective objects that may ruin the effect?
I will not be using natural lighting due to the time of day that my shoot will commence. Therefore, I will be using the artificial lighting from my camera's flash and the Christmas lights around the location. My model has been instructed to wear considerable dark colours which will not reflect this flash in any way. I have also instructed this in order to enhance the model's eye makeup. The use of glitter may slightly reflect the flash, but I have purposely set this up in order to enhance the make-up further and hopefully grab the audience's interest.
Do you have permission to take photos in the place/venue you have in mind?
Yes, the Quayside is open to the public 24/7.
Are other people/crowds likely to be an issue for you? What have you done to ensure they will not spoil the effect?
People/crowds could be a potential issue for my shoot. However, due to my shoot commencing later at night, I believe that this will be less of a problem as it will be quieter. As my images will be taken right next to the River Tyne, there will be plenty of room for others to walk around myself in order to prevent the effect from being spoiled.
Are you reliant on lifts/props/friends equipment/models? How have you ensured that these things will come together at the appointed time? Do you have a Plan B?
I am reliant on my model to ensure that she if there on time. If she has any trouble with public transport, I have the ability to provide transport in my own car as a Plan B. If this fails to work, I will have to reschedule my photoshoot. This should be easy to organise around myself and my model's schedules as the location does not require booking etc.
Finally, have you thought of every eventuality?
I feel as though I have considered all eventualities through my Recce post, and I am feeling confident and excited about the shoot and it's outcome.
Friday 23 September 2016
Photoshoot Planning
What emotional impact do you want your photography to have upon the reader? how will you achieve this impact? why have you chosen this particular impact? what effect will it have on the reader?
The main image of my front cover is required to draw in the audience's best attention and encourage them to pick up and buy the magazine. I was my model to look considerably positive surrounding the magazine itself, therefore I will be using a more inviting and fun pose. The colours of the image will be dark toned so that the focus of the image is solely on the makeup artistry that is featured. This creates an immediately obvious centre focus of the magazine and will draw the attention of those I am targeting the magazine at. The model I am using has a love of make-up, and I want that to feed through into my DPS so that those who share the same love connect with the model. It is very important to me that my regional magazine bring together those through their passions for art in the city that they love, and I believe this positive tone will aid that. This, therefore, will cause the reader to feel positive and passionate about the magazine in the same way.
What personnel do you need? who are you going to photograph? why have you chosen this person?
I have chosen to photograph one of my close friends. My friend has a history in modelling and belongs to an agency, meaning she is the perfect fit for a model as she is experienced and maintains a professional look. I believe her model physique also gives her a different look to other people who I may have photographed. She is very beautiful, creating a desirable feel with the females of my target audiences through aspiration, and with the males of my target audience through the male gaze.
What props will you need? why have you chosen these props? how will they be used?
I have not chosen a prop to use. In terms of my magazine's time of year, something within the image is generally going to be red, so I am currently considering if a prop is required for the image. I if decide that I'd like to use a prop, I will most likely use something in the shade of red and festive, such as a candy cane. However, I believe I will choose against using a prop as I already have a plan for the use of red within the image and I'd imagine a prop along with what I am planning (will be explained in next question) will create a crowded and undesirable feel.
How are you going to emphasise colour? what colour are you using? what areas of the photos will be this colour?
Have you briefed your personnel/models? how have you organised the photoshoot?
I have contacted my model via text to organise my shoot. I have posted the screenshots of this conversation in a separate post.
What lighting will you need? any equipment?
The main image of my front cover is required to draw in the audience's best attention and encourage them to pick up and buy the magazine. I was my model to look considerably positive surrounding the magazine itself, therefore I will be using a more inviting and fun pose. The colours of the image will be dark toned so that the focus of the image is solely on the makeup artistry that is featured. This creates an immediately obvious centre focus of the magazine and will draw the attention of those I am targeting the magazine at. The model I am using has a love of make-up, and I want that to feed through into my DPS so that those who share the same love connect with the model. It is very important to me that my regional magazine bring together those through their passions for art in the city that they love, and I believe this positive tone will aid that. This, therefore, will cause the reader to feel positive and passionate about the magazine in the same way.
What personnel do you need? who are you going to photograph? why have you chosen this person?
I have chosen to photograph one of my close friends. My friend has a history in modelling and belongs to an agency, meaning she is the perfect fit for a model as she is experienced and maintains a professional look. I believe her model physique also gives her a different look to other people who I may have photographed. She is very beautiful, creating a desirable feel with the females of my target audiences through aspiration, and with the males of my target audience through the male gaze.
What props will you need? why have you chosen these props? how will they be used?
I have not chosen a prop to use. In terms of my magazine's time of year, something within the image is generally going to be red, so I am currently considering if a prop is required for the image. I if decide that I'd like to use a prop, I will most likely use something in the shade of red and festive, such as a candy cane. However, I believe I will choose against using a prop as I already have a plan for the use of red within the image and I'd imagine a prop along with what I am planning (will be explained in next question) will create a crowded and undesirable feel.
How are you going to emphasise colour? what colour are you using? what areas of the photos will be this colour?
Have you briefed your personnel/models? how have you organised the photoshoot?
I have contacted my model via text to organise my shoot. I have posted the screenshots of this conversation in a separate post.
What lighting will you need? any equipment?
As I am using the natural light towards night time, the light that will be most prominent in my images will be the coloured Millenium Bridge and the Christmas decorative lights. These will hopefully light up my images, if not, I will use the artificial lighting of my camera to add some light. I feel that the darkness of the image will enhance the glitter and colour used within the features make-up look. I will need to set my flash to a lower ISO in order for the flash to incorporate the more desired areas od the model into the image.
Where will you shoot? will you need a backdrop?
I will be taking my images in both the city centre of Newcastle upon Tyne and The Quayside area of Newcastle. I feel that this venue directly addresses the regional element of my magazine, therefore targeting the correct audience. This also means that I do not require a backdrop.
How will the model appear? make-up? costume?
Where will you shoot? will you need a backdrop?
I will be taking my images in both the city centre of Newcastle upon Tyne and The Quayside area of Newcastle. I feel that this venue directly addresses the regional element of my magazine, therefore targeting the correct audience. This also means that I do not require a backdrop.
How will the model appear? make-up? costume?
Monday 19 September 2016
Friday 16 September 2016
Audience Profiles
In order to create a more detailed description of my target audience, I have studied several individuals who are eligible to be within my primary audience. From here I have gathered their likes, job roles, interests and preferences. From here, I have created social media pages tailored to these factors. This will be ideal for me to refer back to when making decisions within my products.
Monday 12 September 2016
Model Organisation
For my magazine, I wanted to use a female model, who took a particular interest in make up. I am in close contact with Newcastle based Savages model, Holly Dawson, who was more than happy to get involved when I asked her about the magazine. We arranged a date/time and location through iMessage. I will document these texts below:
Conclusively, my photoshoot will involve experience model, Holly Dawson, who I also plan on using as a feature model within one of the articles, as well as on my billboard and website. I feel that this creates a constant and recognisable theme that will reassuringly be featured throughout Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Holly will be meeting me pre-shoot for my hair and make up to be done by myself to suit the theme of the edition, and we will then make our way to Newcastle city centre and The Quayside to take a variety of images for the products of my A2 Media Coursework. She has been instructed to dress darkly in order to draw more attention to the dramatic make up look that will be the cover feature of the Make Up Artistry edition of Artista magazine.
Conclusively, my photoshoot will involve experience model, Holly Dawson, who I also plan on using as a feature model within one of the articles, as well as on my billboard and website. I feel that this creates a constant and recognisable theme that will reassuringly be featured throughout Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Holly will be meeting me pre-shoot for my hair and make up to be done by myself to suit the theme of the edition, and we will then make our way to Newcastle city centre and The Quayside to take a variety of images for the products of my A2 Media Coursework. She has been instructed to dress darkly in order to draw more attention to the dramatic make up look that will be the cover feature of the Make Up Artistry edition of Artista magazine.
Friday 9 September 2016
Location Scout
Location 1: Sunderland College, Student Photography StudioDue to this studio being available for myself as a student in my own college, it would be ideal to use this studio due to it's easy access and good facilities. However, there may be some trouble finding a way for the model to come into the campus. Furthermore, the facilities aren't as good as some of the other potential locations and the times are slightly inconvenient with the studio being closed on weekends, so I would have to work the shoot around both mine and my model's timetables.
Location 2: University of Sunderland, St Peter's Campus, David Puttnam
Media Centre
Location 3: BANANAStudio, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
BANANAStudio in Newcastle-upon-Tyne advertises itself as a studio that can be easily booked for amateur photographers or hobbyists. This therefore, may be ideal for my photoshoot due to me photographing my model with only some experience. However, again it may be difficult to find due to it's postcode signifying that it is not exactly in the centre of Newcastle, meaning that buses and metro's may be considerably difficult to navigate in order to get there and transport may be quite costly, which will be inconvenient for both myself and especially my model.
BANANAStudio in Newcastle-upon-Tyne advertises itself as a studio that can be easily booked for amateur photographers or hobbyists. This therefore, may be ideal for my photoshoot due to me photographing my model with only some experience. However, again it may be difficult to find due to it's postcode signifying that it is not exactly in the centre of Newcastle, meaning that buses and metro's may be considerably difficult to navigate in order to get there and transport may be quite costly, which will be inconvenient for both myself and especially my model.
Location 4: City Centre, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Newcastle City Centre maintains no particular studio, therefore no booking of a location is required, and I am free to used the location whenever I would like. This is therefore convenient for myself and my model's busy schedules. The location is directly relevant to my magazine's region, creating a familiar and recognisable feel, therefore drawing attention from the targeted audience. It is considerably easy to navigate regarding my knowledge of the area, however public transport is not always reliable, especially at certain points of the day. It can also be costly, so I may be required to drive to the location.
The Quayside in Newcastle is famous for its beautiful night scenes, especially around christmas. The Tyne and Gateshead Millennium Bridge, are frequently seen on TV and in famous pictures, alongside the Baltic Museum and The Sage. I feel that with the changing colours of the bridge, I could find a colour that suit's my models make up, and in the dark of the winter, along with my model's dark outfit, this could enhance the model's make up. The location is not a particular venue, meaning that I am not require to make any booking that fit around mine and my model's schedules. This also means that my model and myself are free to shoot the images whenever is convenient for us both. The location is directly relevant with the focused region of my magazine, creating a familiar and recognisable feel, therefore drawing attention from the targeted audience. It is considerably easy to navigate regarding my knowledge of the area, however public transport is not always reliable, especially at certain points of the day. It can also be costly, so I may be required to drive to the location.
Conclusively... I have decided that I will be using both the City Centre and The Quayside in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, as they both link in with my regional magazine, and I believe that at night with the Christmas lights, the make-up shot on my model, will be enhanced, causing them to stand out, and attracting the targeted audience. I feel that the alternate three studios, will not cause the same effect with the images, and will vaguely address the region in comparison to they way in which the chosen two locations will.
Monday 5 September 2016
National VS Regional Magazines
As the brief of my A2 Media Studies coursework requires me to make a regional magazine, I found myself considerably confused due to this category of magazines being an area of the media that I have never focused on, or took a particular personal interest in.
Therefore, to aid me in creating my product and to enhance my knowledge, I decided to research regional magazines, and compare them to national magazines, the concept I focused my final product on in my previous year of Media Studies coursework.
Therefore, to aid me in creating my product and to enhance my knowledge, I decided to research regional magazines, and compare them to national magazines, the concept I focused my final product on in my previous year of Media Studies coursework.
National vs Regional Magazines from Olivia Wallace
I believe that the research and comparison of these particular types of magazines have aided me in my research and planning, therefore, allowing me to create a more professional and experienced regional magazine.
I believe that the research and comparison of these particular types of magazines have aided me in my research and planning, therefore, allowing me to create a more professional and experienced regional magazine.
Friday 2 September 2016
Choosing a Font
As my product features a main theme of art, I want the font of my magazine to be considerably artsy and eye-catching in order to grab the audience's best interest. I used DaFont.com to research potential fonts for my magazine. I then placed my chosen masthead into the font and screengrabbed the font sample. From here, I placed my more favourable fonts together. Consequently allowing me to compare and contrast the fonts closely, whilst also allowing me to present it to other people, predominantly my target audience. This allowed me to gain an insight on what my audience would like, tailoring my magazine towards them, and ergo, increasing the likability that my magazine will be successful.
These are the fonts I selected:
These are the fonts I selected:
I created a group chat including a random selection of various members of my primary audience, to create a sample opinion from those at whom I am targeting my magazine. Below I will paste an example of several of the responses I received:
From here, I decided to design a graph displaying the results of my feedback, creating visual aid on how my audience would prefer my font to appear.
It is substantially evident that the more popular fonts are fonts 3, 4 and predominantly, 6. Font 6, also known as Chapaza, was seen as the majorly popular font, gaining the most votes from my target audience. Through the use of the modern and popular platform, Facebook, I have been able to contact a sample of my target audience through social media. Therefore, convincing my to use the font that my audience selected.
Conclusively, Chapaza, will be my chosen masthead font.
Thursday 1 September 2016
September Plan
This month, I need to firstly make sure that my incomplete posts from August are completed and updated. I want to start focusing on research and planning this month to begin preparation for taking my images and creating my product. I will be researching areas such as National and Regional Magazines as this will give me a better ideas of how the two are different. In my AS Coursework I created a national magazine, so I feel like its important that I ensure that I am full informed of the differences. This means I will be able to create a realistic magazine will regional aspects rather than national. Some of the posts that relate more to the planning element are 'Location Scout,' and 'Photoshoot Planning.' These posts are tailored to making the steps towards my photoshoot and therefore my product. Organisation within my coursework is key. Therefore I find it important to create posts surrounding suitable locations and the types of images I'd like to take.
August Incompletion To-Do List
- Complete Magazine Conventions
- Communicate with Target Audience surrounding Masthead Ideas
- Add more detail to Genre
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