Thursday, 4 February 2010

Photoshoot continued...











After i finished photographing possible locations, i then decided to organize multiple shoots with a range of models. I wanted the photos to reflect the 'indie' music scene, and used models that would fit in this catagory. The locations also were suitable for an indie magazine.


Above are some samples of the photos that may be suitable for the FRONT COVER:




Possible Names For The Magazine

Which name do you prefer for the magazine?
Crunk
Krunkd
MyMusic
Jammin
Fuse
pollcode.com free polls
I have created a poll for my target audience to fill in,so i can base my name of magazine on what they really want.

Photoshoot......











This past week i have been planning and carrying out my photoshoot ideas. I trialed a range of different locations, some of which are below:
(Please note that they are in no way edited and are just raw material)

Monday, 25 January 2010

Weekly Review

This week i have managed to analyze all of the magazines that i needed to. I have compared the way that each magazine presents front covers, contents pages and double page spreads. I also posted a questionnaire and a poll to ask my target audience what they want to see in a music magazine. From these results i hope to achieve a successful magazine that will appeal to my target audience.

Now i plan to start my photoshoot. Firstly i will post some possible ideas on my blog and then i will begin some practice shoots. After i have completed the photoshoot i want to start editing my photos - contrast / brightness / cropping / etc.

Q Front Cover Analysis

Q was first published in 1986, setting itself apart from much of the other music press with monthly production and higher standards of photography and printing. Originally it was to be called Cue, but the name was changed so that it wouldn't be mistaken for a snooker magazine. The publishers of this magazine were two men called Mark Ellen and David Hepworth.

The most striking feature of this front cover of Q magazine is the bright red text box in the top left hand corner with the letter "Q" in white. It is unique as it is the only music magazine that uses only one letter - no other magazines have a masthead so short and striking; this is why it is so effective against the sepia background. As well as this, the font used is very basic and clear to read, as many other magazine front cover title fonts are. I think this is so the text does not draw attention away from the image on the front cover. The bright red of this masthead is the only bright colour on the front page and this makes it stand out even more. Anchored below this masthead is a black textbox with "Britain's Biggest Music Magazine" in a clear white font. This makes it clear to the readers that it is a well established magazine and very famous. It also attracts new buyers.

There is only one headline on this magazine - "COLDPLAY". This is very different to other magazines that i have analysed because usually the front page is littered with coverlines showing features within the magazine. This makes the magazine appear very minimalistic and simple-reading. "COLDPLAY" is in a clear bold text in a gold colour - this matches with the sepia background. Also the gold colour may suggest royalty - that the band are so famous and well established in the music world that they are music royalty. Surrounding the headline there is extra information such as "One month inside their revolution" so the readers become intrigued and want to buy the magazine to read the article. The font used here is slightly different and in italics, this makes it look a bit different and more interesting.

Due to the blatant lack of coverlines, the front page has instead opted to show a very large and striking photograph and Coldplay. The four band members are all looking straight into the camera - this grabs the readers eyes. They are featured with their instruments so you recognize them and know who they are. Interestingly, the photo has been edited to become sepia. This ties in with the simple, minimalistic theme of "Q" magazine and makes it look different to other magazines because usually they are very bright and busy. The poses of the band members vary from sitting on the floor to sitting on a bench. They look natural and comfortable, and this makes people want to read about them.

Q Contents analysis


The first thing you notice about this contents page of Q magazine is the red and black colour scheme. At the top of the page there is a strapline with Q in a red text box and Contents in a black text box. The font is clear and sans serif. Also in this black text box is the issue number and date of publication. Beneath the strapline there is a single column with the headline "Features" in capital letters.

The font for this headline is different to the font used for the Contents title, it is more curved and more unique. It is in a red text box, (keeping with the red and black theme) and beneath his is a list of all the features in the magazine.The interesting points of the features are in large, bold fonts, such as "NEW!" and "COLDPLAY" and this makes you want to read on. Next to the feature titles are the page reference numbers in a red font. This makes the contents page apper more organized and professional.

To the right of the features list is a large prominent photo of Jon Bon Jovi. It is a mid shot so you can clearly see his facial and body expression. He is standing sideways on but his face is looking directly at the camera so it looks like he is looking at you - this draws the readers in. There is also a plain background behind him so this does not distract you from the famous singer. The lighting is overhead and casts soft complementary shadows to make him look attractive.

Beneath the large image of Bon Jovi there is a medium sized text box with a grey background. This is split into three columns with a small image in one of the columns. There is a black subheading above these columns saying "Q review the world's biggest and best music guide". This suggests to the readers that this is the best magazine to buy and that you should not buy any others. The image in one of the columns is of Coldplay, a very prestigious band with many fans. This makes the readers interested to read about them.

Unlike the Kerrang! contents page that i analysed earlier, there are no small copies of articles within the magazine. In comparison, i think that Q looks more dull and bare than Kerrang, because there are fewer and bright colours and it looks alot more organized and less fun. However, Q upholds an image of being a very minimalistic magazine - their front cover's are always quite bare with only a large photograph on the front to draw the readers in. It is clear that this minimalistic style works for them.

Thursday, 21 January 2010

Music Poll

What is your favourite genre of music?
Rock
Hip Hop
R'n'B
Dubstep
Drum 'n' Bass
Pop
Indie
Acoustic
Club music
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