Front Cover Process

These are the three magazine edits that I feel are the most effective, and professional. 

I have maintained the same house-style through all three of these edits, however I have just changed the main image in order to gain an idea as to the different connotations conveyed to the audience through each image.

I feel the middle edit is the most effective and professional. Through the positioning of my model, a rebellious attitude is connoted to the audience therefore supporting the overall themes of my magazine. Although, in the middle edit, there is no eye contact between the audience and my model however, I believe my model looks inspirational for the audience which is supporting the convention that Classic Rock artists always achieve an inspirational style, so the audience purchase the magazines.

Final Front Cover

This is the final edit of my front cover magazine. As you can see, I have added levels and curves to my original image in order to highlight my model through a better aspect. By adding curves and levels to the layer of my model, depth is created around the perimeter of my model for example, shadows are created as see along her arm. Levels also creates a yellow-ish tone on top of the existing natural colour of my model. I feel this is beneficial as my model looks more realistic as well as inspirational for my audience which is a convention I wanted to create. Magazines feature inspirational photographs of artist who inspire their target audience, with this in mind, I feel I have succeeded this convention as my model looks inspirational whilst still maintaining the conventions of the Classic Rock genre.

When I adapted the levels of my main image, the roots of my models dreads became darker therefore this made the skyline unidentifiable for the audience as i the black colour of the text merged into the black colour of the roots of my model. 

In order to solve this problem, I decided to add a stroke effect behind the text. This allowed me to add a background to the text 'NEW ALBUM' so it stands out to my audience.

 I also decided to enhance the make-up of my model. As you can see, the image on the left is the edited version whereas the image on the right is the non edited version. By reinforcing my models make up such as her eyebrows, eyelashes and lipstick, she then becomes more desirable to the target audience, which is a convention I wanted to achieve.

Front Cover Edits

Front Cover Edit 1

This is my first edit of my front cover page. As you can see, from my mock-ups, I have decided to maintain this layout as I know it is professional and effective in the way that it sells my product well, whilst conveying the genre of my product. The font I have used helps reinforce the overall theme of rebelliousness as it conveys recklessness to the audience.

Front Cover Edit 2

This is the second edit of my front cover. Simply I have just changed my main image, from a medium shot to a close up shot of my model as a close up shot was used on Mojo's issue featuring Madonna, which I chose for my inspiration.

The masthead for my magazine 'WHITECROSS' covers my models face, therefore this front cover edit is not effective as the main image is covered and unattractive for the audience. 

Front Cover Edit 3

This is the third edit of my front cover. I have again changed the main image from a close up shot to a medium-long shot of my model. This is a effective photograph as it conveys the overall theme of rebellion to the audience as well as connoting the stereotypical rock star lifestyle, ultimately supporting the genre of my magazine.

Front Cover Edit 4

This is my fourth edit of my front cover magazine page. As well as changing the main image, I have also added a colour wash on top of the main image. This is so my model looks inspirational and admirable to the audience, so they aspire to look like my model. This is a convention of typical magazines, especially under the Classic Rock genre as the artists need to maintain their rebellious and inspirational attitude as well as their huge reputation and ego. 

Front Cover Edit 5

I have realised that the CD in the bottom left corner and the smaller image of Bob Dylan in the top right corner are not original images and they are not mine. Therefore as you can see, I have changed the CD cover to an original image that I took myself. Arctic Monkey's AM album is relevant to my genre therefore I am still conforming to my genre. The image in the top right is very similar to Bob Dylan's smaller image. This is an original image that I took myself to replicate Bob Dylan's image.

Framing Shots

Extreme Close-up

 Extreme close ups are more commonly associated in motion pictures, for example through the use of an eyeline match, the camera will focus on a particular character, then cut to an object in which the character was observing. Extreme close ups are also used to portray emotions and expressions of characters in motion pictures. I believe an extreme close up is unconventional for a magazine front cover, double page spread and contents page, as the audience may not understand who the main article is about with just a snippet of the artists face.

Close up

Similarly to an extreme close up, a close is more commonly seen in motion picture. For example, through the use of eyeline match editing, a close up would be used before and after the cut in order to portray the emotions and expressions of the characters. Close ups are generally used when focusing on a specific object, furthermore due to the reasons above, I believe a close up shot is unconventional for the front cover, contents page and double page spread of a magazine.

Medium Close up

A medium close up shot is a conventional frame type used on front cover's of magazines. the inspiration I chose for my magazine front cover features a medium close up shot therefore I have decided by featuring a medium close up shot, I am creating a successful product. 

Medium Shot

 

A medium shot is typically used for the contents page of magazines, as seen in the MOJO contents page, featuring Florence Welch, I chose for inspiration. A medium close up shot consists anything above the knee. As MOJO use medium shots for their contents pages I feel that by including a medium shot, I will be creating a successful product that will be professional and sellable. Throughout MOJO's contents pages, there is the use of consistent and systematic themes. This is evident as the model is always positioned on the right of the page with the text of the left. I will follow this convention when creating my contents page in order to create a successful high end product.

Medium Long Shot

 Medium long shots are occasionally used on front covers, contents page and double page spreads, however due to the inspiration that I have chosen, I have chosen not to feature a medium long shot on the front cover or contents page as I believe a medium close up shot is more beneficial for my contents page.

Long Shot

 Long shots are more commonly seen on double page spreads. The inspiration I have chosen for my double page spread is again, MOJO magazine, however I have taken inspiration from two different issues. The first issue features a double page spread of Echo & The Bunnymen, with a close up of the lead singer occupying the whole left hand side page, with the introductory headline and paragraph occupying the second page. 

As you can see, there is the use of multiple different smaller images on the actual double page spread. This helps the audience understand the interview whilst reading. I will incorporate this idea into my creation process in order to trial the different techniques I can use to be most effective.

Extreme Long Shot

 Extreme long shots are unconventional on the front cover, the contents page and the double page spread as they do not focus on the artist, therefore I will not include an extreme long shot on either of my three pages.

Name Change

After much deliberation, I have decided to change the name of my artist. I will change her name from 'Whitecross' to 'Zowie Star'.

I have done so after researching 'female rock artists', only to discover the most popular names consisted off legends such as Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, Janis Joplin, Amy Lee, Stevie Nicks, Tina Turner and Lita Ford.

Due to my huge interest in music, I know that David Bowie has a son named Duncan Jones. However, Jones changed his name from Duncan to Zowie. Also I know that David Bowie sustained an alter ego named Ziggy Stardust. Therefore I put together two names 'Zowie' and 'Star' in order to create a successful female rock artists name Zowie Star. David Bowie is a huge Classic Rock artist and therefore this name will connote conceptions and ideas associated with David Bowie and ultimately reinforcing the genre of my magazine: Classic Rock.