Progress on my front cover... 

Because I have now completed my own photography, I can now add it to my document to build a better image on what do do next.

The main image is very important to add before completing the rest of the cover in order to take into account the colour scheme, and splash colour, where to place the anchorage text and masthead etc.        

This particular shot was a medium close up, meaning that the flash was very near the faces of the boys.
There is large contrast between the white skin tone of the boys and the dark background, this makes the boys look very pale and shows up every blemish.
Using a software off the internet I have decided to airbrush the boys skin by adding a little colour to their faces/necks, and then covering any blemishes, this allows the photo to look more professional and well edited.

I have removed any red eye caused by the flash on the camera by adding natural brown colouring which covers it. 

            

Final Image 

 

                                              Before...                                       After... 

Final Image 

Before...                        After...

Props 

Border 

Lighting 

examples of photography 3

examples of photography 2

Examples of my Photography from the shoot...

 Before...

After...

This is my final and finished album cover for the band 'Czech.' I will be placing this in my main article of the magazine, as part of the bands interview they will promote this.
First of all I decided on calling my album 'Stray' as I believed it fits well with the album cover and is a powerful, effective name.
However, finding a perfect font to fit in well with the overall image was very hard to find, and the example font I have used does not fit in correctly and effectively with the surroundings of the image.
Therefore, I have decided to not have a title placed on the album cover as I ruins the grunge effect of the image and stands out too much.
However I may add a small dark font in the bottom right hand corner saying 'Czech' otherwise it is unknown which band the album belongs to.

By using my own photography skills, I have taken and created this image which I will be using as the new album cover of the band I have created the 'Karma Police.'
When looking back on research I have made on examples of alternative rock bands and their album covers I described the examples chosen as "eerie, individual, mysterious, edited, colourful"
By taking this information into account I decided on sticking to each of these descriptions.

This image is taken in a back street alley way, I chose this as I believed it would portray an overall well fitting image of an aerie nature. It can promote an idea of danger, loneliness, darkness etc.                                     By capturing a black cat in this way with its head bowed could show a sad and depressive body language. It can also promote danger, bad luck, superstition and again loneliness.

I believe that this idea of an album cover is individual as you can not relate it to any other in the market.

Using a door can promote a mysterious nature as no one knows where the door leads to. It could represent a door which opens a new chapter in someones life, a door which leads to despair or to happiness, it could lead to nothing. This can keep a viewer intrigued by its mystery.

I have edited the colouring of this image by giving everything a shade of blue/grey, except the cat which I believed should stay predominately black for affect as the connotations of black are negative.

I did this by using a software downloaded on the phone I was using.

Defining Grunge - 1. Grime and dirt
                               2. Category of music

Shown above are all examples of 'grunge' photography I have collected from the internet, it is clear to see its nature live up to the definition of 'grime and dirt' throughout these examples.
The use of an old run down brick wall background/setting is used very often in grunge. It annotates an all round negative, disturbing and dark vibe.
This approach is often used in rock culture, as rock is a dark and aerie genre linking with horror, and does not promote a happy, positive, bright outlook, like for example pop music gives out.

When I begin my own photography for NV magazine, I will make sure I take the idea of grunge into account, as I believe it is a useful and effective style of photography that matches with my genre and theme of music.  

'Grunge' 

I have taken an example of photography from the internet, and placed on my document in order to start getting an idea/image in my head of the photography I want. I love the idea of a Forrest set background as it promotes my aerie, grunge image.

Colour
As shown along side my front cover document, I have played around with the fonts of my masthead and it's colouring, to find the perfect colour and font to match my target audience and genre.
In my research I gained knowledge that red is a hugely important and iconic colour in music, especially in the rock genre, along side black and white.
Although red is hugely popular, I believe it is used too much in this industry, therefore I have decided to become more independent, and create an orange orientated magazine.

Splash Colour
My splash colour now needs to go along side and look correct against bright orange coloured text. When looking at a colour chart the opposite of orange is blue this means that blue is the perfect colour matching with orange. Blue is a bright and powerful colour and will be used well in Anchorage text and posed as small important features of the magazine.
I will also use black and white as another splash colour as these go with all colours so will fit in correctly.  

 

Anchorage text  
I have made up a band name which I may or may not be keeping to pose as NV magazines main attraction and interest within this issue.                                                                                                                       Placed just underneath the bands title, I have placed 'Their exclusive interview' in bold capitalized orange lettering. Using 'EXCLUSIVE' may inform a reader of the articles importance and would make them believe that this can be found no where else but NV magazine. And those who have interest in the band will want to read and find out the important interesting information they have shared in the article.

I have also placed 'POSTERS INSIDE' to show that the magazine has benefits of free give away's, this may appeal to those who collect posters, or for teenagers who stick posters of their favourite bands up on their bedroom walls.

At the top written in my chosen splash colour of light blue, I have chosen to talk about rumours of acts that may turn up at a well known rock festival. When progressing on my magazine I may change the name of this festival making it my own so it is again indipendent and unique.    

More progress on my Front Cover...

Gender ratio (Audience profiling)

This is the gender ratio I believe to be correct and best fitting for NV magazine. I have decided that my magazine has more of a male out look because of its first impression with blues and greys hitting you as one of its main colours, which means it may stereotypically associate with males. I have not added any female orientated colours such as pink or purple anywhere on my front cover, and this may not appeal to some females in an audience.
Although it is not a complete equal 50/50 split between a male and female audience, it is not fare away from this and is not extreme to one side or another. I have decided on this because I believe girls can be into and listen to alternative rock as much as boys do, however when profiling my audience if I was to make it equal with females, I would need to add female touches to the magazine and this does not fit in with the dark, weird, grunge image NV magazine is sending across.    

Creating my own reader profile...

Age range (Audience profiling)

This is the percentage age range I have created for the audience profile for NV magazine. I have chosen for my main aim for the age range to be around late teens and early twenties.
By attracting a younger audience I can make NV magazine more exciting and less formal/serious. I will also be using anchorage text which may attract much more effectively towards a younger audience. For example I will be be advertising a festival that is coming up and will talk about rumours of acts which may be playing there.
Because music festivals are genuinely viewed as a young persons event, because of its stereotype of wreckless drinking and partying. Although older generations may also take part in music festivals the majority of those who go are young, and because of this my targeted audience will be young, and I believe I need to focus on this as one of its main 'selling' points.      

How does NME profile their readers?...

To Provide up to date and new information, reviews and listings of the best new music
Their slogan is...                                                                                                                                         "first for music subscription to NME magazine is a must for any serious music fan. With a team of writers and photographers dedicated to unearthing the most exciting stories and scenes from across the globe, each issue is packed with big-name interviews, new band info and in-depth music news debate."

http://media-magazinecasestudy.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/nme.html

How does KERRANG! magazine profile their readers?...

Kerrang! will ensure that we are constantly appealing to our spectrum of readers. From the younger teenage readers who are more open to different genres of rock music – from emo to thrash etc, to the readers who respect Kerrang! as an authority when it comes to our scene’s heritage bands. Each issue will include a balance of bands and scenes to guarantee that we’re providing for our readers’ need for variety and their passionate appetite for their favourite bands as well as their desire to be introduced to new music within our world. We will focus on the BIGGEST things that are going on in our world each week, as well as guaranteeing that we are giving our main base of younger readers everything they need to get into, on top of this the interest in older, harder bands, cementing our role as an educator.

James McMahon - Editor

http://magazines.bauermediaadvertising.com/magazines/detail/kerrang

How does MOJO magazine profile their readers?...

At MOJO we cover the good stuff. Our award-winning editorial team prides itself in delivering a magazine that is packed with insight, passion, and revelatory encounters with the greatest musicians of all-time, be they established or emerging musicians. The magazine is loved by its readers and artists alike because it engages them on the subject they love the most: music itself.

http://magazines.bauermediaadvertising.com/magazines/detail/mojo

How does Q magazine profile their readers?... 
http://magazines.bauermediaadvertising.com/magazines/detail/Q

"Q is the magazine that brings music alive. It draws together the biggest stars, the most exciting phenomena, the new artists that matter and a healthy dose of irreverence to create an unmissable widescreen picture of what’s really happening in rock and roll right now."

How magazines profile their readers

This is an example taken from the website Bauer, this specific site shows statistics and facts on Q magazine.

This is useful for me to look at and to take notes on, in order to plan and create my own reader profile for my music magazine. Doing this may help me be more clear as to who I am targeting and how this can effect how I work on and produce the magazine.  

I have researched and gained a more in depth knowledge into my chosen genre (Alternative Rock) through looking at individual alternative rock bands, their style and overall image including colour, photography type, mood etc.

I have shown here some examples of well known alternative rock bands album covers. And noticed that there are many similarities between these.

Style/overall image  – eerie, individual, mysterious, edited, colourful

Colour – constant use of orange/red colouring

These are all popular and iconic rock and pop music magazine titles. I have chosen to look upon and research these patricular magazines becuase they all relate to similar genres, this being rock.  I have decided to keep my research and production strictly to this genre, because I am most familiar with rock music, compared to pop, rap, folk etc.
Although rock magazines are very popular (as shown with the examples above,) these all stick to certain areas of rock such as screamo, heavy, indie or soft rock. Therefore I have decided to attempt to be unique to fill a gap in the market bycreating a magazine strict to Alternitave rock music. Examples of Alternitave rock bands around today are Radiohead, Muse, U2, and Oasis.


Definition = Alternative rock is a genre of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s. The 'alternative' definition refers to the genre's distinction from mainstream rock music, expressed primarily in a distorted guitar sound, transgressive lyrics and generally a nonchalant, defiant attitude. 


It is clear to see that red is a huge aspect and very commonly used in this sector of music, Black and white are also obvious splash colours to allow contrast so the title stands out. This is useful for my planning towards my music magazine, in order to start building an image of my colour scheme and on how to attract my target audience, if I should follow this red, black and white trend or to be unique??? 
The connotation of red can associate with anger, fire and rage, it could suggest danger. However in contrast red could also associate with love, compassion and roses.This makes the colour red very powerful, as it can bring text and images to the foreground and stands out from the rest, but also carries a lot of emotion with it.   

Examples of music magazines

Research and preparation for my Music Magazine...

Finished School Magazine

Finished cover

To finish off my school magazine cover, I have placed my own photography onto the cover replacing the old example/template.

I have decided to take the picture in the school library, I believe using books in the background promotes intellect, intelligence and an obvious school/education nature. It is also effective to have this background because it shows a wide range of colours that each individual book gives off, this may make the cover more eye catching. 

I also decided on changing my model to a female as this going with the rough edged font and font colours further promotes a neutral gender profile, which is my aim. 

I asked my model to look at the books, and hold a position that looks as if she is intrigued towards the books, with a positive expression. 

I have used a medium close up by allowing her upper arm, shoulder and head to be shown in the shot. Although my model should be at the centre of the shot, I decided to show off more of the library setting, so it is an obvious school vibe. Magazines also commonly use eye contact with their model and the camera, however I believed it was more unique and effective to have a shot positioned in the way shown. 

Because of this new shot I have moved part of my anchorage text down the page, this is so the whole of my main image is shown correctly. If I did not move my 'Starting school special edition' anchorage text from its earlier position it would have covered my models had, some of the books and some of her face.           

Progress on my contents page - Main body 

I decided to use a long column to store all my information as this is commonly used in magazine contents pages and in magazine articles. Using columns allows the page to look much neater and more professional, and perhaps more interesting to read, rather than blocked paragraphs of writing across the page, which may look boring and unoriginal.    

I have highlighted and talked about the advertised articles I have placed on my front cover, in more depth and have given relevant information on a contents page, eg. where to find the article 'Check out page 13!' and what is to be expected. 

I have also added another article, which I have not advertised on my front cover. This article looks at 'fashion,' I have chosen this subject in order to make sure a young female target audience is equally attracted towards this magazine as a young male would be, keeping my audience genre profile at around 50/50. 

Because twitter is a hugely popular social network devise for teens at this time, it would be poignant to add a twitter page for readers to follow. This way readers can learn more and stay interested in the magazine in different ways.    

Photography

I have decided on an idea to include examples of photography I have already created, earlier in my work. This way it can save time, and is useful to not waste any past work.
I have added this idea to my 'top 10 homework tips' article, as 2 helpers giving advice, who have already gone through the experience of the build up to GCSE's, which will reassure the readers that this information is reliable.
  

Starting my contents page

Beginning my contents page I have decided on keeping the same bold/eroded font as used on my front cover, as well as the colouring of green orange and yellow themes.
This is because I want to stick with and expand on the original theme as shown on the cover, this way it is recognizable/iconic.
Instead of keeping with the slogan "All you need!" as shown on the cover I have decided to place something different on the contents so that not all is the same as the cover. I have used "Your very own guide through the build up to GCSE's!" so that when I start creating the main text for the contents page I can refer to this, I also thought it was a poignant subject to add as GCSE's are what my targeted audience age are driving towards.

Starting my Contents Page

Progress on my front cover...

Similarly to my masthead I have edited the anchorage which uses the same font, to create a sharper more defined image. I have also changed one article idea from 'Popular? Try the BFF test' to 'New friends? Try the BBF test.' As I believe it works and sounds better.

I have chosen a suitable price £1.00, and created a sign for this, which is clear to read and is placed well on the front cover.
I have also taken the image of a barcode and placed it in the corner of the magazine as this is one of the main/ obvious points for a front cover.

Even though I have not yet chosen and created my own photography for the cover, I have taken this image from the internet as an example as to what I would like my image to be like. It is well lighted with a good background, and the main image as a medium close up shot, which is posed and has eye contact.

Eye level = finally, an eye level shot is used to show full focus on the subject/ character, it can be effective to show a build of tension between two characters in a conversation, for example across a table. The face is placed in the middle of the shot.