Choosing My Double Page Spread Images

The Images

On my double page spread I've kept my design minimalistic but engaging. By using as little text and more image's I'm able to be both informative and attractive. However the use of the image's that are incorporated into the design, make all the difference. I have taken two images on location that were planned, one can be seen around the text and the second more promiscuous image will be on the right with a quote. Each have significant planning but hold no real connotation unlike my other images.

This image is going to be on the right of the page, taking up a A4 sheet. This image has a backdrop with a Mini Cooper. This is as it is seen as a rather new stylish designed car. This relates back to my main ideology of the difference between old and new. The mini combined with my model creates that differentiation. The shot itself is a eye level long shot. It contains most of my model with the exception of his feet. He's looking down at his guitar showing compassion and concentration. He's stood partially led against the fence but still maintaining the position a lap guitarist would use. This helps enforce the topic of the article. The image seemed the best fit and looks good in that the mese un scene is almost perfect. However I took other images that could've been used that can be found below. They're all in profile as the image is meant to be a dominant feature covering a single page.

                     

 My second image is a birds eye mid shot. The image pictures my model sat down with his guitar in his lap, this is meant to be a type of action shot. The way his hands grip the guitar and the style in which his fingers surround the strings implies that he would be playing at this point. The image has a very natural and vibrant background of the green;s and purples of the foliage. The wall he is sat on has yellow paint which also add's colour and creates a break in the colour scheme. I felt that the mese un scene for this image was great. The bursts of colour in the image create character and effect. The mix of blue's, yellow's, and green's create this amazing image that you see before you. I also took similar images all in the birds eye position in different locations to see what I could do with angle's and colour. They can be found below.

                                   

Choosing My Contents Page Images

The Images

My contents page is far from minimalistic when it comes to detail. However I do only have two images on the page. In my eyes this was all I needed, one main image to capture attention and make the page have less text, so readers would stay interested. And a slightly smaller image that has relation to another article that can be used in a similar way, to reduce the amount of blank space and to ensure my page wasn't totally dominated by text.

This first image can be considered the more dominant of the two. The picture is of a colleague and hides some deep connotations. The model is captured in an eye level mid-shot, this has allowed me to capture her costume as well as the prop I used. She's clutching a microphone in a stand with a very blank expression. This was purposed so that it relates back to my main ideal of the "generation gap" and how she's disappointed with what music has become. 

She's meant to represent the older style of music and I aimed to achieve this using the furry coat. It is very similar to a boa that older Broadway and club singers would wear. She is also backed with various posters. However the two that are more promiscuous are for "Straight Out Of Compton" and a image of David Bowie. Two slightly older artists. Enforcing my ideology of the older music style. Other images were taken and can be found below. These could've been used for other effect however I found this image worked best.

           

My second image is of another colleague as the main model, with others in the background. The image is in relation to an article about young rap artist's, this is depicted in the image through the connotations. Rapper's and musicians in general are well known for having large entourage's. This is shown in my image by the male behind the main model. It creates the idea of support and care. The image is again an eye level mid-shot and creates a personal connection between the reader and the image.

 The choice of colours on the outfits against the plain background creates great contrast in the image. Another connotation I aimed to achieve is within the stance of the model. He's in a defensive position, this creates the idea that in the music industry you have criticism's coming from all angles and therefore you need to remain vigilant and defensive. I took various other images that I could've used in this space but this enforced my overall ideal when it came to the magazine's ideologies and for that reason I chose it. The other images can be found below.

                          

Choosing My Front Cover Image

The Image           

For my front cover, I have chosen the following image. I have taken this image that I took myself and have applied editing where necessary. Once this was done it was used as the central photo for the piece. the image has reasoning behind why it has been used on the magazine. My initial idea for my front cover was short lived due to faults of my own in planing. I lacked the required props and models, so this caused a set back and prevented me from finishing my magazine for some time.

My  image is the main piece for the cover. It's a worms eye long shot of one of my school colleagues. The camera was placed level with the ground and the model sat on the wall as depicted. The idea of the shot came from the ideology of inspiration. The worms eye camera positioning, implies that you're looking up to the model in the sense of faith and aiming to be like him. The long shot enables me to capture the whole model as well as the background. This became useful to me later on in the development of my magazine. I had taken other images with the same background and positioning using different angles and shot's which can be seen below.

   

Contents Page Flat-Plan

The Idea

My content's page has had inspiration from pre existing media products. By using a similar house style my magazine will look professional and also appealing. By doing this I am able to appeal to my audience in their simplest form. By keeping it simple and stylish it will be easy for the older generations as well as the younger ones. 

The idea is to have the page separated by various lines and boxes that will in turn include different pieces of information. This will make navigation easy. And thus will ensure that what I'm trying to share is done so in the correct form. By making sure that I have these simplistic elements combined with the semi-complex design Im able to provide the informative but stylish approach.

Double Page Flat Plan

The Idea

My intention, is too have a double page in which the right hand proportion will be a picture. This will mean I have to provide less smaller pictures and content to fill up the overall area. The Image will have a quote pasted onto it from the artist in which I will talk about. This will make it more personal to the reader and also less boring

On the left side I want to keep it minimalistic but also effective. This is why I'm planning to use minimal images. I have positioned two outlines on the page which will in due course be filled with the images I select. These will be carefully planned and will provide a certain effect to the magazine. In the remaining white area's i will place text box's that will have comments and phrase's from an interview with the artist. And then to complete the page there will be the title on the top and a Quote in the middle.

Front Cover Flat-Plan

I started to draft out how my magazine would look. I sketched my main image idea and then worked around that. I made sure that whatever additions I added wouldn't block the view of my main image. I have various bubbles that are intended to implicate text and images. These all add to the effect and help my magazine conform to the norms.

The main image itself intends to pert-rude and take up a majority of the cover space. I aim for my masthead to be in the left corner but as it isn't perfectly straight it will give the impression that it is suspended. I don't want to put to much text and image on my cover as it may detract from the Mise Un Scene.

My main image as sketched shows a teenage boy and an older woman. It's intended to represent the two genre's of music that are most apparent within the demography. His eyes looks up to her whilst his face and head aren't directly. Giving off the denotation that despite he may not give reference to her he is looking up to her. This fits with the main ideology of my magazine. It portrays the ideal that older generations paved the way for the music that we listen to today.

I understand that I may not be able to get the total costume for this image. So I'm prepared to Photoshop minor elements such as the guitar on the male models back. This will help as I feel with this image I'm raising representation issue's as well as giving reference to the sub-culture of Hipster. Whilst also showing that there is class and style in the music style from the past.

Masthead Concepts

Various Concepts

This design is my initial concept and has been used as my trademark up until this point. It is simple but sleek and is rather appealing to the eye. The word "Broken" looks as if its snapped in half to further the concept of the break between the generations and the representation issues that arise because of it. This is the masthead I will use for my final piece as it has gone through development and proven effective.

The next concept is an earlier design and is almost identical. However it doesn't have the break in the title so may not help get across the connotation of the break that my magazine aims to focus on. This may leave potential audiences unaware of the meaning. This has also had its font changed from the previous design.

My first concept is very basic and was considered too simplistic. I created it at the beginning of the topic and it was useful at the time. I used bright colours as I thought they would contrast and create an effective binary opposition. They would've also fitted with my initial genre which was Pop. However I decided after my survey feedback that this wasn't the genre or style my magazine needed. instead i developed the idea to its next phase which involved changing the colours and font.

Masthead Brainstorm

Idea's

Throughout the process of creating my mgazine I have been drafting Masthead concepts aswell as titles overall. Some of the various Titles I have thought of are as follows:

1. High Note
2. Broken Strings
3. Chord
4. Beat Smash
5. Bass

Each of these titles have different connotations and denotations. These all aid the image that I want too put across to my audiences. For example by using different codes and conventions I am able to portray different emotions and ideologies towards the audience. Which in this instance is predominantly people classified as E on the social grading scales. As previously stated this would be the groups of elderly pensioners and young dependants. However there are also the unskilled workers but my magazine aims to keep the two major groups in mind when producing the product.

Among the 5 drafted titles. I have invested the most time into Broken Strings. I feel that it is effectivly portraying what I need it to whilst also being able to connotate what the local demographic have asked for. For example the title itself denotates the image of a string instrument most likely a guitar with its strings broken. Also there is the song by John Morrison which people may think of instantaniously aswell. However the lyrics to this song connotate deeper meaning just as this title does.

The concept of broken strings brings the idea of a broken society into play through my magazine. The demographic said that they wanted comparisons between the age gap in the music industry. So the market and concept is very apparent in the demographic. Its the idea that we've come so far that we cant recognise who we once were. It is argued by some that what the modern young dependants listen too has no meaning and purpose. So the title Broken Strings brings that ideology of the disasociation within the groups.