Analysis Of Photoshoot Images

The first thing I like about this image is how the model is looking directly into the camera which could also represent looking into the readers eyes. Although It is quite an awkward angle that the model is sitting at as she doesn’t really know where to place her hands. Although the girl is smiling this could represent that she is happy at the school which is a good sign if you are a new reader. The shot is also a medium shot however I don’t like the background as it includes a bin and also cars which could cause some trouble when trying to figure out where to place the masthead, typography, coverlines and header. As there are dark colours and light colours meaning it would look unprofessional but also messy at the same time as the reader wouldn’t be able to read it that much as it would be unclear and hard to find a font colour. However the model is dressed smartly and appropriately which would give a good image of the school.

Again this model is dressed smartly and appropriately however it immediately gives the idea that the photo is about ‘The Cafe’ as that is the first piece of writing on show. This barely has anything to do with the actual school so readers may get confused to see that this is the front cover of the magazine. This is also a long shot, as we can see a lot of the background in the picture. Personally I don’t think this image is a very good image as there are people working in the background which makes it look un-professional. The picture has also been taken at an angle and you can see all the table and chairs in it. It doesn’t work at all. The picture is boring. However the models facial expression is exciting as she looks extremely happy as she had wide arms and a big grin on her face. I don’t think the typography would be very visible either as there are a lot of different colours going on in the background so therefore it may clash and be really hard to read the actual font as people may get distracted by the background or for example if it was in a shop then it wouldn’t be very eye catching as it would look ugly and messy.

The thing I like most about this picture is the shot and the camera angle itself, It looks really professional and exciting. However I don’t like how the model has placed herself. I believe it would have looked a lot better if there were more students in this picture and then they were all making eye contact with the camera as it would also be them making eye contact with the reader. The model has also placed herself that she is looking away from the camera. I don’t like this as she looks bored and completely uninterested in what is going on around her, she also has her phone in her hand which isnt very professional at all. It has connotations of boredom.  Although the background is quite simple here and the colours are quite dull and boring meaning that it would be a nice place to place all the typography on the magazine as it would be clear and easy to read. 

This is a real action shot of a typical day at ‘The Misbourne’ I like this as it shows students in their lunch period all enjoying themselves and having a good time. This would reflect on the school as being happy and friendly. Although I think this shot could have been a lot better as half of the students aren’t facing the camera. But I like how they are all looking at each other and some of them are laughing/smiling. The colours on this image are quite dark which would mean that the typography would be easily seen as you could use a bright colour to grab the reader’s attention.  I don't really like the surrounding either though and I dont think would be very good for a front cover as it is boring. Although I like how it a medium shot and I have learnt what would be good for my magazine and what not to include. 

Photoshoot Pictures For My School Magazine

Inspiration For The Misbourne Moodboard

This is my moodboard of images that reminds me of my school ‘The Misbourne’ From doing this moodboard it has inspired me and helped me develop my thoughts for my final magazine front cover. The first thing that stands out to me is the colour scheme. As we can see these colours are ‘The Misbourne’ uniform which is red and dark blue, so therefore these will be the colours that are on my school magazine front cover. However It is also an advantage having a dark background as it will reduce clashes as I can use a white font for example and place it over the dark blue background and it will be eye-catching but also stand out from the crowd as it will be easy to read and look professional.

I have also included pictures of students, I like these pictures as they really show what the school is about, being happy but also serious at the same time. It really grabs the reader’s attention. This is something that I am going to take into account for when I am taking pictures for my magazine. All of the images are taken at the school, they all include students in the school working hard but also enjoying themselves. It has also shown me the difference in camera shots for example we can see some long shots and then some medium shots. Personally I like the medium shots as they aren’t took close and they aren’t too far away and we can also see what is going on in the background. Although another thing that I like is how the picture is really focused on one point and then it is blurred in the background. It has given me some ideas for my cover.

For the masthead I am going to keep it clear and bold, but I am also going to put ‘The Misbourne’ birds next to it as this is the school logo which is very recognisable. But I also included a picture of the headmaster and he is the one who has really made the school what it is, but also the moto ‘success through learning’ I will make this bold and clear and this will be placed just underneath the masthead and above the header. I really like this saying as it says it how it is. But also to new people gives a good impression about the school.

Format Analysis Of 2 School Magazines

Overall I think that the ‘college’ magazine is far better than the ‘welcome’ magazine. You can really see the difference in one being really messy and the other one being really professional. It also reflects on the editor as you can tell that they knew exactly how to use an editing software where as the welcome magazine must have been clueless on how to edit and put together a magazine.

To start off with looking at the Mastheads, straight away we know what type of magazine it is when looking at the ‘college’ magazine where as with the other magazine all it says is ‘welcome’ this could be really confusing to the reader as it doesn’t really make clear what type of magazine it is. So the writer could be welcoming them to anything.

Looking at the central image we can see that on the ‘welcome’ magazine they have gone for a close up shot, personally I don’t think this works as the young girl is to ‘in your face’ and it looks really messy. She also has her top button undone and her tie is loose which could reflect on the school for being unprofessional and unorganised. However the girl is smiling which does link in with the title ‘welcome’ as she looks friendly and welcoming. So if you were a new student you can see straight away that it is a nice, friendly school. But in comparison to the ‘college’ magazine this looks very professional and neat. They have gone for a medium close up shot. I believe that this shot is much better as it only takes up the centre of the magazine where as the girl on the ‘welcome’ magazine took up most of the magazine and it was hard to read the font. They are also both looking directly into the camera which shows that they are also looking directly at the reader which also shows that the cover lines on the magazine are talking to them their target audience.

The font used on ‘welcome’ magazine is in black, yellow and blue. The masthead font and colour are really clear as it stands out. It also doesn’t clash with the central image meaning it doesn’t look messy. However because the wall in the background is dirty white, they have assumed that yellow would be a good colour to go over the top. But is actually doesn’t go at all, it kind of blends in with the background and it is really hard to read. You have to look really closely to actually see what the magazine is trying to tell you. The only readable yellow font is over the girl’s dark blue blazer. The blue font isn’t much better, because it is a very bright blue it doesn’t really work. It clashes with the central image making it un-professional and messy. The font they have used as well isn’t very bold, it is also quite small. To improve it she should have used a bolder font. However personally for them to improve the magazine I believe that they should have had the school in the background to make it more clear for the readers. But in comparison to the ‘college’ magazine it is a lot clear as the font is bold and doesn’t clash with the central image. They have used a three colour principle which works really well together as none of them class.. They have also used 4 different fonts. This makes the magazine stand out and is also eye-catching. I like how they have used such dark colours and then brighter font as this really works and it is also readable.

Finally the ‘college’ magazine has included the basic features such as a barcode and header. Even though these are really small things it is also very important that these are included on the magazine as it makes it look professional.

Mock-up For A School Magazine

This is my magazine mock-up for a school magazine to create this I used Microsoft publisher. As we can see it is a very basic layout, this is because I didn’t want it to look messy or over the top. I wanted to keep it smart and professional as this will also reflect on the school itself.

The first thing that always stands out on a magazine is the masthead this is why I have placed it at the centre top as people immediately know what the magazine is all about and they won’t get confused. The font I have gone for is clear, simple and professional looking. I have also put an image on the left hand side of my masthead which can easily be recognised as one of the school symbols.

Above the masthead will be the header, the header is also a very important part of the magazine as it gives the basic information such as the date or school website if readers want to find out even more information about the school. I also have included a barcode and the price on the bottom right hand corner as this is one of the basic features that should be on a magazine but it also makes it look professional. I will charge £1.25 as this isn’t too expensive as a lot of information will be covered inside.

I will have one central image on my magazine which will be some of the older students standing outside the front of the school, for their facial expression they will be smiling and laughing as this will show that they are happy at the school but also that the school is very welcoming and friendly. The image will also be a medium close up as then you can also see the background but it also won’t be to in the students faces.

On the left hand side I have my 3 cover lines and plug lines, these will be short and snappy but also very informative about what is inside the magazine. These are very important as it can be the difference between not making sales and making sales. As we can see I have gone for a smaller font than the masthead but also a different font, this is so it will stand out but not make the magazine look messy. I then also have sell lines and puff lines, this is also a key part of my magazine as it will catch people’s eyes but also look cool and intriguing.

Finally for my colour scheme I will be sticking to the Misbourne colours as it won’t look confusing my magazine, it will look smart and professional. These colours are dark blue and red. I like these colours as they will be good to work with as for I can have a white typography which can be placed over the dark blue font, meaning it will be clear to read but also will stand out as it will be on a dark background.  I have also used a total of 3 fonts; I have done this as the 3 fronts are representing 3 different features on the magazine. But it also makes the magazine clear and stands out.

Overall I am pleased with my mock-up and I am looking forward to putting it all together.

Analysis Of My Moodboard

From creating a mood board and analysing 3 front covers, I have now developed my understanding further about the front cover of a school or college magazine. I have really noticed the difference between a professional front cover which I hope my final cover will look like and then also a really bad front cover.

From learning the terminology in a previous lesson I have been able to look at the images on the mood board and pick out some of the keys things. For example one of the main things that should stand out to me is the central image and also the masthead. It should look clear and professional. However on many of the school magazines I can see that it isn’t very neat and doesn’t stand out from the crowd. Especially the bottom left one. They have used a white font over the central image, to me this doesn’t work very well at all as from a distance this doesn’t stand out and that is one of the main criteria that it should stand out so then people will want to buy the magazine and the actually read the contents inside. Also the central image should look professional and personally the cover that says ‘class’ on it looks awful. They are meant to be representing a school however the front cover looks ridiculous. The boy makes the school look that it is out of control and crazy and he has a straight face which could scare new people as he doesn’t look welcoming or friendly at all. But if you compare this central image to the ‘college buzz’ image you can see a really different in pictures. Even though the central image isn’t amazing, she is smiling and looks extremely happy which is very positive as they are representing a school magazine and you clearly want the school to look friendly. This has also given me wonderful ideas about what I would like my final image to look like; friendly and welcoming as that really does represent my school as well. Not only that though but it is all about the title as well and I want my title to be catchy and something that will stick in people’s memories so they will want to come back and buy it again.

Another thing that stood out for me is how the model in the image is standing and looking, as we can see most people are looking directly at the readers I like this as it looks like they are having eye contact with them. But I also like the facial expressions on the people. This has inspired me to try out new shots when taking pictures as I think I would surprise myself as to how nice different angles actually look.

In conclusion doing a mood board has given me inspiration and ideas of what i would like my final image to look like and I have developed my knowledge and understanding of what looks good and what looks bad.

Analysis Of Different Fonts

I have gathered a range of fonts in which I can now annotate and decide which ones I like and dislike and whether or not I would want this font on the front cover of my magazines. From looking at the fonts we can see a variety from small too big and clear to bold. So doing my research has helped me a lot as I know that I want a simple masthead that will stand out from the others but also really neat and professional for example font 4. This font is one of my favourite as it is bold and catches my eye, but also this could represent that I am proud of my school. I dislike the fonts near the bottom of the picture as they look boring and they are unclear and as an editor you don’t want something to be unclear as this means that no one will read it and then no one will buy it.

Another one of my favourite fonts is font 3 as it is quite simple but it is also very engaging from the others. But I am also thinking ahead and asking myself the question of what would it look with a background image? You obviously want it to go and I don’t think that some of these fonts will go as they are very over powerful and almost quite scary for example the 7^th and 9^th one gives a feeling of gothic and this isn’t something that you would want your school to portray. You want the font to represent that the school is very welcoming and friendly and I believe that the font I choose for my final piece will portray this when it goes with the final image as well.

What I Have Learnt So Far..

From starting the media course I have learnt so many things. The first thing I learnt was how to actually create a blog itself as before I had no idea that it would actually be so easy! I then learnt how to use the blog itself for example how to set a template, to rearranging the layout of my blog and creating a web link.

I then learnt the key terminology about the front cover of any magazine; this was the Masthead which is the name of the newspaper or magazine which is usually located at the top of the magazine. The Header; this gives information about the date of the magazine. The central image; which is the main image on the front cover of the magazine, graphic features; which is computer generated imagery, cover lines; that are short statements in which are found on the cover of the magazine that describes some of the articles inside and finally the ‘three colour principle’ which is a modern colour theory based on primary colours.

We then went onto looking at other people’s school magazines that they had created themselves which we then used the front cover of theirs and annotated what we thought about each one of the terminology. Doing this definitely broadened my knowledge further of the terminology for example I straight away found out that the Masthead is always at the top centre of the page and it should be bright and bold to give it the professional look but also to make sure that it is clear. The header which I originally thought was the masthead is actually the smaller information, which is usually located under the masthead. The information that it usually includes is how much the magazine is, the date of the magazine and sometimes if they have a website then the web address. I also saw a variety of central images which really did show the difference between a good and a bad central image. But also the littlest of things that I thought would be important, the way the model is actually facing or looking. But for the graphical features I really did learn that using a computer really does give it the extra finishing touch of it being professional. I also learnt that the cover lines of a magazine really is the line that will grab the reader’s attention as even though it is a line out of an article it is the only thing that the reader will see and then decide if they will want to buy the magazine. So I know that the line has to be good. The last thing I learnt was the ‘three colour principle rule’ which is believed that it will look better if you only use 3 colours. Personally I agree with this rule as from doing my annotations on the magazines, I believe that it looks a lot more professional using less colour as if you use a lot it makes it look very messy and scruffy and I don’t want this on my final design. However from doing annotations of a magazine it taught me the advantages and disadvantages of what to make a front cover look like.

I then looked at a different magazine which was an actually published professional magazine which I also annotated, however I learnt that it isn't all about the front cover of the magazine it is also about the contents inside the magazine and how they word it for example if it is persuasive writing about buying a product. However going back to the front cover the words they used ‘looks you’ll love’ really showed me that it is all about how well you word your cover lines that will get readers to buy your magazine.

Over all I am really enjoying media and all the new exciting things I am learning and I am looking forward to widening my knowledge and creating my own front cover magazine that will hopefully look neat and professional.

Analysis For A Magazine Named 'Ideal Home'

Title: Ideal Home     Price: £3.60

Frequency of the magazine: monthly magazine

Pictures? The central image is a picture of someone’s living room inside their home; it links in with the title ‘ideal home’ as the main image is someone’s home. It also includes lots of other homely objects in the picture. The front cover design also is very appealing and professional looking which will make the reader want to buy the magazine and see what items are inside in which they can then go and buy and have their ‘ideal home’. Like the magazine is suggesting. It also includes thumb nail pictures along the right hand side which are sneak previews of what is actually inside, however it is suggesting that there are bigger and better thing inside the magazine.

Freebies? If you actually buy the magazine inside you will find smaller magazines that ‘ideal home’ are obviously promoting other companies as there are booklets to have a small look at what they have to offer inside.

Target audience: I think the target audience for this magazine would be more for a female (30 plus) magazine as they are usually the ones who are buying and deciding what to put in their home, however it may be read by couples who are looking to move into a house together. So they could be deciding together what to buy and what they want. The cover automatically appeals to this target audience as the front cover is someone’s home and most of them would have their own home, so it would be nice for them to have a look at what is the latest trends to have and then purchase them.

Sell lines- ‘fresh ideas for updating every room’ ‘new season looks you’ll love it’ – these stand out as the main sell lines as they draw the reader in to wanting to buy the magazine and see all these ‘fresh’ ideas.

Inside the magazine: It says ‘go with your heart’ this suggests that you will love the magazine and will want to buy a lot of items in the magazine as heart has a connotation of love which links into the masthead ‘ideal home’ and also the cover lines ‘new season’

In the magazine all the topics are covered that would be an ‘ideal home’ so it would be great if you were moving house and you weren’t sure what you wanted to be in your home you can just read the ideal home book and see what you think.

There are a lot of smaller magazines in the ‘ideal home’ magazine that is promoting their business that are having sales and how cheap they are etc.

Each different article goes into different amount of depth but they all use cover lines in the articles and also they use a lot of persuasive language in the article to try and make the reader buy the product and have this image of an ‘ideal home’ which would be amazing to live in as you would have the latest trends.

Even though the magazine is £3.60 which may seem like quite a lot of money it does cover a lot of information that is really useful and helpful. They also have a website if anyone wants to look for even more products. 

Format Analysis For A School Magazine