Outdoor Photo shoot

Armed with a camera, fur coat, guitar and a human being, I embarked on my outdoor photo shoot. 

My model, Atlanta, was my independent artist where, in order to achieve the vision I conveyed, I artistically arranged my model in numerous ways to accomplish my goal.

In terms of location, I had originally planned to travel around Central London, taking a variety number of photos.. Places I planned to visit were Camden Lock, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Bank, St. Paul's Cathedral, all of which were sophisticated and well known locations, which relates to my primary theme for the magazine: sophistication. I had thoughts of using various tube stations, where my model could pose as a busker.

Busking was a concept I saw, as based from articles I have read online where busking shows the passion and love an artist or performer has for their work. The passion being so strong that they'll go out of their way to show it to the world; In the cold, the rain, and seeing as it's not about the money as 'mere loose change' is usually gained-their primary objective is sharing their creation out there to the world.

I therefore, wanted to incorporate this into my magazine, as my magazine is an Indie mag, which will revolve around passion, motivation, sophistication and taking pictures of my model doing so, will convey the first hand idea about what I am trying to tell my audience about this specific artist.

Though I had plans to travel around London, my model Atlanta suggested keeping it local, as pictures around these landmarks have 'all been done before' and that I should keep it local. Getting into character of an indie artist, she envisioned an artist who is passionate but plays locally, staying loyal to the area she was born and raised in and not forgetting her roots, even through gaining minor success. I liked the idea, so we planned out a shoot closer to home.

Truthfully, planning a complex photo shoot in our area would be deemed as a bit feeble, as we decided that we'd go out, get into character, and be spontaneous to capture the moment with whatever lighting and conditions we were encountered with.

Our first stop was Spencer Park, which was a 2 minute walk from our base.

A very simple park which had minimal people and great lighting enriched within it, I set out on my first set of pictures. 

In total, I took 223 photos in the park. All at differing angles, positions and alternating and experimenting with many different factors such as foliage in the background.

The photos shown are all unaltered and uses natural light to compliment the image for a brighter bolder setting.

The clothing chosen for this particular shoot, will all compliment my magazines housing colours. In this picture for instance, the green may not be an ideal colour, but subsequently, I can edit Atlanta out using an editing program such as Adobe Photoshop and be able to crop her into a white or black background.

The wind is also a spontaneous factor we decided to use to our advantage. Whichever direction the wind was facing, Atlanta was placed to the side to enhance her image, having her hair flow in the wind, again showing naturalism to the photo.

Moving more centrally into the park, we turned around which allowed me to use the shadows of the lighting to concentrate more light on to the guitar.

With this particular image, I wanted to travel upwards along the guitar, having Atlanta as a blurred background. I was thinking maybe, to have a heading or subheading on the guitar itself; if used for my feature article for example.

Moving back towards the pathway, we took a hat and began taking pictures of Atlanta busking. As members of the public passed by, I asked a family/group if it would be okay to photograph them, pretending to be members of an appreciative audience.

Upon permission, I took 2 photos; one front on and one over the shoulder showing the audiences reaction.

To conclude this location, we ended with a few jump shots.

This image in particular, was my favourite from the shoot. However, the top of Atlanta's head was cropped which was the only downside to this picture. To resolve this (if I was to use this image) I would insert a title for example over the cropped location, which will compensate and hopefully draw attention away from my readers.

After the jump shots, we were supposedly done, but from all the jumping, Atlanta became tired and wanted to have a rest. I in turn saw this as a photo opportunity, and gave her a cigarette to show her impulsive nature but down to earth personality as an artist. The fur coat, guitar placed down and her posture was all natural to which she got into character for.

Questionnaire findings

My target audience for my Indy Magazine, are the ages 16-28.

To benefit my findings, I split my questionnaire in two. I still had the same questions for both, but did an almost preliminary test for my questionnaire. I started with a few form groups, within years 12 and 13 in my college. This in turn gave me the age range of 16 to 18 year olds. Of the people I sampled, I found that upon the arrival of my results, a broad range was found; ''What type of music do you like?''. Significant improvements of my questions were needed, to be able to identify the winning formula needed for that particular age group.

Upon update of my questions, I again asked the same group of people these questions. I this time had an updated more direct question; ''What is your favourite music genre?'' which had a box applied, to which people could tick to their desired choice. 

As I was able to successfully gain a greater understanding from my target audience, I then expanded from 16-18 year olds to 19-28. I was able to do this, as I handed out hard copies to my sister, to which she handed out at her workplace, which is a media agency filled with predominantly my target audience. 

I then plotted my findings onto a few graphs in order to see a direct correlation between the varying music genres to age groups.

 Key: 1 = 1 person

 In total, I had 80 participants do my questionnaire; 33 who were in the age bracket 16-18, 10 who were 19-22, 15 people in the 23-25 category and 18 and 4 in the 25-27 and 28+ brackets. 

Of the 80 who took part, I plotted the results of their favourite type of music into a pie chart and found that Hip-Hop/R&B and Dancehall was the most popular, followed closely by Rock and Indie.

 However, I did take into account the fact that the majority of the participants in my questionnaire were teens aged 16-18. To overcome this, I paired my findings from my 2 graphs and came out with a line graph which will enable me to identify what each particular age group liked best.

Upon completion, I found that the Hip-Hop genre was most popular with the age group 16-18, and that Rock and indie was most popular with the older audiences. 

This therefore helps me, as my target of producing an indie magazine will in turn be more formal, structured and sophisticated, due to the older audiences. 

Other significant results I found was that the colour blue was most popular but the colour combination of silver, gold and white worked best as I had a sample of 3 colours to which I added in my questions. I also found that people will be willing to purchase a quality magazine, within the price range of £3.49- £2.49 so this helps me as I need to take into consideration printing costs and budgets.

Picture ideas for photoshoot

I have gathered ideas and been inspired by some pictures I have stumbled upon, regarding my upcoming photo-shoot of an independent artist.

I have decided to have two shoots for my magazine; one being an indoor photo-shoot and one outdoor. That being either in the park, near landmarks or train stations.

Indoor shoot
- High angle shot/ medium long
- Seated
- Mic stand
- Guitar stand
- Smiling looking down 

Outdoor shoot
- Low Angle shot
- Outdoor Park  Smilar concept to Kina Grannis, indpendent artist, as shown below.

Front Cover :looking downwards guitar shot. Quite a closeup shot, shows a sensitive side, with my model looking downwards. 

Combining this shot with the park image below, I will be able to show my target audience the passion my artist has for their work

Feature Outdoor shot. Performance for public in park/Busking. Though a car is shown, a similar angled shot is what I'd hope to achieve. I was drawn into the car, as it shows a contrasting colour towards its surroundings. I intend to give my model standout colours similar to the car.

I would like my feature article image to show my model playing with emotion. Showing the happiness and passion, similar to the one I found. The black background also brings my subject to front.

Front Cover :looking downwards guitar shot.
Feature Outdoor shot. Performance for public in park/Busking/Performance with black background
Contents Page/ Smiling medium long shot

Evaluation 5

What do you feel have learnt?

Asides from enhancing my creative and design skills, I think the main beneficial thing I have gained and learnt is being brought into and having a clearer insight and understanding on the magazine trade.

I was also introduced to a new website, called ‘survey monkey’ A website which I can use to design surveys and questionnaires and distribute easily to my social networks.

When conducting this task, I was introduced to a number of new technologies. One of which was survey monkey, a website I was unaware of before, this meant that I was able to design surveys online simply and almost instantly distribute them.

Evaluation 4

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

I used Photoshop CS5 to do my pages, and Microsoft Word to do all the article writing. Seeing as I was already experienced in the fields, I did not learn anything new, but I did however gain the basis of being more precise in the skills and knowledge I already have. Doing this task was a good reminder to refine my skills.

Evaluation 3

How did you attract/address your audience?

• Bright Colours
• Font
• Language

By using colours which complement each other on my front cover (Gold and Grey) and also those being  the overall housing colour; my model was able to stick out more and I enhanced on this with the model’s name and the feature he’s in; ‘Jhaleel’s Ideals’ by doing this, I am able to attract my audience with curiosity and a basic interest into the glimpse of what my magazine has to offer.

The housing font used was BAUHAUS 93, as it gave a modern look, as well as a somewhat, younger feel, in which the informality, which keeps it from looking like a college pamphlet, which will in turn attract my audience.

The language I used was common language I would use when normally writing. More formal than as how I would write to a friend, through Facebook or Twitter for example, but still sticking to my formality of educated English but still within my age bracket. My title for example ‘Liberated Interlude’ which is directed at students who would understand the words, therefore being able to understand the concept and contents within the mag.

Evaluation 2

Who would be the audience for your media product?

My target audience for this media product would be students aged 16-18. Seeing as it is a sixth form magazine. In regards to the content of my magazine, I aimed to keep it open to all classes, races, religion and genders. By using images of both genders, people will be able to distinguish it as a unisex magazine and not confuse it with a men’s magazine for example. In regards to my feature article and contents within it; the article I have written is suitable for everyone. The article which is on food will have no problem fitting into that open criteria. The food reviewed, did not conflict with such religions with certain boundaries on what you can consume which is what I bared in mind when choosing what to write about.

Evaluation

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Seeing as my magazine is aimed at students aged 16-18 and is a sixth form magazine. Worldwide distribution and commercial success would not be expected. However,  seeing as there is not a dominant magazine in the Sixth Form magazine market, if my magazine is widely critically acclaimed a publisher such as IPCmedia would be preferred as a publishing house. Firstly, due to their success with starting off independent magazines into mainstream mags in the media, and their quality funding.

If my magazine was to be independent, I would get it to the target audience via ‘word of mouth’ I would put reminders in my mag, to ‘tell a friend’ if they enjoy it. Advertising at this point would be too costly. Furthermore, going by ‘word of mouth’ my magazine will be new on the market and ‘cool’. Not plagiarised by mainstream media, or big controlling customers. I will envision my target audience to see this and spread the word.

Ideally, I would want my magazine to be away from the book shelf on shops, away from other magazines. This is due, to the want of my magazine to stick out, and appeal to my target audience of 16-18. I therefore would appear my magazine at school receptions, library’s, HMV, Game shops etc. This is to filter out people who have interest elsewhere, and focus on the main place where my target audience go to.

Preliminary Magazine; Liberated Interlude.

Grotesqcue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9vfWilQX78&feature=related



Grotesque (グロテスク Gurotesuku) is a 2009 Japanese splatter horror film written and directed by Kōji Shiraishi. The film is about a sadistic doctor who tortures people for sexual stimulation. The torture scenes include a couple who were out on their first date, but kidnapped and shackled in a basement. The doctor in turn tortures and mutilates them. Initially, he punctures one's belly with a screwdriver and slices his tongue, then rapes both, one at a time, forcing the other to watch. Sometimes he stops the torture to provide medical assistance and cure the couple's wounds, so they can continue to live for a long period of time. This way he cuts off all their fingers, makes collars with them, pops out the male's right eye, removes the girl's nipples and cuts off her right arm. (see link for torture scene)


This film was considered controversial, due to the amount of torture scenes, gore and some scenes showing rape of both genders. This film was banned by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) as it was refused an 18 rating, and was quoted by BBFC director David Cook "Unlike other recent 'torture' themed horror works, such as the Saw and Hostel series. Grotesque features minimal narrative or character development and presents the audience with little more than an unrelenting and escalating scenario of humiliation, brutality and sadism.


Since this movie was banned in the UK, finding sources of audiences and reactions proved difficult. I therefore took the reviews from Imdb.com and used that as a guidline. Firstly, the majority of reviewers were, horror enthusiasts, therefore preferred readers. The movie had 6 nominations for different awards but the reviewers had mixed critical reception. One horror enthusiast wrote; ''the film was quite well shot and the acting for what it was - was good. All and all the production values are great. I wouldn't say gore wise this over-tops anything else that is out there especially from Japan (thinks Ichi the killer) but it is as full on as it can go.'' This gave me the impression that Japan had the norm of violence to this degree already, therefore being exposed and numbed to the hypodermic syringe theory. Thus, in which British audience were not ready for yet. Another reviewer states; ''m a big fan of Horror and especially import Horror movies, But this wasn't my thing at all. The new wave snuff films (or rebirth of 70's uber violent films) are just not my taste... this movie is a prime example of these pointless torture movies,'' This person is an oppossed reader as he is against the movie, quoting it as 'pointless and wasn't my thing'.

The student magazine ‘PLAYGROUND’

•The magazine is laid out, to draw attention to the fact that the season is changing. By doing this, then show two female teenagers, staying close in warm clothing and holding what appears to be hot chocolate.

•The two basic colour schemes are black and white. White representing winter; snow, christmas etc, and a slight bit of blue which can emphasise the coldness.

•Iconography; Woolly hats , scarves, gloves and snuggling close to show and emphasise again the change in weather.

•Content; Pun on ‘Playground.’ PLAY which is in a bolder font size. Pun as we wouldn’t associate ‘playground’ with students 16+ but in a younger audience. This gives the message that, ‘this is the time of your life, to have fun.’

Decomposition of a Media advert

The first thing I noticed, which drew my eyes to this advert is the sexual nature taking place within it.

Every type of Calvin Klein Jeans is being modeled. (Boot cut, Skinny, Shorts, fitted) This shows that the adverts purpose which is to advertise the product and not the brand itself, this idea is backed up by the fact that the company logo only appears once in a small font at the bottom right corner of the frame.

The Calvin Klein logo, at the bottom right, is in a 'sans serif font' This is considered to be more trendy as oppose to a serif font.

The models’ being young and seemingly sexually engaging creates a representation and gives the impression to live life to the fullest, showing how their jeans can indulge that, and possibly help you become sexually active. This subliminal message would appeal and be directed of people similar to their age group.
The advert connotes that buying the product will potentially make you sexually irresistible in attempt to convince possible clients to buy their product.

On the other hand the person, alone on the floor, not engaging with intimate activity with the others, can be a contradiction, and a balance of the product, expressing views that this product does not make you sexually irresistible. 

Questionnaire Evaluation + Update 2.0

Evaluating my magazine questionnaire. The questionnaire I produced firsthand, to give me feedback on what type of magazine, students aged 16-18 would want, did not go as to plan. Firstly, because the questions I provided, was not sufficient enough, to retrieve a clear pattern as to what students would want. Secondly, as a few errors such as the duplication of a question and the basis that some questions was irrelevant to my research.

In my second updated questionnaire I plan to design, I shall include these questions to broaden my knowledge of my target audience;

Aspirations; If my target audience aspire for the future, what they're hopes are, their dreams, what they plan to be.

Languages; This will be a question I add, as knowing what first language or if my targeted audience are bilingual. This could be beneficial, as directing a certain aspect of my magazine towards that group, will attract more people.

Hobbies/ Free time; What students do in their free time, what they like/do. This is to ensure the content in my magazine will relate, and not bore the reader.

Interactive; If people like to interact with magazines; E.g. sudoku, crosswords, word jumbles, quizzes etc.

Age; Finding out the age of the majority of my readers. For example, if most of my readers are aged 16, then content prior to university, or travel may not be in interest to them.

To spread my questionnaire, I plan to take a sample from Year 12, and Year 13 in my sixth form. I will be selecting 5 male, and 5 females, to ensure a broad range of people will be covered. I shall also be posting it to social networks; Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. This is to get the opinion of people in different cultures, and to see what their interests are and to ensure my magazine is diverse.

Magazine Questionnaire

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Y7XTDZ2

My Magazine Questionnaire. The link I have placed here, was placed on the noticeboard in the sixthform area. I shall use the results I have gathered from my research, to incorporate and improve my magazine, based on what the people want.

Student Climax Magazine.

http://issuu.com/thestudentmagazine/docs/april_20121/9

This magazine interested me as it is directed at students. The front cover 'REVISION TRICKS UNCOVERED' draws in the typical student, and the sub-stories on the side, including games, movies etc.. is a typical interest of a student of both genders. To be more direct, a fashion section in the magazine is included for the more feminie pupils reading the magazine.

As I do enjoy this magazine, something I personally like reading is lists. A countdown list such as http://www.officialplaystationmagazine.co.uk/2012/09/10/10-games-that-changed-playstation-history/ include a countdown of the 'Top 10 PlayStation' games which changed history. I enjoy reading such lists as going up the list, slowly being drawed in and curious as to what number 1 would be. Not including a list is what probably, leaves me rating this magazine a 9 out of that possible 10.