Evaluation 6

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

Firstly, since doing my preliminary task, I have learnt how to use Blogger more effectively when conducting research and presenting my findings. It allowed me to create blog posts when researching different conventions of magazines, and I also referred to PetesMediaBlog more, which is a media blog I referred to in the past, but this time much more. I constantly did this to ensure everything I was doing was on track.

My understanding of photography also developed. In terms of my photography skills, since I had to do three photo-shoots. This was because I hadn't planned my first two shoots well, and subsequently came back with results not sufficient to my magazine. After doing a bit of research on light, conventions of real magazines, and what lens to use, I ended up with a successful handful of pictures. I have improved in my overall use of the camera. I learnt what lens to use depending on the shot. For example, shown above is a shot I took with a wide angle lens to capture the setting and location of the shoot. I however, did not use this since my model's head was cut off –which was a shame.

 I also learnt how to use light to my advantage, as shown also, to create an effect in what I am trying to portray to my target audience. Differing shots such as, close-ups, medium-longs, are also different techniques I learned to use to the benefit of the technology.

Though I didn’t use these two photos here, it is an example of how I used my cameras shutter speed to allow different amounts of light into the lens. This created two different shots, and in the first one, the shutter speed was set to a faster setting as oppose to the second where I allowed a couple of more milliseconds which gave more light into the shot. I also set the aperture to a setting of f/3.5 in the second shot to cater for the low light situation in the second. This taught me and developed my skills of using my camera in a manual setting, and was also a good exercise in analysing the appropriate situations when to use this to allow me to capture the best shot possible.

After I had my shots, I proceeded to create my front cover. Before I made it, I wanted a recording software, which will enable me to record my progress during the creation stage.I eventually found a free recording software called ezvid, which allows you capture your screen, edit your video, and then upload it directly to YouTube. It features a wide range of music to suit the tone of your video. I used it to record the process of me designing my front cover. It has been sped up (which is also a feature within ezvid) and features my use of Picasa and Photoshop, to create my front cover. (see below)

Featured above is footage of ezvid being used to show how I used Picasa, and Photoshop to create my front cover. The video falls short, but what can be seen is the basis of what my front cover ended up looking like.

Picasa is a programme offered by Google for free. It helps you organise your photos and is an image optimiser to ensure your pictures reach its peak of quality. I used Picasa to adjust the brightness, contrast and used it to retouch blemishes and smoothen the image. Since using it for my magazine, I have learnt how the different colour temperatures can enhance an image, to either make it look ‘cold’ or ‘warm’ depending on where you tip the scale.

Adobe Photoshop is a programme I have reasonably been experienced in prior to the final product. It was used during the making of the front cover, feature and contents page (see video), and since the preliminary task I have learnt to pay closer attention to detail, and be organised when using layers. Other improvements I have learnt to do when using Photoshop include a better use of the brush tool, background eraser tools and colour specifics.

I used Windows Live Movie Maker to create the videos which answered the valuation questions five and seven. Since using it to piece together my various clips I have learnt how to cut, trim and use the sound tool to adjust the varying volumes with every video. This ensures it is a consistent video in the way that it is presented. When I asked my target audience in a loud environment, I placed subtitles, which I learnt how to do through experimentation, and found out that it was more difficult than expected, due to the differing times of every word said. Through this I learnt how important timing is.

Prezi is what I used to answer my first and third evaluation questions. It is a new software I have been introduced to, and is a creative way to express my findings, in text and picture form without it looking like an essay.