Hand drawn draft 2

This was my second drawn draft. I created this so I could have an idea of what the blue colour scheme would have especially since it is unconventional for a rock magazine. I feel as though the blue looks okay but it doesn't have the vibrant that the red has. I like the idea of have the main sell line slanted as it adds more variety to the cover.

Hand drawn draft cover 1

This was my first hand drawn draft, I am thinking of using a yellow, red, white and black colour scheme as it is very common for a rock magazine due to the contrast in colours and how well they represent the style of the magazine. This was a basic draft just so I could have an idea for colour, font and the main image.

Contents page mock up

Double page spread mock up

Shoot 5

This image I plan to use for either my double page spread or the main image on my contents page. The background or setting is meant to portray a grungy/ rough style much like rock music. Some of the images need cropping and editing slightly but I felt as though I have a variety to choose from. For some of the images I purposely chose not to use the flash as it makes the colours saturation appear to be high. Again I used the guitar, by using the guitar with the same subject and numerous images shows the audience that the subject has a role. In this case the audience would assume that he is the guitarist and maybe the lead singer as generally the singer also plays the guitar in a conventional rock band.

Shoot 4

Shoot 4:
For this image I wanted to experiment with lighting effects and moods that it can create. Positioning the lighting behind the subject I wanted to attempt to recreate a stage light. Although this wasn't exactly what I originally planned I think the image is still very effective and has a relaxed and mellow theme to it. By having an acoustic guitar low key lighting and an ambient surroundings the subject would be stereotyped to have a soft and mellow style much like an indie singer. I would maybe crop some of these images and use them as cover lines or even a poster as I feel as though it is a bit dark for a main image. In the bottom left I tried to create some basic images that represented an exclusive look at how the music process works. By having exclusive material in your magazine you potentially attract a wider audience as some people like to look at the process of such a popular topic.

Shoot 3

For this image I had the subject use a large variety of poses as this would be the main image I used for my front cover. I experimented with depth as in some images there is a clear range of depths. I also used an electric guitar as a prop as it is very conventional and fitting with rock music as it is the iconic "rock instrument". In terms of clothing i feel as though the outfit is also very fitting as the contrast between black and white makes the subject appear very bold. The shirt that he is currently wearing is also very popular at the minute and fits with how rock stars are very fashion concious. The reason the setting/ background isn't fitting or related to the image is because I planned to edit that out as I had a background image from a second source that I plan to use.

Shoot 2

Shoot 2: For this shoot  I had a more professional and effective set up than my first shoot. I was fortunate enough to have permission to use some instruments as props This allowed me to create effective and appropriate images, especially because my magazine is a rock music magazine. The drums and guitar are very fitting as they both are conventionally related to rock music. I also used a light set-up so the image had more clarity and the subjects were more clear, the green screen made it easier for me to edit the image as I originally planned to add a stage set-up image from a second source. Alternatively I adjusted the colours to the image and added a filter so the image looks somewhat like a poster from on the stage.

To edit this image I added a text box and created a band logo and name. I then repositioned the text and altered the perspective. I did this because i wanted the image to portray a photo from a performance that looked like a poster. Also by adding the logo it gives the sense of branding which is what my magazine aims on doing. Another reason and benefit from having a photo that looks as though it was taken from a live show it gives the reader a sense of exclusive content. I then added numerous filters by adding a coloured box and changing the layer properties to blend. I repeated this until I was satisfied.

Magazine name

Magazine Name:

The name I have chosen for my magazine is Militia the reason for this is because I feel as though it is very fitting for the genre which I am focusing on, which is the rock genre. The word not only is very catchy and recognisable but it is also very fitting.
A Militia is an organisation of citizens prepared to provide defence, emergency, or paramilitary service, or those engaged in such activity. Militias can be government sanctioned or independent organisations. The legality of such organisations varies by country, as does the role they have played in the founding of different countries.
I feel as though if you were to read into the title further you could interpret the title referring to the followers of the magazine as they would be in a sense "an army" that contains citizens like them selves. Also in relation to the title and rock theme the actions which militias perform can be considered rebellious much like the conventions and stereotypes of people, especially teenagers, that listen to rock music.
The term militia is derived from Latin roots:

• miles /miːles/: A fighter or warrior
• -itia /iːtia/: A state, quality, condition, or activity

In its original sense, therefore, militia meant "the state, quality, condition, or activity of being a fighter or warrior." It can be thought of as "combatant activity," "the fighter frame of mind," "the militant mode," "the soldierly status," or "the warrior way."

Militia can mean multiple things:

• Defence activity, as well as those engaged in it, when it is defence of the public, its territory, property, and laws.
• The entire able-bodied male population of a community, town, or state, available to be called to arms against an invading enemy, to enforce the law, or to respond to a disaster. A similar common law provision, the posse comitatus, exists in jurisdictions with English judicial origin for law enforcement authority to conscript from the male population to assist with keeping the peace, law enforcement, and so forth.
• A private, non-government force, not necessarily directly supported or sanctioned by its government.
• An official reserve army, composed of citizen soldiers, also called an Army Reserve, National Guard, or State Defence Forces.
• The national police forces in Russia, and other former CIS countries, or the former Soviet Union: Militsiya.

Yet all of these are along the same lines of a strong united force. Much like a following of people that support a certain organisation.

Colour research

Shoot 1

This was my first shoot for my magazine. I tried to create a clear white background to represent a professional photo shoot. Unfortunately the images lack light as i only had the camera flash. This created some fairly good images but none that I would like to use for my final/ main image. I may consider using one of these as a small image. The props i used for example, the coat and cut tool prop both add some variation to the images which I feel was needed. The coat doesn't fit the audience and genre that I am targeting as the generic outfit is usually black and leather. The movie prop isn't completely related to music, but considering this I thought that it would be ideal for a cover line and screamer. This is because it is becoming increasingly popular for artists to release a documentary about there career as an artist also I could interpret the prop suggesting a music video.

In the end I ended up using one of the images from this shot. In terms of editing I added a stubble to the subject as well as some tattoos as they are both the current style that a rock artist portrays.
Firstly I duplicated my image so that i had an original copy. I then selected the whole image using the marquee tool. Then i deselected the subject using the lasso tool and holding shift by doing this I could refine the edges of the selection by adding smoothing and feather. Once I added feather and smoothing I deleted the background and added a white fill. This gave a clear white background. I then touched up the background and deleted selected parts of the image that I did not like. After that I cleared the subjects skin imperfections by using the clone tool I erased spots etc. I then added a stubble by drawing a basic beard shape using a half-tone grey on a new layer. I then added Gaussian, monochromatic noise to the image. After that i added a zoomed radial blur to the noise to replicate the strokes. Finally I changed the layer options to hard light.

Font styles

Editing processes

Digital cover Basic mock up

 

 

Digital front cover draft

This was my basic layout which I created on http://www.picmonkey.com/# considering the tools I had viable I think that the design is really effective. I used the conventional colours for a rock magazine, red white and black. I added orange because it compliments red really well and is still a bold expressive colour.

Then using the basic layout that I created on pic monkey I finished the draft using Photoshop. I added numerous images to make the image look more appealing. The fonts that i used consist of a wide range and vary in colour. I added texture to my masthead with a particular font. I added a red fill to my main cover line to make it look more appealing especially due to the texture. In terms of improving the main thing that needs improving is the main image as it lack expression for a rock magazine. Next time I shall have the model posing to add depth to the image. I do however like the beard and tattoos that I added as they look really effective and suggest a rock theme.

Examples of shot types

Here is a selection of shot that took for examples. The first shot on the left is a long shot, this is when the subject takes up the full of the frame. This is very effective to show the subject as well as the surroundings.
The next shot is a close up, the shot is poorly framed as the subject is not centred therefore changing the balance of the image. Close ups are ideal to display expression and emotion.
Also the image on the right is a medium close up although it may also be classed as a mid shot. Medium close ups are halfway between a close up and a mid shot. They are ideal for showing facial expressions without getting uncomfortably close.

Here is a posed shot. As you can see the subject is framed with a medium close up. The frame is also very tight as there are parts of him that are out of frame.


Here is a posed shot, this shot represents rock music very well as his stance suggests that he is going to destroy something as he is holding the prop guitar as a sledgehammer which is related to destruction.

Here is my example of a 2 shot/ dolly shot. This is a great shot to use especially for a music magazine as it suggests a band but instead of having a group shot which can sometimes be very chaotic and difficult to use on a portrait piece of work especially because group shots are often landscape so every subject is in frame.

Here is my group shot I only used 3 subjects because i also wanted to showcase the props that i had used. That is one of the main problems with group photos they can become too busy. Although sometimes they can look very effective. Group photos are ideal for a rock magazine because it suggests rock band as generally rock music consists of a group of band members each with a specific task.

Draft photos

My draft images:

This image wasn't as effective as i pictured due to the lack of light which would have gave the image clarity and professionalism. Also since i am doing a rock style magazine the stance doesn't seem very lively. 

 Although this image looks more serious than the image above it again lacks expression. Although this is okay for my draft i would much rather have a better image for my final image.

The main problem with this image is the way the light is mainly hitting the right side of his face. I would prefer it if i had professional lights so the images looked clear and a lot more effective. Luckily i now have these resources.

This was the image which i chose to use for my draft mainly because of the framing of the shot. Once editing my image i decided to add tattoos to Sam as well as a beard this helped portray a rock theme. The only thing that the image was lacking was posture and the quality of light which i now can use to my advantage.

Although the lighting is  lot better in this image than the image above that i said the light was hitting the right side of his face. it still lacks movement and expression.

My edit:

When editing this image i found it pretty difficult to even out the skin tone throughout the arms face and neck especially due to adding tattoos.  To treat this i had to use the burn tool to even out the tone, my main problem with this is that it made the image darker which is what i didn't want to do.

Music videos

Here is a range of music videos from artists within the rock genre.
What I learned from viewing all of these videos is how iconic the instruments, props and clothing is to create an effective connection to the rock genre.

Contents page for College magazine

Reader profile

Music magazine LIIAR anylsis

Sell Lines

Sell lines are added in order to convince the costumer to purchase the magazine. The best way to do this is by using alliteration, unique and intriguing stories. Many magazines also a variety of fonts to make the text stand out, they also use colour and highlight to make the sell lines look more appealing.
It is sell lines that cause sales because that is there purpose. The sell line is usually the magazine's motto (if it has one) underneath the masthead (ex. "The Latest Entertainment News Now").
Sell lines can vary from short catchy phrases to quotes and slogans.

Contents analysis

There is clearly a basic layout that Kerrang was using. Repeating this design can help people recognise your magazine and create a style for the magazine, something that you would expect. Although in the top left there is a different variation of a Kerrang contents page. By having numerous basic layouts it makes the creating process a lot easier but it also gives the reader the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the page and where specific things may be. For example, the main story is most likely as the top half of the contents page.

I noticed that some of the images are from what looks like live shows that the bands had performed at. This allows the reader to feel as though they were partially there as they can attempt to see and feel the atmosphere and what the show was like. By using composed photos like the top two contents pages this can sometimes be more appealing as they can look a lot more professional.
The contents page on the top right consits of one main image. A medium close up that is framed so you can't see his full head. By doing this and composing the subject to stare into the lens it looks more dramatic, therefore more effective. Also by only using one image the page looks a lot more organised and clearer as there are less distractions. Although this can sometimes look more effective it is often lees informative and less conventional for a rock magazine as generally rock magazines are often packed with stories and pictures.

You want a contents page to be brief but informative, it doesn't necessarily have to sell itself as much as the cover as at this point they are already intregued, it does however have to keep them hooked.