Feedback From Mr Mcgarvey

When discussing my ideas with Mr Mcgarvey, he suggested a need for clearer link between both the differing magazines. He explained that i need clarification and an umbrella topic for both covers. We have concluded that the real-life magazines will focus on the unheard youth and their experience. 

Planning: Pitch

Magazine 1 

To encourage audience engagement, the environment cover will be littered with a selection of stories and tips. I have chosen this topic as there has be an up rise in awareness regarding climate change and the earth. This secures the idea that at least a niche audience will enjoy this issue. For this cover, my real life story magazine will either focus on the poor treatment of young workers in companies that are unethically making products or environmentally conscious ... 

IMPROVEMENT: The real life perspective I will now cover is an influencer who has either stopped buying items for over a year or an influencer undergoing the challenge of changing their lifestyle to become minimalistic. This will cover their thought and journey of the process.

Some of the interests and topics I may include are: 

• the affects of fast fashion - could refer to the excessive habit of online shopping that occurred due to the pandemic. By including covid it incorporates the social context of the time. 
• Highlight the ethical issues regarding fast fashion or planned obsolescence - refer to unethical shops - shein
• This can lead onto columns of advice into healthier habits. Subtopics could include: gardening, cooking and reading. This indicates to healthier a lifestyle and earth.
• Refer to how H&M and other brands are now also encouraging to recycle.
• The uprising trend of thrifting and buying second hand clothing - Emma Chamberlin
• I have also thought of including image shots that display our earth as beautiful as I am aware that I will be away in Scotland during the 6 weeks. This opportunity allows me to get primary images of rural earthy areas. 
• Lil Dicky - we love the earth - possible intertextuality 
• Greta Thumbing
• The Minimalist - Less is Now Documentary 
• Minimalists lifestyle - set challenges to encourage engagement - take one item away each day that is unused.

Magazine 2

My original second cover focused on toxic masculinity. To ensure a wider audience and to interest the demographic of 16-25 year olds, I have altered my idea and broaden it into the theme of ‘Change’. This cover will also include similar features from the previous magazine such as advice and tips. 

IMPROVEMENT: The real life perspective I chose for this story is of a male student choosing to wear a skirt for the first time for that area. 

Topics I could possibly incorporate are:

• what is toxic masculinity
• The issue in regards with up-skirting - advice 
• The change and effect of social media - it being a double edged sword. 
• fashion advice 
• School's opinion
• Include examples of popular celebrities who also dress feminine or cross dress

Online Version

I will use a consistent brand identity. This is shown through the logo of the brand. I will ensure to include links to popular social media platforms to provide interactivity. This will build a community whilst also able to collect information data from likes to comments.

Planning: Summation

What i have learnt form my generic research is how I will challenge the layout of conventional real-life magazines by choosing a more minimalist appearance. I will avoid the cluttered layout of 'That's Life' magazine and lean towards my other examples such as 'Mojo' and 'Grazia'. From Mojo's magazine, I will adopt the simplistic layout as shown my the 'Beatles' issue. They reduced the number of cover lines and solely focused the audiences attention to portrait image of the band. I may also experiment with the idea of collaging a selection of images within the front cover. This is seen in Grazia's covers where they have anchored the main photo with other relevant images. This more suited to my second issue where it covers the theme of fashion and change. 

Overall, i feel that i will ensure to apply some of the typical codes of conventions from magazines so that my product is secured in the market and that consumers still feel inclined to buy a copy. I will ensure that my masthead is striking enough to create a sense of brand identity. I have not yet chosen the specific colour scheme that my magazine and website will abide by however i have taken into consideration the growing popularity of the colour green. The various shades of green also connote to one of my covers on environment. I have also conducted research as to the connotations of this colour. In my findings i found that green was often associated with beginnings and growth OR envy and jealousy. When referring to my images, i will ensure that throughout the product my photos are saturated to fit the customers preference. Some of the typography i have considered is the conventional sans serif font that reflects modernity. This is relevant for my second cover on change. I will attempt to stay away from non-sans serif fonts as they are linked to being medieval and for the older audience.

Generic Research: Mojo Online Media

 

Mojo magazine from EviennePeralta1

Generic Research: That's Life Online Media

 

Media Alevel That's Life Online Analysis from EviennePeralta1

Planning: Representation

Throughout my magazine I will attempt to provide varied representation. In my previous photo shoot I included models with different ethnic backgrounds and genders. Currently, I am pleased with the photo shoot for my second cover on Toxic Masculinity. The representation shown in the second cover is both Asian and white boys. This signifies how many cultures embrace the concept of expressing their individuality by challenging the clothing that has been stereotyped for the opposite sex. I have decided to include underrepresented minorities like Asians because they are often perceived in the media as passive and less courageous than other groups. This therefore also challenges the stereotypes pitted against this ethnicity.

Secondly, the first cover includes the theme of environment. I will attempt to incorporate my intertextuality through the tv show - How To Get Away With Murder - My idea is to anchor the image with complimentary shots of my model. To make the tv reference clearer I will choose to use a black model. This is in reference to one of the main characters named Annalese Keating who was played by Viola Davis. This depicts diversity across both my magazine covers. By referring to a popular series, it can show conventional interest in the culture and entertainment industries. 

The first cover can be argued how it conveys the core ideology of individualism as I intend to only include a singular person for the front page. This can link onto the social context of the environment right now.

Production: Nicole's Photo Shoot Practise

During Easter break, I attempted my own photo shoot where I solely relied on my IPhone to take pictures. These photos worked around the theme of nature and environment. The idea i wanted to show through this is sustainability or an insight into the effects of fast fashion or planned adolescence. So far all these photos are unedited. My first interpretation for this genre is how I used flowers to represent her top. Indicating the process of how materials are being made which results in beautiful clothing but arguably a deader planet. 

The initial idea for the second outfit of a black bin bag as a top was intended to recreate a version of Marilyn Monroe's Potato Sack Shoot where she emphasised and criticised those who said she was only beautiful due to her clothing. I decided to substitute the potato bag for a plastic black bag as it was the only alternative i saw fit. Overall, the experimentation of the outfit allowed me to work around the final product and could suggest connotations of how society is wrapped and covered in this polluted earth but are too blinded with the thought of consumption to appear greater. 

Finally, my other shots of my model consisted of her sitting on top of a white blanket almost appearing to balance herself. Right now, i have not edited the image but my intentions with the shot was to load a pile of materials beneath her to exaggerate how much wasted material has been used or the addiction of online shopping and the consequence of it. 

Overall, I am pleased with the shots and the angles that i have experimented with and that the outfits i have organised have complimented my initial ideas and thoughts.

Production: 5 Things I've Learnt In the Photoshoot

On the 17th and 18th of June, our media class had the opportunity to experience a photoshoot. Throughout both days, I managed to be a part of setting and packing up the equipment. I am now more aware of how to set up the tripods, lighting and backdrop. 

When operating the devices I learned and investigated the different settings on the DSLR camera. I learnt the importance of lighting in regards to the equipment. This includes whether the ring light should be set on a colder or warmer tone. The different tones are used to project different feelings like warmth is often connoted to happiness whereas colder tones could suggest a more serious message. It was also important to consider the experimentation aspect of this process. In regards to lighting, we tried several shots using different levels of brightness and having the light source at different distances away from the model. What i found with this is how I much preferred the shots with slightly brighter light but have it standing further away from the model. This can be seen from the photoshoot of Zara. 

Another aspect I have learnt is how to effectively use the other equipment alongside the lights. This concerns the reflector. Whenever I wasn't on a camera and shooting, I had the chance to use the reflector for other students. When looking at the photos afterwards, we found that some shots became overexposed which meant the reflector needed to be placed further away. Some of the shots which set a good example of when the reflector worked best was with Kelvin's photos. The reflector allowed for a nice dark and light contrast on his face. This highlighted his features and comb very well.

When operating the camera, I made sure to try different settings to ensure I get the best experience with the device. What worked well with me personally was the TV setting. It achieved sharped and concise lines that provided a clearer image of my subject. This is in reference to Sam and Ben's photoshoot. 

On the other hand, Anna's photos were also done through the TV setting. However, her shots appeared a little blurred. This may be due to exposure to natural light or a quick shutter speed. 

Another skill I learned is how to improve my compositions of the models. This was brought to my attention through Sam and Ben's photoshoot. Both male pupils kindly chose to participate in this activity. This meant they were not professional at modelling and so I had to rely on candid shots as much as those setups. Overall, I found that the models needed to be close together to form a pleasing front cover. When taking photos, I must avoid wasting space within the centre. This is because the space surrounding them allows for editors to incorporate the headline and cover lines.