Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression

from it to the full product?

Evaluation Question 7

Front Cover

Contents

Research• In terms of research for my preliminary task I briefly looked at my

current schools brochure and then created an idea based around that.• Whereas in my production, researching was a lot more detailed and a

lot of time was taken on it.1. I firstly researched existing magazines for the genre I would be

including and conducted a collection of common codes and conventions. Research then continued with photography.

2. With this research I then was able to identify my target audience and work on what would go in my magazine to attract them.

Without my research my magazine would not have had a target to achieve and no sense of direction, most probably making it unsuccessful. Research was extremely important and aided many of my decisions.

Planning• In my preliminary task my planning was minimal, I took all my

photos based on an idea in my head, and it was purely down to my own opinion.

• Whereas in my production I was able to use my research and have an idea of what I was doing.

1. In my planning I decided to create a focus group which I could refer to when wanting opinions, it also meant that my magazine was keeping relevant to my target audience.

2. I also decided to create mock ups which I could adapt before my final production

3. Another process of planning is that I decided to plan my models and positioning instead of just relying purely on the days shoot.

Progression- Lighting I learnt a lot from doing my preliminary task, starting with the lighting:• My preliminary task I feel used the

correct lighting but did not compliment the image as I did not use Photoshop to enhance the image to make it ‘pop’.

• In my production I certainly made my image pop by using a completely different lighting idea and heavily editing my image to a very high contrasted image. I went for an unusual lighting effect and I feel it will pay off for catching peoples attention.

Progression- Mise en Scene• In my preliminary task the

surroundings suited the objective of the magazine being in a school, although I feel that I could have now chosen better locations that were less busy and advertised the school better. The attire of my model could have been smarter and more appealing to my audience to appear more formal is important in advertising a school.

• The mise en scene of my production was thought about a lot more carefully, I wanted to produce that studio feeling and I used a professional lighting system to achieve this, not only this but a lot more time was spent on deciding what my model should wear, and her make up.

Progression- angles and shot types• With my main image I wanted to

create a rave effect by having a shadowed image to show movement and the UV lighting. This very much suited my artist and the magazine. My images were not dull compared to my preliminary task and I gained many uses out of Photoshop such as layers to gain a professional look using various editing techniques with font too.

• Shot types were planned and with the complex use of lighting the angle and position of the model had to be thought of carefully with having to stay still for the slow shutter speed.

Progression- masthead• From my preliminary task to

my final production there is a dramatic change in the masthead. My preliminary task’s masthead was pushed to the side and was not very important looking, it lacked looking professional whereas my production is in the conventional place at the top left of the page and also accompanies a tagline, the font I use in my production is bold and simple much like my researched magazines.

Progression- Layout• In my preliminary task the

layout was very basic, it showed no creativity and minimal images. The lines were messy and more time and editing needed to be taken on it.

• Whereas in my production there were a variety of images, the font and house style remained the same throughout my magazine instead of changing and also the colours were a lot more suitable. The coordination with font and image also worked very well.

With these advancements in my learning I then was able to produce a double page

spread.

To conclude…

Overall the progression from my preliminary task to my final production I have been able to produce a professional looing magazine. I have acquired skills using Photoshop which along with the photography was the main element of putting together my magazine. The use of codes and conventions allowed me to make specific decisions and also made me think of challenging some of them to attract the audience to something unique and new.