Preliminary task

Through out my preliminary task I looked at a verity of school magazines and analysed the codes and conventions of these magazines. After I analysed the magazines I then stated to create my own by firstly taking pictures to be put into my school magazine. I then altered the pictures by placing them into a Photoshop document and placing them upon my magazine, my end result would be for me to create a front cover and contents of a newly designed school magazine. I also had to scan in my initial hand drawn designs so that I could clearly show what my initial thoughts were. After completing the magazine and adding the detail that I needed I then had to complete an evaluation of the entire initial task and the questions that I had to answer were ‘In which ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?’ and ‘What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?’. After completing the above requirements I then added them all onto my Blogger account and annotated them with short descriptive sentences.    

Evaluation

In which ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

My media product develops, challenges existing media products with the use of a medium shot on my contents page which is used in existing media products. Also I have used a range of pictures sizes and camera angles for the pictures themselves, examples of these are the use of master shot and close ups. Also when taking my photos are used the convention of the rule of thirds that is often used my photographs, this is so that the focus is brought upon maybe a central object. I have challenged the conventions of real media products by using the magic wand in one of my preliminary photos which is not often found in real media products. My media products also follows the conventions on the contents page with the use of large headers and small descriptive text that annotates the preliminary headers, also with the use of page numbers next to its relevant section. Through out the task I have ensured that my backgrounds, text and fonts are all contrasting so that there is no part where the reader is unable to clearly see what is being demonstrated.

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

Through out this task I have learned a great many things about the functions of the cameras that I will be using through my main task. One of these is the importance of light and that the picture should not be too dark or too light because it can ruin the picture. Also to take a medium close-up the function of zoom has to be used to ensure that it is close enough also by using the aperture which can improve the effect of the image. The techniques that I have learnt in Photoshop will greatly help me in my main task as I now have the ability to completely enhance the image by adding effects, taking away parts I do not want by using a variety of tools and I also now understand how to use these to there full ability.                  

I carried out extensive research into what is found on the front cover and contents page of a school magazine, this investigation showed my many things about the structure of the front page and contents page. Firstly on the front cover the photographer uses an eye-line match to show match the rule of third that it used in many professional magazines. Also on the front cover the images used are generally annotated with short descriptive text that is often questions or a play on words for example ‘What will you do with your year’, these can be effective forms of language because it is short and catchy. The school crest and name of the school itself is often found on the front cover of the magazine to show demonstrate to the reader that it was created by volunteers/pupils at the school. Also found on the front cover of school magazines is the use of the schools colours, for instance if the school uniform is red and white then the school newsletter will follow the same principles and might possibly use red and white on the news letter, an example of this is the Chapel-en-le-Frith High School magazine. Also found on the front cover is the use of layout, with words in obscure angles and places upon the school magazine, for example Bishopbriggs Academy.

On the contents page there is often an item of text illustrating the headline for the sections on the school magazine. The description of the headline is often short and snappy, with a possible play of words within it. The header itself is also short often used as a play on words related to a quote. The numbers are beside the text and stat ‘Page 6’. Also the layout of the contents page is often with the text on the right hand side column with a space between each one. The header is a larger font then the description; this is so that the header is the focus of attention.       

 

My Hand drawn designs for my Front cover and contents page for the School magazine.  

 

My Front cover and Contents page for my School magazine.