Background

Below is a picture I have taken at a place called Caernarfon in wales. I will be using this image in my contents page as a background for one of my pictures to go on instead of having a plain white background behind the picture.

Contents

I have been researching different types of contents pages to use as a template for my magazine I am going to produce. I have researched vibe, Billbaord, Blender, XXL, Q and Top of the Pops. Below are images I have found of the contents of these magazines.

This is the contents of Vibe magazine. I like this
style as it is clean straight froward and its simple, it has
just enough information on here than it needs.
It's all spaced out and easy to read.

This is Blender's contents page. This contents page
is simple like the Vibe magazine contents page
it is very similar with the layout, text, picture etc.

This is Q's contents page. This page has more images
than Vibe and Blender, to show what stories or what pop stars are inside
this magazine, they have also labeled the stories/information and
images with big bold numbers that you can't miss
to let you know what page they are on, whereas Blender and
Vibe they have the page number very small after the information.

This is XXL contents page. This is like Vibe and Blender
as I have said before its simple, the layout is very similar giving
it that clean boxed cut to it, they all have on picture of
a international pop star as they might
be what the magazine is most about.

This is Billboards contents page. It has more information
than Vibe, has more pictures and the layout is boxed of, it gives
you information about who's in the charts or what date for example when Katy Perry is
bringing her album out. It's similar to Q's magazine
contents page.

This contents page is off Top of the Pops. I don't like this type of
contents page as there is to much on the page, my magazine is for 16-25 year olds
meaning they are less likely to go for magazines that look
overcrowded etc. so I will not be using this design as one of my templates.

I will be using ether Billboard, Vibe or Blender as my template for my contents page because they are easy to read, it tells you just what you need to know, nothing is overcrowded like top of the pops. My target audience will more likely go for a clean clear magazine which continues throughout the magazine.

Comparing Front Covers

I have created 4 different types of magazines for my task, so I am going to compare the magazines so I can choose the magazine which will be best for my front cover.

This is the first front cover I have created.
I used a Billboard front cover as my template to guide me
through of how to set out my magazine.
The things that are good about this front cover is that
it has a house style throughout the text and background
colours. It has big bold clear text so it catches the
readers/buyers eye. I have included the bar code, issue number and price at
the bottom of the page. The bad things about this magazine
cover is the position of my model Rachel, as she is stood on the side
and in other magazines the model is always facing
the audience giving the editor more space to put texts and other little images.

This is my second front cover I created. The things that
are good about this front cover image is the position of my model,
she is looking straight towards the audience and her body is facing
the same way giving me more space to put text and information on the front
cover. The text is in line with the masthead. The bad things about this magazine
is the font for the text, instead of sticking to one style of text I have chosen 5 different
types of fonts throughout the front cover whereas Billboard or vibe would have no more
than 3 different styles of text.

This is my third front cover I have created. This front cover has
the same advantages and disadvantages as the second front cover i have
created. The only thing different about this one is that I have chosen images from google to make
it look like my model (Rachel) is lying on a rock that is sitting on grass
which makes the image look unrealistic.

This is my fourth front cover I have created. It has similar
advantages and disadvantages as the first front cover I have crated. But this front cover
I have created gives the illusion that Rachel is stood by that Christmas tree in the background making
the front cover look more realistic and professional than the others. The colour of the text I have
chosen represent Christmas as it is near that time of year.

Front Cover Draft 4

I have used the photograph that I had took in london. I have made it the background of one of my magazine covers this is the outcome of the cover.

Background Images

We went to London for a school trip. I took photographs whilst I was there because the scenery was beautiful at the night time. I was going through my photos that I had took and I came across the image below, it's a blurred image but it would be perfect for the background image of my front cover for my magazine as it is a blurred background making the image (of Rachel) appear more focused on once it has been Photoshopped.

Contents Image

I am going to use another original photograph that I have taken of Nadine as I can't use the photographs of Rachel on all the pages that I am going to produce (front cover, contents & double page spread). The picture below of Nadine I am going to edit it using Photoshop to make it look like she has brought a new album out that is due in Januray etc. This picture is of Nadine messing around.

 

Front Cover Draft 3

Below is my third magazine that I have created. I have yet used another Billboard magazine front cover as my guide for the layout of my magazine. 

Front Cover Draft 2

I have produced a second front cover to give me more choice on which front cover I am going to use for my magazine. I have used another one of Billboard's front cover as a template to help me set out a house style, and layout of my magazine.

Front Cover Draft

Below is my cover page that I have created using my photos that I had taken. I have used a billboard magazine as my template to give me ideas on what I should produce my magazine like. I have used the same colours and text to get it similar to the Billboard magazine as I could to help me out with my final front cover. I have also used the rule of three with the picture.

Contents Photographs

As non of the photographs I have took of Rachel are suitable for my contents I have decided to use a picture I have taken at the singer, N-Dubz star Dappy's concert that had taken place in the O2 arena on December 9th 2012. It isn't the best quality picture but I will use it as a small picture on the contents page. I will use photoshop to enhance the quality of this picture and I will use the tool colour fix to brighten the picture as this picture is dark due to the place it was based in and the lights being very dim. To prove that this is an original photo that I have taken I have uploaded a video I took during the concert were Dappy was singing 'No regrets' one of his top hit singles. As I have mentioned before it isn't the best quality.
The link to the video: Dappy's Concert 'No Regrets'

                                     

Best Pictures

I have chosen the photographs below as my best chosen as they are all appropriate for my magazine, they also have some connection with the audience such as mode of address.

I have chosen this picture because I simply like it. It will be brillent
for the double page spread we have to create as part of this task as she
is up and personal with the camera.

This is one of my best pictures as Rachel is looking directly into the
readers eyes, she has that natural look due to the
make-up. 

This photo has been considered as one of my double
page spread pictures as the way Rachel is posing
and it will be easier to position this photograph
in the double page spread once I have
cropped the background out of this photograph.

This photo will be my main image on the front cover
due to the type of pose Rachel is showing on this photograph.

Spin Media

Spin media, formally known as Buzznet and Buzz media, is a company and blog network based in Los Angeles. It owns a community of pop culture websites. Buzz media was founded by Anthony Batt, Marc Brown, Kevin Woolery and Steve Haldane.In 1999 Batt and Brown started a blog, by 2006 Buzznet had a total of 9 people in the Los Angeles area. The company announced on March 19, 2009 it raised us$12.5 million in funding from venture capitalist that include companies that already invested in the company, such as Anthem Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, Redpoint Ventures and Sutter Hill Ventures, as well as new investor Focus Ventures.It acquired Spin Media, publisher of Spin magazine in July 2012. After shutting down the print version of the magazine, reducing its staff to abput 200, and focusing on advertising, it rebranded itself as Spin Media in March 2013. In April 2013 it acquired Vibe magazine.

Magazine Template

For my magazine I have researched a lot of magazines to see which magazines are similar to my magazine that I am going to produce. I've came across some good magazines such as Kerrang, Q, Spin, Hip Hop etc. but the two main magazines that I have been interested in are Billboard and Vibe. They both have a similar target audience and genre. I am going to use Billboard magazine as one of my templates to give me an idea how to set a clean clear front cover for my magazine.

Draft Pictures

Below are some pictures I have taken of Rachel for my magazine that I am going to produce. There are 36 pictures of Rachel doing 11 poses I have chosen for her.