Music Magazine Front Cover

The Photoshop Process (Front Cover)

Fifth Cover Draft

I decided here that in the last draft the background was too distracting. I also made the skyline thinner and the text slighty larger. I added the "win inside" plug from the second draft and made some of the main coverline yellow to match the skyline. I think that the dark background works better although I think I will add a layer over the top of lighting flare, much like I did in my fourth draft.

Canterbury at Hull Fruit

"Britain are taking rock back!"

 

 

These are a few photographs that I took at Fruit when Canterbury were playing. I think that I could use one of them on my contents page or as a poster preview on the front cover.

Poster/Contents images

These are a few extra photographs that I took to either use as posters or as images on my contents page. I need to create a name for this "duet" and maybe lighten the images a little.

Fourth Cover Draft

This draft includes most of the aspects that I have liked so far such as the single large coverline and two smaller cover lines, the hazard tape, the slightly tilted mast head and my favourite cover image.
I decided to change the background of the image because I felt that it was just a little too bland to fit with the theme of the magazine, I also added a layer of disco lighting over the top of the image to make it look somewhat like what I originally planned with the star stencil over the lights.

Third Cover Draft

I decided that I didn't like the images of the two previous cover drafts due to the dark and busy background it was taken in front of. I chose this image because the background is simple and although not the colour I originally intended, makes the models stand out. I spent some time experimenting with fonts and layouts and created my main cover line, inspired by magazines such as NME and Kerrang! which don't have many small cover lines but one large one. Also inspired by these magazines I created a large plug which advertises this issue as a "poster special".

Second Cover Draft

I decided to remove the yellow bar at the bottom of the cover as I felt that it made the yellow too overpowering.and cropped the cover image too much. I also put the mast head on a slant to make it look more like a stamp. I realised that the coverlines weren't visible enough in front of the image so I decided to put a slightly transparent black behind all of the words. I stuck with the same sky line as I think that it is attractive and would make people want to read.
I like the "WIN" plug as it will pull the audience in and make them want to open the magazine. I also added some caution tape which adds to the feeling of rebellion created by the mast head font. 
I would put a few photos of posters included in the magazine over the caution tape.

First Cover Draft

This is the first draft of my front cover, I still have to take some images for the bottom of the page. I like this because of the position of the models. However I could make the heads of the models overlap the mast head to fit with conventions, also I could find a better way to place the taglines around the image.

Mast Head Fonts

This font was going to be the font that I would use for the mast head for my front cover, however now that I have chosen the name "Banned" as the name of my magazine this font doesnt seem fit. I have also changed my ideas a little so rather than a more indie based magazine it will be of the poprock genre.

I chose this font because it looks as though it is from the wild west and the font links with the name "Banned". However this would not work with the genre of my magazine, it would work better for a country music magazine.

This font is bold and eye catching. However I dont think I will use this as it is just too plain and isnt iconic enough to be a popular magazine.

 

I like this font because it stands out and is iconographic of danger and rebelion. It makes is seem as though the magazine has been banned and the fact that the audience is reading will make them feel rebelious.

 

I have changed the text so it includes square brackets to make it look more like the stamps although I am still deciding whether it will be like that on my front cover. The red colour connotes danger which links with the name.

Double Page Spreads

Double page spreads conventionally have large mast heads in uppercase letters to draw the eye to it. The Lilly Allen page has a mast head like one that had been cut out of a newspaper, the My Chemical Romance page has a mast head that isn’t quite as large but is red so it contrasts against the white background and draws attention to Gerard’s hair of the same colour. The Vaccines Page is headed by their name in large, bold, black text.

All of the images are taken on a white background so it is simple and the people are the main focus. Drop letters are used often like in the Lilly Allen and Vaccines pages to make it clear to the reader where the paragraphs begin. Pull quotes are used within the text but in a larger font to draw attention to the most interesting parts of the article and make the reader want to read it at first glance.

Contents Pages

 

Notes from the editor are a convention of a contents page however only Kerrang complies with this convention. Kerrang uses 9 original images, Q uses 4 and NME uses only 1. The pictures can be from gigs, photo-shoots as well as random snaps. Kerrang and NME each have subscription information on the contents page. All of these contents pages are on a white background using black, yellow or red text so they are easily readable. The page numbers are usually written in bold text or in a different colour so they are easy to refer to and can be noticed easily. Each of these contents pages have Subtitles written in upper case and usually bold. Both the NME and the Kerrang contents pages subtitles are written in a bright colour over a black block so they stand out.

Double Page Spread/Contents Page photoshoot

Cover Image Photo Shoot

 

A big thanks to Jack, Kiera and Connor (from left to right) for being my models!

Name

I have finally decided upon a name for my magazine!
It was a lengthy process but I have chosen upon the name "Banned" becasue it connotes rebellion, danger and poses the question of why it would be banned.

Mock Up Using Found Images

 

This is a mock up of the magazine cover that I want to create that I made using Photoshop and Found Images.

Photo Shoot Experimentations

I took experimental photographs against a plain white background using the camera flash, normal lighting and studio lighting. I also experimented with low angles and high angles as well as close up's, long shots, medium long shots, mid shots and medium close ups. I prefare the images that are taken with the studio lighting because they instantly make the photograph look nicer. The fill flash is something that is also needed so the face of the model isnt left in shadow. The 2 photographs on the top left are taken without studio lighting and you can see just how much difference it makes.

Behind the Scenes Videos

 

I plan to video the process of my photoshoots much like the video above.

Ed Sheeran at Hull Ice Arena

The crowd of people in front of me waiting to get into the venue.

Passenger (one of Ed's support acts) doing his thing.

ED SHEERAN!

I like the way that these two lighting effects have been used as I feel that they create the kind of mood that I wish to create on my main cover image.

Here's a video of the man himself. Not my video as they were taking far too long to upload to YouTube.

Double Page Spread Ideas

 

For my double page spread I will have the same band as in my cover photo ether in the same setting in different poses or is a setting much like the one above becasue I feel that the setting would add mood to a photo shoot.

Final Mise-en-scene and Lighting Ideas

For my photo shoot, I plan to use a plain black background. I will ether use a background of black cloth or take my photographs in the green room before changing the colour of green to black. I will use a stensil of stars to place over a spotlight to shine on the artists in the photos.

In the main cover image, the artists will be wearing indie/punk clothing whilst standing looking up at the camera, screaming fiercely. The drummer will be holding drum sticks over their face in an "x" shape, the guitarist with their guitar on their back, visible over their shoulder and the singer throwing colourful confeti at the camera.

For the main image on the double page spread, the same band will be wearing the same clothes in the same location but rather than screaming whilst throwing confeti at the camera they will all be looking upwards and the confeti will be thrown in the air above them.

Main Cover Image Mood Board - Final Ideas

This mood board shows all of the things I plan to use in my main image for the front cover. It is a mood board of my final ideas for the costume and set design for the Photo shoot for my main cover image.

Costume Design

Hand Drawn Mock Ups