Welcome

Welcome to my AS Foundation Portfolio blog. Here you will find research and planning, construction evidence and evaluation for my coursework project.

Monday 26 March 2012

Evaluation Question 7 - Looking back at your preliminary task, how have you progressed from production of it to full product?

Evaluation Question 6 - What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?



This picture is of all the software that I have used for the time that it has took me to make my magazine product. I used Photo booth to make the videos for my feedback on my cuts for my magazine and my research for my magazine. I have used Blogger through out the whole making of my magazine, this is to show you all the different stages I went through to make my magazine, I showed how my magazine has progressed from the early stages and right through to the final cuts of the magazine. I have lots of posts on my blog to show all the different types of things I have learned and researched about my magazine. I used Windows Live Movie Maker to make my video for my Evaluation question 2, I was going to do it on Final Cut Express but I didn't have that at home so I used movie maker instead. I used InDesign to make my contents page and double page spread of my magazine on it, I then uploaded my front cover to it as well. I used Prezi  through out the whole thing, I have many different prezis, some for my evaluation questions, others are for my magazine research, which I did at the very beginning, which helped me to research the magazines I thought I'd be interested in. I used Power Point to make one of my  evaluation questions, this is to show all the different styles of techniques I could do for my questions. I used YouTube to upload my evaluation question to it, so I could then upload it to my blog, so it was then visible. I used Dafont.com for all the different types of fonts that I used for my magazine, i found this site very useful, as I always seemed to find a font which I liked and then worked on my magazine. I used Photoshop to make my front cover of my magazine, I also used it to make collages of the photo shoots I did with my models and then recently i have being using it to make collages for my Evaluation questions, of things that I think 'Indie kids' will like and also al the software that I have being using through the time of my making of the magazine. I started to use Final Cut Express to make my video for my evaluation, but I ended up starting it all over again at home as i didn't have this software at home, instead I used Movie maker. 

I have learnt a lot from using all these different softwares, I've learnt lots of different techniques on Photoshop, by using different tools, this has been a life saver for my work, since I have used it a lot and it's made my magazine look really professional. I've learnt a lot from using prezi at first I didn't like it but now since I've got my way around it, I've understood it more, and I've enjoyed using it, it's helped a lot with questions that I have had to answer. InDesign was not my favourite software to use, since I was so used to using Photoshop, I didn't really get the hand and jist on how to use InDesign, but after working things out, it became very easy and I began to enjoy using it for my contents page and double page spread. Windows Live Movie Maker was quite hard to get my movie how i wanted it to be for my evaluation question, I didn't get the chance to upload all the different types of music of all the bands and artists that I put on there, because it didn't seem to let me cut the music, this is probably one of the downfalls for me, since I know the Final Cut Express lets you cut the music to how you want it to be. Blogger has been my favourite thing to do with software and websites, as i use it at home a lot, I know how to work it very well, and it was very easy for me to work it, I've liked how I have seen my work improve through all the different stages to my end products and then now my Evaluation questions. I learnt how to download different fonts for my magazine, I've also learned how to change photos from photoshop into jpegs, so I can then upload them to my blog. for actually taking the pictures I learned how to use the flash lights with the camera, so they were all working alongside each other and capturing the best light on my model. 

Evaluation Question 5- How did you attract/ address your audience?





This video above is from a male reviewer, he talked about the best bits of my work and what could have been improved. 

Evaluation Question 4- Who would be the audience for your media product?


In question four I decide to make my own mood board to show what I think that the audience of my magazine would like and enjoy, so I I have picked the genre 'Indie' so in this circumstances I have images of TV shows which I think they will like, drinks that they like, music that they like, where they like to shop and what they wear. 

Following secondary research in the initial stages of my project, I found the audience of Rolling Stone magazine was aimed at 18-34 year olds, with 60% being male and 40% being female. I then decided for my primary research I was going to aim my magazine around the same age group of people, but I was going to try and get more girl readers interested. I tried to aim my magazine at both women and males, as males will think that the images of the girl models, so they will be more attractive to them and the girls on the other hand will find them aspiring and will want to be like them. 

Monday 19 March 2012

Final Magazine



I have now finished my magazine, I have completed my front cover, my contents page and my double page spread. I am very pleased with my final piece, I think it looks really professional, with lots of great images, texts and features. 

Wednesday 14 March 2012

Magazine Rough Cut Feedback


This image above is my magazine rough cut feedback. Now that I have got my feedback, i know what I need to do to improve my magazine to make it look more professional.

Monday 5 March 2012

Rough Cuts





These three images are the rough cuts of my magazine, so far. The first image is of my front cover, I have put the main sell line on, the skyline, the name of the magazine, other sell lines, the issue and date  of the magazine.I have also added the main image, which looks great the eye level is great, it looks personal so the reader will feel more connected.




The second picture is my contents page, so far, I have added, the name of the magazine small in the corner, the skyline, the contents section. There is also a feature, reviews and every month section. I have added a small image at the bottom of the page as well. I have also added a main image to the page on the right hand side.





The third image is my double page spread, so far, I would say that this is pretty much completed, I've added the main image into the background, also the interview itself, the main title is also on the page, as well as a quote down the side of her body, I have put an outer layer on the quote so it stands out more. To make the magazine look more professional I have added a 'Exclusive Interview' to the top left hand corner of the page. I have also added an outer colour to the questions on the interview, this so they stand out more and the reader can see where the interview starts.

Monday 27 February 2012

Constructing My Double Page Spread



This first image is of me constructing my double page spread, to begin with I have just set the pages out, my next step will be to actually start creating my double page spread, I am going to do this by doing it on InDesign.



This second screen shot is an update to how my double page spread is going, I have now added the image to the page and I have decided to place it across the page, this is so the image is large, and the model is clear to the audience, I am then going to add the article and title to the left hand side of the page.


This third image is an update to my double page spread, I have now added the article for the magazine. I've made the first letter of the article bigger and swirly to the others so the reader knows that's the beginning of the interview and it catches their eyes. I have also added a paragraph style to the questions, this is so they stand out more.




I have now decided to add a quote on the outside of the shape of my models body, I like the idea of haw it starts off small and then the words get bigger.





From my last screen shot I have made a few changes, such as adding an 'Exclusive Interview' into the top left hand corner, this is so people know that it is exclusive to 3 magazine. I also added a little section just before the interview started, just to bring the reader n so they know what the interview is going to involve. This also makes it look like a professional magazine. I have also added a small black stroke around the outside of the quote on her body, I think that this makes it stand out more.  

Constructing My Contents Page



This first image is of the making of my front cover and contents page.I am making my front cover on Photoshop, but once I've finished it I am then going to move it across onto InDesign, where it will be placed next to my contents page.




This second image is of a bit of the work I have started to do on my contents page, I have put the skyline on my contents page, which has the name of the magazine, small in the corner and then across the top is the 'Contents' as well as the magazine issue and date, I am creating my contents page on InDesign.




This third image is an improvement to my second image, I have developed my work a lot and have added a lot of new things to the contents page. i have now added a 'Contents', 'Every Month' and '
Review' sections to the page, where below I will write about these things. I have written in the 'Review' section. I have also added a photo box, next to the review section, in there I am going to upload an image of one of my models.



The next step I have done is added a small image to the bottom of the contents page, I am also planning on putting a larger image on the right hand side of the page, in that big space.v I have also moved the edge of the magazine on the right hand side, so it covers to the edge of the page.



This fifth image is an update to my contents page, I have now added contents into my 'Features' section, as well as my 'Every Month Section'. I also decided to add a page number to the bottom of the page.


This is an update to how my contents page is coming along, I have now added the main image to the page, I think it looks really good, I love how there both pulling different poses as this shows there different personalities, which will make the reader connect to them more.


Tuesday 21 February 2012

Constructing My Front Cover


This first image is of the making of my magazine front cover, I put on guidelines, to make the outline of my magazine, and so I work in that box and just leave the outside lines free. I set the guidelines to 0.5 cm,  20.5 cm, this was for the vertical lines. For the horizontal lines, I did 0.5 cm and 29.2 cm.


This second image is the beginning stages of my Magazine front cover, I have put my Masthead on as well as my Skyline. I used dafont.com, to find the fonts that I wanted to use for my magazine, I feel that these fonts work well with my magazine and how I want it to look. 


This third image is a bit more of my front cover in construction, in this image I have now added two Sell Lines to it, I just used the fonts on Photoshop, to make these Sell Lines. I really like the '100 most...' Sell Line, it looks really creative and looks like a professionally magazine.


In this fourth image I have added the Main Sell Line to my Front Cover, which is 'Molly Breaks the U.S'. I thought that this Sell Line was quite catchy, so people will want to read more about the article inside, about how she's made it. The 'Molly' font was from dafont.com, but the 'Breaks the U.S' was just from Photoshop. I really like these fonts and I think they work really well together, I wanted to try and get the same style as the Rolling Stone issue with Adele on the front, as it was nice and simple, but eye catching at the same time. At the top I have also added the Issue number and the date as well as the website for the magazine.


This is an update of my front cover, I have made quite a few changes to it. In the end I changed the model that I was going to use originally to another one, so in that case i had to change the Main Sell Line to her name which is Heather, but I thought that Heath looked good and I think giving her a nickname will make the audience feel more connected to her. I finally added an image, I love this image I think she looks amazing and also she looks connected to the magazine as she's staring into the camera lens, so it makes her more connected to the audience. I decided to make my sell lines a bit smaller and I think this makes it look better and the image stands out more when it's like that, there not to small, so there still very readable. I'm very pleased with my final outcome of my front cover.



Article Draft


Taylor Weeks’ appearance at the Royal Variety performance in December 2011 was one of the most exciting and thrilling performances of pop.  Until she was discovered on YouTube in 2008, Taylor Weeks was almost entirely unknown.  She’d recorded her first album ‘Searching For Myself’ in 2009, but interestingly enough it didn’t surface on iTunes until over a year later with her first single release ‘Independent Woman’. She performed this in front of the Queen and on Live Television, for everyone to watch, not just was the voice amazing and so touching, but the dress she was wearing was out of this world, it was a floor gown, dipped in diamonds and sparkles, head to toe.
Today though, Taylor shows her different style, casual chique, with a messy up do, bangs out and rocking her vintage Levi shorts.  It’s 9.03 am, and the gorgeous Taylor is running a bit late for our interview, sat waiting in her lavish London apartment in Covent Garden’s.

So Tay, tells us all about what you really thought about your performance at the Royal Variety?

I just can’t believe that, I actually got to perform, in front of the Queen, I mean me a Yorkshire girl living in the countryside, with no actually dreams. I still can’t believe it; I’m just feel so honoured, to have been given the chance to perform.

How amazing was your dress may I just say, you looked amazing, what designer was it?

Ahh thanks, how sweet. It was Chanel; I don’t think I’ve ever worn something so gorgeous in fact never, [laughs out loud].

So what made you start uploading videos to YouTube?

I don’t really know actually, I mean it was just randomly one day and it was raining outside and I didn’t really know what to do, so I thought I’d strum along to my guitar and sing, and then I just ended up recording it with my camera. It was quite scary to upload to You Tube though as I didn’t know what people would think about it, I didn’t really tell anybody about my videos at first.

So your videos must have been having a lot of views?

I know it was crazy the response I was getting from them, I still can’t really believe, that I’ve come this far from been a You Tube up loader.

So what was it like been on stage with Lady Gaga at the Brit Awards, I mean her actually giving you your award to you?

It was just mind blowing, to actually be there with all those amazing artists and bands, it felt surreal, like I wasn’t even there, like a fly on the wall, [laughs to herself]. I couldn’t believe that Lady Gaga herself was handing me my award, I just felt so honoured and I couldn’t believe that I had won an actually award, it was crazy.

Have you got a new album coming out this year?

I don’t want to say to much, but I have been going to the studio to record, so you’ll just have to wait and see!

Will there be any worldwide tours anytime soon?

Hopefully something in the next year or two, I was trying to plan things, but there’s nothing official yet. I don’t know if there would be anything worldwide, maybes in the UK though, we’ll see

You love keeping us on the edge, who would you say inspires you music wise?

I’d probably have to say Lana Del Ray, Kate Nash, Lily Allen, Florence and the Machine, Adele, Oh there’s so many, I just take my inspiration from anything and everyday life really, where ever the lyrics take me really.



Monday 20 February 2012

Action Plan

From my Research and Planning Feedback, I have a list of things to be done, which need to be done by certain deadlines.


The deadlines are:


You should start this week with a progress update post. In this post you should include the following:

There are 6 weeks until the Easter break which means - 6 weeks of lesson time to complete my foundation portfolio.

There are 60 marks available for construction and 20 marks for Research and Planning and 20 marks for evaluation - 100 marks in total

To achieve a grade:

A I need to get 80 marks

B I need to get 70 marks

C I need to get 60 marks


To be in level 4 (grade A/B) my work must demonstrate excellence throughout.

By Monday 5th March I should have a rough cut of my products

By Monday 19th March my products should be completed

From Monday 19th - Friday 30th March I will be working on my 7 evaluation questions.

The my completed portfolio should be submitted for formal marking on Monday 16th April. I should use the Easter break to make any minor amendments to my work.

In order to meet these deadlines I will:



  • Annotate my make-up shots and even come them to professional music magazines- and see how they compare? Also include about their costumes and props?
  • Also annotate my test shots too- the strengths about them, why they were good? weakness? How's my idea for my own work developing?
  • In Article planning provide more depth. Also once I've written my first article draft, upload it in  new blog post
  • Image analysis- discuss how your idea's is changing
  • Also another magazine analysed in my research

Research and Planning Feedback


This is my Research and Planning Feedback, from my teacher, the ticks in the boxes are the level of work I am working at and then the box with writing in, is what I should do to improve my work, to get a better grade.

Photo Shoot Images


These images, were all taking by me to use for my magazine, wither for the front cover, the contents page or the double page spread. 

The first four images are ones that I took for my contents page, I found that some were better than others, and the lighting is very different in others. I love the laughing ones, but I thought that they probably wouldn't work as well in my magazine because I didn't think the audience would feel connected to them, so I tried shooting them looking into the camera, pulling different poses and  expressions. I ended up choosing the bottom left picture to use in my magazine as the lighting was very good in this, some pictures turned out a bit dark, such as the left top one. Also the poses and expressions were very different I thought, ones pouting and the others smiling, which shows there different personalities, which will connect them more to the audience.

The second four images are pictures i took for my front cover, I thought the lighting worked really well in these pictures and she posed gorgeously. Some lighting in the pictures turned out better than others, as in some pictures her face is a bit shaded, so it's not so clear to the audience. I ended up choosing an image where the lighting was great, her eye contact was amazing and she looked really good, the way she was posing. 

The last six images are the ones that I took for my contents page, I decided to shoot these outside so I could capture the light perfectly on my model. I found different places to shoot them, originally i was going to shoot it against a plain brick wall, but when I went to hoot for it, it was in shade so I found a different location near by. I also found an old style mini, which I decided to take a few shots as, as I thought that this would tie in with my magazine genre. I also shot some photo on some steps with a brick wall at the side, I ended up using one of those shots for my DPS and I also used a car shot on my contents page. 



Friday 10 February 2012

Evidence of me organising costume, props & make-up


These are my test shots for the make-up style that I am going to use for my magazine. I tried to go for a brown smokey eye look, I really like this look and I think it works really well on blonds, as well as dark haired people, I think this will be perfect for my models. I will then use eye liner and put it on the upper eye lid, but then I am also thinking about applying a line underneath and then smudge, so it makes it really smokey eyes. Mascara will be a definite use as this emphasises the eyelashes and makes them look longer and darker, which makes the eyes look bolder and stand out more. I will use blusher for the cheeks to make the models look rosey cheeked, also nice and flushed.

Steps On How To Get This Look:

First I applied the eyeshadow, I blended them all in together, to make them look like the smokey eyes. I then applied the gel eyeliner on the top of the eyelid, I brought it curling up at the sides of the eyes, which I think looks really cute. I then applied the mascara to both the top and bottom eyelashes. Last I applied the blusher to make the cheeks look rosy.


I have chosen these images above as these were the styles of make-up I really like, and maybes considering doing something similar to these. I love Beyonce's eye make-up I think it looks great and it makes her eyes stand out even more, which is a good thing as people seem to be drawn in by the eyes, which is a good selling point. I also like how Adele's is just quite simple, it's nothing over the top and so dramatic, which works really well, I love the eyeliner it stands out amazingly and it looks great, it makes her eyes stand out and i love how natural it all looks. I think that my make up shots do seem to look good and are similar to the style that I was looking at, they eyeliner is great and the brown smokey eyes, with the rosy cheeks.

For Props and Costumes, I am thinking about dressing my models up in leather, levi shorts, practically anything that is 'in fashion' at the time and whats in the shops, so like graphic t-shirts, coloured shorts. I think that this sort of fashion style works well with the type of music genre which I am going for, as this is the sort of things they tend to wear.







Model Call Sheet






The above call sheets are for the models that I am going to use for my magazine photography. They include an identity photograph of each of the models that I am going to use, along with the shooting date, the shooting information and their role in the photo shoot. It also has on the call sheets whether they have signed their call sheets, this is so they agree for me to take photography of them, which will then be published online and then printed.

Test Shots


These five pictures are my test shots for my magazine, I shot these inside in the studio and then I did a few shots outside against a brick wall. I really do like how these pictures have turned out, considering there test shots, I am definitely going to be shooting in these two places, they seem to be perfect for the look of my magazine. The first image is a medium shot, I will be using a shot like this for my double page spread, this is so the reader can see more than just the models face close up. The second and third shots are perfect results of close up shots, I really like how these have turned out, the eye line is great, as they are looking straight into the camera, which will make the reader feel more connected when they see the picture as they will see the model close up and in detail. The four and fifth images are great shots of medium close ups, there in a great position with the camera, and the eye line is good to as their looking directly into the camera, this gives the reader a better image of the types of clothes the model wears and the poses. I will be using close up shots for the front cover main image and the contents page, I feel this will work better for my magazine and look more professional.


I would say the strengths in these test shots would be that, most of them turned out the way I wanted them too. I think that the second picture is a great example of a close up, which is what the images I am going to use in my magazine, this will be the main style of image I am going to sue, apart from the double page spread, where I'll use a medium shot. 
The weaknesses in these test shots, would probably the angle of the models, in a few of the images, they are facing towards the side, but they are looking into the camera lens, which is a good thing.