Feedback On First Draft

Feedback from first Draft:
Cover page:
On this page I have had feedback on my image, this includes, re-taking the image to get a better quality photo as it appears quite blurred and also it needs a more direct mode of adress, so the model needs to be looking at the reader. In the image i am currently using the reader is looking down and away from the reader so i need to re-think this image. I also got some positive feedback on the fonts that i chose to use saying that this works well. I got some feedback on the name for my magazine, which said that the same title is used for a charity in the UK, however i do not plan to change this as my idea was original and i have justified the choice for my title and how this links with the genre of music and my magazine as a whole.

Contents Page:
I received some positive feedback for my contents page, such as how the color palette I chose to use was successful. However i also got some positive criticism which will help me to make some changes and amendments. These include aligning my text and page numbers evenly by using a grid on photo shop. I also need to think about the main sell line on my page. Furthermore, i have been told that my cover star 'Aliyah Mae' needs more focus on the contents page so i intend to add some more illustration that involves her.

Double Page Spread: The double page spread was the page I was personally least happy with. Therefore I was interested to see what feedback for improvements could be given for this page. I have been told to link my text and image across the page and to include a pull quote and photo credit. I have also been recommended to change my font size, or color or to highlight questions so that there is a contrast between the questions and answers on my page. Furthermore, i have also been told to brand the magazine e.g: by including the magazine title at the bottom of the page. Lastly, i need to alter the positioning of one of the page numbers on my page.

I intend to use all of these suggestions to improve my work and make it of a better quality, where my product is more viable and realistic.

Further Analysis of Cover Pages

This cover displays an interesting colour theme and choice which I think would suit my genre of magazine well. I like the way that the black, white and yellow/ gold is used throughout the page. It gives quite an urban look to the page.  The image is eye catching yet somehow seems to blend into the background at the same time.

The image on this page contrasts quite significantly to the colors otherwise used in the background. For example in the main image which makes up the main center of visual interest fits the conventions of the genre quite nicely, fitting to the black and white theme, and in the fashion and styles that the artist presents. However in the background a nude pink and baby blue colors are used. I think that this is quite interesting as it is different to the majority of the covers colour schemes i have looked at. This makes it quite individual and as a result makes it stand out more.  

PBR&B Aspect of my magazine

PBR&B has several different terms, but is mainly a term used to classify an emerging and stylistic approach to contemporary R&B. This takes into account the fusion of different genres of music with R&B, such as alternative and indie and hip hop. This is something which i wish to account for in my music magazine as this was the main inspiration behind my title. I wish to include some elements that i have looked at more independently, such as clash magazine and Q which i have done some evaluations of earlier in the project. Some artists that i have looked at to inspire this aspect of the magazine include Frank Ocean, Miguel and The Weeknd. I will look at some of the styles also and try and reflect this in my final product.  

Some of the styles seen by such artists that belong to the sub genre of PBR&B seem to have more quirky styles. Some of these make the styles seem more similar to that that would be worn by alternative and indie stars and some from hip hop. Therefore i will try and represent this in some way, possibly through the use of images and my artists in my final product.

I also think that this example of a double page spread represents one of the areas of the R&B genre I have been looking at. It keeps a relatively minimalist design, with nothing too brash or bold, yet uses elements to create contrast such as the red used above an otherwise black and white background. I like the arrangement of the text around the image and the font used for the main title of the article. The main part of the image is still presented on the left hand side of the page, with all of the text presented on the right hand page. The page is slightly less clean cut as the text is not as aligned in this example, yet it still has a neat and finished look which is aided by the positioning of texts and the image around one another.

Further Analysis of Double Page Spread

I like this double page spread and would be happy if i could produce something similar to this for my final product. I like the way that one whole page is dedicated to the image, which is of Lady Gaga on the left hand page. I like the way in which the page is kept simplistic by using black and white as is also used in the main image. I like the way that some contrast is created on the page by displaying a large, red L across the page. This may be something that i can mimic in my final design to create some contrast and a center of visual interest on the page. However i am not too keen on the way the artists name is presented, yet i think this is made up for by the large L in the middle of the page which is representative of the artist. I think that this would work well for the genre of my magazine as it is representative of one of the styles of the genre i have talked about throughout, which includes a slick, clean cut and classy style, which i think can be well represented by the colours black and white.

Further Analysis of Cover Pages

This cover also represents the slick and clean look cut I am looking to produce in my music magazine. The cover is kept very simplistic and again follows a minimalist design. I particularly like this cover as it combines two aspects of the genre of R&B that I am looking at. The image and the artist used displays the more daring aspects of the genre, for example like some of the fashion and trends we see in stars of the genre. Whilst at the same time the general design of the page displays other aspects of the genre that I have mentioned previously.  Most of the information in this page is displayed in the top third of the page which correlates with the rule of thirds idea. The mast head is in a striking and bold font and the colour scheme of the page is kept minimal, much like the design. Most of the other important information and the image is displayed in the center of the page, creating a lot of negative space in the background. 

Further Analysis of Cover Pages

This is quite an interesting cover as it is very simplistic and follows a minimalist design. The image is interesting as it doesn't follow the typical conventions of an image on the front cover of a magazine. Usually the artist is looking directly out of the page instead of looking away, in order to create a direct appeal and synthetic relationship with the audience. This cover interested me as one of the images which i have taken for my draft magazine is similar to this. I like the image however do not think it would be satisfactory as the artist is not looking directly out of the page. It is interesting to see how this edition of variety magazine has used other features to compliment this image. Although i do not wish to follow this style directly for my final magazine it would be interesting to look at it and see if i could make it work. I like how the colour scheme on the page is kept very minimal which keeps the magazine looking slick and neat and tidy. I prefer this to having a magazine with lots of clustered information on. The masthead has an interesting font and probably stands out more than the image in the way that the cover page is presented. It also means that the font at the bottom stands out well. The black and white editing of the image is also interesting as this is done to match the text that is displayed over and around the image, again adding to the minimalist design. I think this kind of style may work well on my magazine, hence why i took an interest in this front cover. I believe that my chosen genre has two quite contrasting sub categories. One aspect of the genre concerns being bold, being different and following quite brash trends such as we'd expect to see from artists like Nicki Minaj and Rihanna. However another aspect of the genre concerns being classy and slick, and would involve the use of other colours such as black and white to give a clean cut and neat look to the page, a little bit like this cover does.

Further analysis of contents pages

This contents page is taken from vibe magazine. I have chosen to look at a selection of contents pages from vibe magazine, as it is an R&B magazine and therefore i could use some of the aspects from this magazine to create my R&B/ PBR&B magazine. The page is kept in a black and white theme predominantly which is again typical of the style i have mentioned throughout several times; it creates quite a clean cut and slick looking style to the magazine and is something i intend to try and create throughout my magazine. The image is eye catching and is accentuated by the use of colours in the background. The main title, 'contents', really stands out above the background and among the other black text that surrounds it. There is also quite a lot of negative space, however i believe that this highlights the image and makes it stand out more.

Further analysis of contents pages

This is a copy of a contents page from vibe magazine. I like the style of this contents page and think it would be a good style for me to take inspiration from. Vibe itself is an R&B magazine and the styles seen in this magazine could be something I could replicate in my final product. It follows the black and white style that i have looked at quite a lot throughout my research, which creates a clean cut and slick look, which is quite representative of the laid back persona of those in the Urban Tribes that would read this kind of magazine. The image makes up the main center of visual interest and the red used in the image above the black and white image creates some contrast on the page. The text is kept in line and small. This contents page still keeps quite a minimalist design and contains quite a lot of negative space, however i believe this works efficiently as it highlights and accentuates other features of the page more, such as the image and the 'contents' title. I also like the way the magazine is branded quite cleverly by using the grey and black background to create a 'v' shape, representative of the Vibe title of the magazine.

Looking at photography styles and the way that artists are represented

For some of my research i thought it would be useful to look at photography of some of the artists my product would be based around and inspired by and the way this photography represents the artist. This may help me when taking my photo's and to find more effective ways of producing my images. Firstly I looked at these images of R&B artist, Chris Brown. The styles in this photography are interesting, for example a lot of black is used which gives me confidence that my main idea for a predominantly black and white colour scheme will work. The images produced contrast quite significantly, for example the top image is more controversial and different. The pose he is pulling makes the image more light hearted where as the bottom image is quite serious and sincere. I also find it interesting how both images are presented in black and white. This is typical of one of the styles that I am thinking about producing which is quite a clean cut and classy looking style. Looking at images like this also helps me to see that my images need to be thought through, such as the mise en scene and how this will affect the way that my final product is received and the quality of the images is another important factor. 

Golden Spiral Rule

  A rule which is important to consider when taking my photography is the golden spiral . This involves something which should lead the eye to the centre of the image. This could be a singular lines or several subjects.

Golden Triangles

A rule which is important to consider is the golden triangles rule. This is more convenient for photos which have diagonal lines. There are three triangles and as long as three subjects with approximately equal sizes in these triangles are made then the rule should be kept.

Rule Of Thirds

1. The rule of thirds is an important feature of photography which i should look at when producing my work. The rule of thirds works by aligning a subject with the guide lines and intersection points, which split the image into different distinct parts. It is important to look at this rule when taking images, as if this rule is followed the image will be more effective. The viewers eye is naturally drawn to certain parts of the image and the rule of thirds is important in considering this.
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Double Page Spread Flat Plans

I looked at several different designs for my double page spread flat plans. I like all of these and can see potential in them all. However my favorite on is on the top right hand side of the page. I like how an image takes up the entire side of one of the pages as i think this stands out and is more eye catching than just several small images spotted around the page. I also like the way that the title of the page is displayed in the top left hand corner as i think it gives the page a clearer layout than putting it further down the page.

Draft article

Draft article for media coursework:

Once hidden in the diversity of suburban London, Aliyah Mae always had a passion for music. She thrived on the thought of one day having a successful career in the music industry and collaborating with some of her favourite stars. But now her dream has become a reality and she is embracing every aspect of the life she once used to dream of. With 3 hit singles and 1 chart topping UK album ‘Release’, Aliyah Mae has the fame, the fortune and the fascination of a huge and dedicated fan base.  She is one of the many upcoming UK talents to broaden the horizons for the R&B genre, however the journey to stardom hasn’t always come easy. Scope caught up with Aliyah to gain some insight into her hectic lifestyle, as one of the most exciting, upcoming young prodigy’s of the R&B genre in the UK today.

So Aliyah, what does it feel like to know the huge popularity of your music across the country over the last few months?

It feels amazing, it’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of, and it’s all happened so quickly. I wanted to make music that people could relate to, that made people feel up-lifted and happy, but that people could also relate to no matter what mood they may be in. I wanted to create variety on my album and I think that this has been one of the major features that has contributed to its success.

Does the album title ‘release’ have any meaning or relevance to you?

Definitely. Everything in my album is a reflection of myself. How I feel, my thoughts, my opinions. I wanted to make something real, something that I could use to show people who Aliyah Mae really was. I’ve always been so shy and struggled to find a voice, and this album has allowed me to express myself in so many ways.  And that’s why I chose ‘Release’ for my album title, because this for me was a release, it was me being me and being able to share that with everybody.  I hope that my music can be a release for others as well; I like to think there’s something for everybody.

What are your favourite tracks on the album and why?

That’s an excellent question but my honest answer is that I couldn’t name any because they’re all unique in their own way and I enjoy listening back to every one of them, which for me shows I have been successful. I love heartbeat, it’s extremely catchy and its very uplifting, it’s the kind of song you love to listen to on a Friday night when returning home from work, ready for the weekend. I always remember them songs from when I was younger and they were always my favourite. So if I had to name one, it would probably be this track.

We know how many new artists are coming into the R&B industry. Is this a threat to you or do you see it as progression for your genre?

Of course there is always going to be some competition between artists within the same area, but healthy competition is what makes you thrive to create better music. It’s what drives the industry and makes people more passionate about the tracks they produce. It inspires me when I see some of the new young stars like myself breaking into the industry. The more the merrier I say.

So who are some of the stars that inspired you when you were younger and gave you your passion for music?

I loved so many different types of music and there is so many people that inspired me. But of course I have my favourites and they deserve every credit for giving me such a keen passion for music. I loved bands such as Destiny’s Child and Mary J Blige was always one of my favourites. As well as Rihanna, Beyonce, Nelly, Usher, Neyo and many more. They’re all people whose music will inspire me and will be reflected in the tracks that I produce.

Do you think that one day you will get the opportunity to collaborate with one of your inspirations?

That is one of my ultimate goals, it’s one of the indicators that I will have reached my full potential in my music career. It’s still a dream at the minute, but it’s very achievable and I hope as I continue to produce tracks that I will get more recognition from those who have inspired me. Never say never.

Any ideas for your future work?

In all honesty, I’m still caught up in the buzz and excitement of my album reaching number 1.I’ve always got ideas, I’m an artist, so my work never stops. It’s a part of my life. But I couldn’t possibly tell on my ideas. That would be ruining the surprise.  

1st Draft

Looking at Photography

I have looked at some photography of R&B star Beyonce to get some inspiration and ideas for my magazine. In top image a direct appeal is created towards the audience. She is looking directly out of the page and is pulling quite a sultry pose to attract the audience. The clothes that she is wearing almost blend into the background, making her skin seem to glow more and adding more emphasis to her hair in the image. This therefore pulls all attention to her face and body, and removes distractions from the clothing that she is wearing. This adds to the intensity to the image. I think that this is quite an interesting technique to have used. The bottom image is taken from vogue magazine, as can be seen by the branding at the bottom of the image. The black background again adds more emphasis to the red colours and creates a sultry and seductive feel to the image. 

From looking at these two images i have concluded several things. For starters the use of colours in the background of an image can add intensity and increased focus to other certain parts of the image. Furthermore both images use features of the male gaze to attract the viewer. Both are quite seductive and present the artist in quite a sexual way. This is added to by the mise en scene in the bottom image, for example the use of red and the connotations this has. Sex appeal has quite a lot of significance in the R&B genre, therefore this may be important to consider.