Improvements

I have decided to change my main image to one of just one girl who is wearing popular headphones to re-enforce the category of my magazine to my target audience and make my product more appealing. Equally this is a better image with better lighting and an interesting unusual angle and address. The expression on the subjects face is intreage and will communicate the diversity of the R&B music industry.

This image is also one I may feature within my product as it uses a direct mode of address which is typically used on music magazine covers. the subject is centre framed and is easily associated with the R&B music industry through the headphones and costumes featured. Her face is shadowed by her hair which affects the mood of the image and creates an image that can be representable for R&B.

My improved draft cover includes a clearer image that clearly shows the R&B themes through the subjects face and costume and props. i have enhanced the image to give her a clearer more appealing complexion, also i have brightened her lips and teeth. I have straightened her teeth and changed the colouring and brightness of her eyes so they stand out more and appear more gold which is the house colour of the product tying it together. i have also adapted the image to allow the subject to fall before the masthead but behind the feature stories. the whole lighting of the image has been adapted to be more eye-catching.

for my final draft, I have decided to change the main image photo to one with direct address to make my product take on the features of existing products. Any successful R&B magazine use images with direct address to draw in their target audience, so i  the same way I have used the most appropriate photograph of Amanda in order to engage with my target audience. The image is much more fitting to the genre and representational of the ideology I wish to present, the shadow placed across her face crates the sense of a mood which s a main them in many R&B artists' best work. Equally the image shows how strong and stylish the main subject is which again re-enforces the ideology of R&B music.

Self Evaluation

To improve my magazine cover I could:

• Edit the image more using the tools available on photoshop to make my image appear more proffesional and appropriate.

•  Use a filter on my image or manipulate the lighting of the image to make it stand out more on the cover and match my house style.

•  Alter the position of the image on the page so it is clear to read the text around it.

•  Alter the size of the main image to fit the conventions of music magazine covers by making it larger and more eye-catching.

• Change the image to one of just one girl with better lighting and a closer up image to make the expression on her face clearer.

My Magazine Cover

Cover Images

What makes a good image-

1)      Correct Lighting (3 point)

2)      Good Framing

3)      Appropriate Size

4)      Good angle

5)      Direct point of address

6)      Posing artist

7)      Depth of field

8)      Use of mise-en-scene

My understanding of what makes a good magazine cover through my research.

To prepare mnyself to take my cover photograpghs I have booked a 3 hour session in the green room with my model to take many photographs in order to give me a wide selection and ensure the best possible image. I plan to use dfifferent lighting and poses and framings to give my images variety so I can select the best suited one for my cover. Equally I have prepared many outfits that match my costume reseach to see which one works best with the existing house styles. Furthermore I have brought in a selection of props including gold chains, headphones and gold jewelry to reenforce the conventions of R&B music.