Creating My Contents Page

STEP 1:

The first step to creating my contents page was selecting the Q logo, the same one I had used for my Cover page, and placing it in the top left corner. I then created a rectangular box using the Rectangular Marquee Tool, and with the Eyedropper Tool I selected the same shade of red as the Q logo and filled in the box using that, then from studying the Q contents pages I noticed how the font and colours (similar to the cover) were often bold capitals in black and red, therefore i decided to put this in place f
or my magazine.

STEP 2:

Next, I noticed how Q often uses their main cover story as a large feature in the contents page too, so with this on board I selected another image from my photoshoot with Ashleigh and placed it inline with the 'features' header under the contents title. Here's an example of a Q contents page I got inspiration from: 

STEP 3:

Next I began to add in articles, I noticed how in the Q contents pages often state the title in bold, capital, black letters then have a smaller description of the article and what the article features and so i decided to feature this in my contents page, again I decided to base the topics on new music, bands, festivals, interview etc as this is what Q mainly focuses on. 

STEP 4:

Next I decided to take an image from a photoshoot I had done with Kaya and Fern 

STEP 5:

Key Definitions

Definitions:

Media: The main means of mass communication, including television, radio and newspapers. Regarded collectively.
Denotation: Something the audience can visually see
Connotation: An idea/feeling which a word evokes from a person in addition to its literal or primary meaning.
Semiotics: The study of signs and symbols and their use of interpretations.

Music Magazine Cover Analysis

This Cover of Q would be aimed at both men and women with an interest in music, particularly with an interest in Florence + The Machine. The magazine is covered completely by the image of Florence the colour of her hair sets as a background for the cover whilst the shade blue in her eye makeup is featured as boarders and bullet points/underlinings for the magazine titles. the large title 'i feel so alone' under florence gives a hint to the reader that florence opens up about something making the reader want to delve further

Media Mind Map

Here are just a few of the different form of Media

Magazine Front Cover Analysis

This magazine front cover of Lana Del Rey would be aimed at young women and possibly teens who have an interest in Lana Del Rey, and 'fashion and music' as the cover suggests perhaps between 16-25 year olds. The colours on the cover have a golden hue to them with lots of lilacs and nudes connecting with the 'super spring style' and creating a spring/summer feel to the cover as a whole, even the VOGUE logo is gold for this cover particularly. It is very evident from all of the subheadings and titles that the magazine as a whole is targeted as a lot of the titles are to do with beauty, fashion and females which is a major stereotype of the type of things that females would be interested in.

Creating My Music Magazine

STEP 1:

Here are the images that i decided were the best of the photoshoot i did with ashleigh, which was the first stage before i began to edit my magazine. In order to get the right front cover image I wanted we tried out several poses before deciding that head shots fit best for a magazine cover.

STEP 2:

After i had chosen my image and set it on to photo shop i decided to get a copy of the Q title and past this image in the top left hand corner similar to Q covers I had studied. 

STEP 3:

Next I started to layer up some titles for the magazine, i sampled several different fonts but decided that Capitals Regular was the most similar to the font that Q uses, I also used the Eyedropper tool and selected the red from the Q logo to make sure it matched my the titles perfectly. I thought that red and black would be the best colours to use for my cover as these are the ones most commonly used on Q and give off that genuine Q feel to the magazine. I also decided to make most of my titles about new bands and music as well as interviews as I know that this is what Q is most commonly known for. I decided to make Ashleigh's name the main feature of the magazine title (for the main story), this was inspired by Florence + the Machine's Q cover, showing the audience that its its an interview but making her name bold and large will help the cover stand out and make fans of hers want to read further.

STEP 4:

Lastly, I decided to add a couple extra images from the photo shoot with Ashleigh just above the main title. This helped to fill out the empty gaps and make the cover look more full and realistic, it also would be put in place to give the audience a quick insight to the photo shoot and a taster for what could be inside. 

I also, as a last minuet touch, tried out changing the filter on the background as my original one is totally unedited I decided testing out some filters that might add to the cover. Firstly, i tried black and white. Whilst black and white made the red in the font stand out it didn't add to the cover and took away from the realism of it. Next I tried a dim filter, with altered hue/saturation, and much like the black and white it dulled down the image and took away from the freshness of the original image. 

My Music Magazine Analysis: contents page

I spent a lot of time examining the Q contents pages to make sure my one could be as close to Q as possible. I noticed how a lot of the Q contents pages feature a large imagine of the main feature in the magazine with a few smaller images of other articles in the magazine. So from a previous photoshoot i did with my models Kaya and Fern, i decided to use an 'off guard' image of them, i thought that this image made them look more like they were in a rock band and gave character and a less serious vibe t o the contents. I also used another image of Ashleigh, again an 'off guard' image of her laughing with the caption 'fame scares me to death' this juxtaposition should make the reader intrigued and urge them on to read more, it also shows that she has personality and doesn't take life too seriously. I wrote features along the side about festivals and other music that could interest readers of Q.
However, i could improve my contents page by making it a double spread like Q usually do, i could also put more images in perhaps of festivals and other bands etc to break the writing up.

My Music Magazine Analysis: front cover

I decided to create a magazine largely influenced by Q. As Q is a magazine i personally admire and have studied, i noticed how Q tend to use large capital bold fonts usually in red and black colours. I decided to use and image of my model Ashleigh where she is looking away from the camera yet in full shot its an image mostly focused on her face, i decided to use a couple extra images from the photo shoot in the corner of my magazine above the title. I decided to make Ashleigh's name larger than the rest of the main title and this was inspired by the Florence + The Machine Q cover i analysed . I kept the Q logo in the  left corner as this is classic to Q as a magazine. I tired to make the titles as realistic and close to Q as i could, this meant that they were all music based and about bands.
However, i could improve my magazine cover by perhaps editing the cover image further to add depth and make the image stand out further, again perhaps i could have experimented with editing on the titles and mix the fonts up.