Preliminary coursework

My preliminary coursework is for the front cover of a school magazine. The image on the front cover must represent the target audience; this representation is key to conveying the genre and targeting the reader. I took a photograph of one of my fellow students for my front cover. I did this because this image clearly indicates the genre (school magazine). I asked my model actor to wear a suit and smart tie because these clothing codes indicate that the 6th form is a conventional, traditional institution which expects its students to be smartly dressed. As the tie is blue, I have used this colour in the title to reinforce the idea of smartness.

My research has taught me that i should not use more than two or three colours on my cover for the writing and I should not have more than seven or eight cover lines, all of which should be blocked or grouped. I also justified my text to the left and the right to aid the grouping. I also found that the lead story in the magazine should have the biggest font size on the cover.

This is my original image.

Codes and Conventions of Magazine Covers

Everyone in the class was asked to take an original image and produce a magazine cover. I used an original image of myself playing my guitar. I studied a number of magazines in order to produce this.

Playing With PhotoShop

I set out with a digital camera to take pictures in the surrounding area of my school grounds with the brief to try to find some unusual angles and new ways of looking at a familiar environment. We were then tasked with the job of altering the original photos using Photoshop, so that viewers would be encouraged to see things with a different perspective.

this is the original photograph

Twitter

  

Twitter is good because it is a place where people can trade opinions and advice, chat and find out information from friends and instituations. Following others is also good because it means that you can take advice from them.

My Media World

24.11.2010

What media do I use? How does it affect me and the world that I live in?

The phone is use is a Sony Erricson Walkman which has been very useful considering its complexity. I generally use the phone for playing music as the sound projected is very clean and does not contain distortion, my phone is also used as an alarm clock as I can choose the alarm, it is my primary source of contact as I can text and make calls. The only thing I am not happy about my phone is with the internet which is a high cost, slow running and sometimes is not retrievable because of reception.

If I was to upgrade my phone, I would choose a blackberry as they are cheaper than the rate of a mobile phone, they take communications and accessibility to a higher level and email can be used with them.

Facebook is now the official way of internet communications between friends, employers, & even events managements, and is used by people of all ages. When communicated with my friends, there are three different ways of doing so: the first is by using Facebook chat (like in MSN messenger), the second is to post on the person’s Facebook page, and the third is to send them a message which is done if you want to talk discretely or send to multiple people. Although some individuals are concerned by the privacy of Facebook, I am not personally as I have nothing on my page that I want to be kept secret, if there is something I do not want people to know, I simply don’t put it online.

I really enjoy watching films and do so on a regular basis, which is why the increasing possibilities of getting access to films really pleases me. Although I prefer watching a film the traditional way (VCR, DVD, Cinema or live television), I will be willing to watch a film from an internet site if it is not illegal as it is cheaper and more convenient than buying from a shop. If I go to the cinema, I like to book my tickets online as it prevents queuing at the cinema itself. I use the cinema official sites to find trailers for new releases.

Music is very important part of my life and I generally use an I pod to listen to my music, although I prefer to buy music from a shop I am very happy to purchase on iTunes as I can keep all my music safely together.

I generally use the internet for one and a half hours maximum on weekdays and two hours at the weekend. I use the internet for online purchase, leisure, news, communication through Facebook and information for work and other purposes. My family uses the internet for online purchase (shopping delivery) and communications such as email, Facebook and even Microsoft Word for writing letters.