Final Contents Page- School Magazine

 Here is my final evaluation for my contents page. I have used many different skills and techniques to produce a proffesional looking contents page.

 

   In photography, I used lots of different techniques. I used long shots, mid shots, close ups and extreme close ups to achieve a proffesional looking magazine. (Examples of these shots are in my "Photos" Blog. I also expreimented with colour and lighting. Here is an example of a photo I took.

 In photoshop, I used lots of different tools. First, I used the magic lasoo tool to make a cut out of the figure in my photo. (NOTE: This is not my final image on my magazine cover, see my "Attempt at a cover" post to see how I would have used this.) This was useful as I could then post the image on to a background of my choice. I learnt how to use the lasoo tool in lessons and with some private work at home.

  Another tool I learnt how to use was the clone tool. In magazines, They use the clone tool to make the skin of a model look perfect. This tool gave the impression that it was airbrushed proffesionally. I found this tool hard to use as it took a lot of time but it was useful.

Another thing I used photoshop for was to use a filter on the image I chose. The filter I used was on the filter galley and I chose it because it looked grainy and therefore evoked emotions of sadness.

 

A typical magazine contents page

In the contents page, I have noted that the image is usually to the left of the page and there is a long list of features. The features list often shows a page number, a title then the main outline of the feature. An example of this is here. This is a convention. A code within my magazine is the fact that I have used the colour scheme of black and blue through-out it. I chose blue as once again, it shows sadness. If I had done it in all black and white it would have either looked cheap and tacky or classy, I decided by adding colour, it would add a slightly more editorial look to it.

In my magazine, I tried to aim it aim students. I did this by using a young girl at the top of the page. She looks like a typical student. The layout is quite simplistic and I chose to do it this way as Students are often too busy to read things in detail as they have to study. The use of colours was key as the blue I chose was similiar to that of Facebook and students these days are media relevant. The style of my magazine was supposed to mirror when established magazines release special editions of magazines, I chose bullying as it is an issue amongst teens these days.

The Strengths-

• My photography is good but not great, in the future, I will make a blueprint of how I want the magazine contents to look and not just take photos and make plans from then.
• My typography fits in well with the style as it is aimed at students.
• The "Articles and Interviews" follow a similiar style to other magazines.
• I have used the heading on the contents and on the front cover (See "Final Front Cover-School Magazine)

The Weaknesses

• The background is white and not very many magazines use an all white background however I found it was plain and simple and this is the style I was aiming for. In the future, I would make less white space by using more pictures and photos.
• The two images overlap each other and in many magazines, this is a key practice but down to the style of my magazine, its not appropriate.
• Both images seem to convey a feeling of happiness. In the future, I will ask the "model" to pose sadly as the image will make the magazine seem more realistic.

Here is my final contents page for the School Magazine.