Magazines: Front cover practical project

 Research

1) Use Google to research potential magazines that you could use as your brand/design for this project. Create a shortlist of three potential magazines and embed an example front cover from each one. We recommend looking at lifestyle magazines or a similar genre as these are more achievable to re-create.

2) Choose one of the three magazine brands to use for your project e.g GQ, Vogue or The Gentlewoman. Then find three different front covers for your chosen magazine and embed them in your blogpost. Analyse the fonts, colours and typical design. What is the language or writing style? How are the cover lines written? What camera shot is generally used for the cover image? You need to become an expert in the design and construction of this magazine and its branding.

I think I can recreate the cadet magazines as there are no celebrities on the front of the magazine meaning that I won't have to impersonate another person and appears to be more simplistic in terms of lighting and setting as there is not much set up needed in order to recreate the image.

The shots used are close-up and medium shots. The language on the magazines used are written in such a way that it will attract audiences to read or gain interest in by addressing the viewer directly but at the same time it will be written in a formal tone to maintain the standard.

The "Verdana" font seems to match the closest to the Cadet magazines and will be used when recreating the magazine.

Planning

1) On a Word or Google document, plan your main cover line (also called the 'main flash') - this is the main cover story that links to your central image.
The main cover line would be something like: "join now" and the background will be in a forest the cover lines will address the viewer directly and then attract attention with the image of the uniform. The main point is to have a form of persuasion towards the viewer.

2) Briefly plan the image you will need for the cover - model, costume, make-up, lighting etc. At this point, simply describe the image you need to capture.
In terms of costume, I have all of the necessary uniform and , in terms of lighting I will be outside which may pose a challenge towards the lighting aspect in some cases and depending on how the image will be shot.

The image will be a medium close-up of the subject so that they can see the uniform and the person who is wearing it and they will also be able to see the background of the forest setting.

3) Write the cover lines and any additional text you need for your magazine cover.

"The Next Generation"

"Action, Adventure & Excellence" 

4) Sketch out your cover on plain A4 paper using your written planning. Take a photo of your sketch and upload it to your blogpost.

Photoshoot

We will do a photoshoot in class next week with lighting and backdrop. However, if you prefer you can arrange your own photoshoot for the cover image in your own time - you can use your phone or your own camera to take an image. If you don't have a phone or camera that is suitable, you can sign out a camera from Mr Harrison.

1) On your planning document, write the date, time and location of your photoshoot and the name of the model or photographer you will use (you can choose anyone to be your cover model or you can be the cover model yourself).

It will be shot during the day outside in a forest area so that natural lighting can light up the image instead of artificial lighting. I will be the main subject and I will get my friend to take a picture of me.

The image will be taken on the 10/05/2023, and will be edited on the same day as seen from the template, some minor adjustments will be made in order to make it look more natural.

Publication to blog and evaluation

1) Once you have completed your design in Photoshop, go to 'File > Save a copy' and save your finished Photoshop magazine cover as a JPEG image. Then, upload it to your blogpost. 

2) Upload two genuine covers of the magazine you have chosen and put them next to your front cover. This is a brilliant way to check how professional your work looks alongside the real thing.

3) Write a short evaluation of your work: have you succeeded in your brief to create a new, original edition of an existing magazine? Does your cover stand up alongside the genuine covers of your chosen magazine? How professional is your work alongside those genuine examples?
I think I have recreated the magazine successfully as it has the same elements as the other exemplary magazines and looks like it would be an actual magazine.

4) Finally, what would you do differently if you completed this assignment again?

Maybe find another setting or another forest location, possibly have more than one person in the image.