Category: Preliminary Print Tasks

Moodboard

Reflection

This is my mood board to help give me some inspiration for my tour poster. I found that there is often a plain and large title, bright colours, and bold, blocky fonts. They tend to be fairly simple in comparison to some other genres such as rock, this ties in well to the pop genre as it is mainstream and doesn’t stand out too much. Going into more depth with the colour scheme, they are almost always bright and colourful. This convention catches the reader’s eye and makes them want to learn more. I have noticed that medium close-ups and close-ups are a camera technique often used to show the artist. This makes it easy to see who the poster is about. AIDA is an acronym used to talk about ‘attention, interest, desire and action’. These four elements are used when designing a tour poster and considering what will add appeal. Attention refers to what catches the readers eye e.g. colours, artist. Interest is what hooks the audience and makes them want to pick one up.

My Tour Poster

tour poster 1

Reflection

Above is my own tour poster. I followed the brief given to us on the blog and used this to complete my poster. I tried to incorporate bright colours and a large main cover star to catch the eye and increase interest. The brief spoke about including a name of the artist and tour, dates and venues, and other information such as where to buy tickets. I played about with the layout for a while to find what was most effective and pleasing to the eye. I realised that the main cover star was way too small to begin with so I increased the size of the image which made it look much more professional. Before starting my poster on InDesign I had to edit the image of Jacques so it would look natural on the poster. By this I mean I had to separate him from the original background and edit out any pieces left behind. I am happy with the way it turned out overall. I am pleased with the layout and think it is easy to read. I tried to make it informative yet simple as to not bore the reader.

For this task, we were given a magazine cover and we had to recreate it on Indesign. Indesign is an application that you can use to create things such as posters, brochures, magazines etc. We had to learn how to use it and get used to all of the different tools that help create your work. I also had to identify some of the conventional features that this magazine had and made sure I included everything in my mock-up front page. Some of these features were the masthead, cover lines, bar code, main cover star and a plug. These things help us identify it as a magazine and gives us an insight into the topics, as well as using plugs to interest the audience and giving them another reason to buy it.

When it comes to reflecting on my mock-up cover, I can name two things I did well, and two things I could improve on. I personally think I got the fonts fairly similar which helps it look professional. I found the sizing quite easy, so it came out accurate which helped me keep the layout similar to the original. For things I could improve on, I could not find the original picture of the cover star, so had to use another similar one. This was a slight disadvantage as it does make a big difference with layout and overall look. It was also tricky and took a long time to get the masthead right as I was not fully familiar with the tools on Indesign, so I need to make sure I fully understand them next time to avoid wasting time. And I also did not keep everything inside the border so I need to remember that for next time.

This task will be extremely helpful in the future as it has given me experience in creating a front cover and I further understand the different design conventions needed to make a magazine. I have a better idea of how to lay out these features and what is more effective. When it comes to creating my own cover, I will be able to try out different layouts and texts to see what looks best.

Videos to help me develop my skills in Indesign

 

In groups of three, we were asked to take a minimum of 50 photos that told a story. We had to get used to using a DSLR camera and produce good quality photos. We tried lots of different locations, these all had a variety of lightings and space which helped us to tell different stories through our images. The outdoor photos have high-key lighting which gives a more optimistic and easy-going vibe. Whereas, the photo of me sitting on a chair from the top of the stairwell has low-key lighting. I have also sat alone and look very isolated. The denotation is just that I am sitting on a chair on my own. But the slim view I am shown through in the stairwell could connote that I feel trapped and stressed. This contrasts with the photos in the football goal. It is in an open space with bright, natural lighting which makes the audience think that Ben is happy and feels free, rather than confined.

In the photos of me and Anya on the stage, we have used Mise-en-Scene to express our relationship. We used proxemics/distance and sat close together to present the idea that we are friends and get on well, rather than sitting far away from each other and having closed off body language; this would imply that we do not like each other and are maybe in a disagreement.

We also tried using a distorted angle in the photo of me and Anya on the stairs. This created an odd atmosphere and added more to the photo rather than just using a regular mid-shot for example. It poses some questions for the audience such as ‘why was it taken at such an angle?’, or ‘why was it framed that way?’.

Having this knowledge with benefit me when it comes to producing my own magazine as I have gained skills regarding using a DSLR camera on my own. I can now use it to my advantage and try different things with the lighting, angles, and composition for example. These will all add depth to my images and help me create the photos I would like to. I now have a much larger range of functions I can try out in my photography which will help me find what works well for me. Using elements such as lighting and angles will help to change the tone, mood, or story I want to tell.

Moodboard

In groups, we were given a genre of music to research, ours was Pop. We all found different images that represent the genre and added it to a mood board. We tried to include the fashion, hairstyles, album covers, and accessories associated with our genre. We decided to base it on ‘the 80s/’90s pop genre and discovered that the style was mainly casual, bright, loose, and relaxed. The mise en scene used in the classic album covers normally displays the singers standing together looking to the camera. It is very simple and straightforward. This ties in with the easy-going style of that era. This creates a relatable, friendly, and genuine image for the artists which makes them more likable by the public.

I have learned that the stereotypical ‘Pop’ look usually includes a funky and colourful shirt, a jacket, skinny jeans, and some plain shoes. It is generally very mainstream and basic but this works as it doesn’t stand out too much and can be liked by all.

Post-it Note Responses

After we took our photos, the class had to write the words that came to mind when looking at this outfit onto post-it notes. The typical answers were ‘confident’, ‘modern’, laid-back’ etc. This was exactly the image we wanted to portray. We tried to take inspiration from our mood board to create a staple boy-band member. We tried different pieces of clothing such as leather jackets, 90’s style colourful shirts, a variety of sunglasses etc which were all based on our mood board. We found that a simple denim jacket and button-up shirt helped portray the image we were going for without over complicating it. This links to the typical ‘Popstar’ figure during the ’90s, very simple and more focused on the music rather than their fashion.

Our Own Photos

Here are a few of the many photos we took whilst in costume. We tried different poses and locations to keep a variety and find which worked best. I personally think that the images where Jacques is pointing to the camera and the one where he is looking off to the left with his glasses on were most effective. I think they really encapsulate what comes to mind when you think of a Popstar. His facial expressions are very unbothered and he’s not showing any joy or excitement, perhaps to look cool. Also, pulling down his glasses slightly when looking into the camera makes it seem as though he almost didn’t notice you because of his own existence and fame.

The final photo

The relaxed and nonchalant look into the distance rather than to the camera makes you think he is very cool and collected. His facial expressions are very unbothered and he’s not showing any joy or excitement, perhaps to look cool. Also, his body language suggests that he is unconcerned and fairly relaxed, this could mean that he is a high profile and is used to getting attention. His hair isn’t over the top or distracting from the rest of the look. We assume he is very popular and probably quite ego-centric because of the overall persona he displays through his clothes and confident poses. We did not add any makeup as Popstars from the ’90s were often keeping it plain and low-key with their appearances rather than standing out from the crowd.  

Reflection

Overall, I have learned the importance of using Mise en Scene in photography, it helps to convey meaning in your images. Without it, your work is vacant and motiveless, you can not tell a story or express a message without it. Being able to denote and connote an image is extremely helpful in understanding what it is trying to say. This will help me in the production of my own magazine as I have a better understanding of what I need to pay attention to when taking my own photos such as detail, costume, background, and location. Detail is extremely important as it can change the entire interpretation. If for example, I have dressed up in costume to convey a particular message but have my phone sticking out of my pocket or have a messy background where it is not relevant then it instantly takes away the quality of the image; it makes the production look sloppy and rushed.

This task was about deconstructing and analyzing a tour poster. I chose this one as the colour theme, body language, fonts etc all helped to connote the message behind the image. I have learned how much the production of an image can affect the way it is viewed and why it is important to know what parts will affect the mood of displayed.  It has helped me to develop my knowledge regarding how the way a poster is designed can alter how a person views it/how popular it will be. I can see that this poster is well-produced and made to a high standard from the colours/pathetic fallacy used to reflect her mood, clear imagery etc. It has been well thought out and planned in advance.

Now that I know the effect of these aspects in a poster, I can use this knowledge when producing my magazine. Depending on the mood I want to portray, I can use these elements to present the correct tone. For example, if my magazine is going to be uplifting and joyful, I would use bright colours, open body language, and positive captions on my front page so that the reader has an insight of what it is about.