Category: Creative Critical Reflection 1

By creating my magazine I have learnt new skills that would help me in future jobs. I have learnt techniques in Photoshop that I am able to develop to make photos look more effective. I have learnt to take criticism well to make my magazine better. Also, my time management has improved which will help me to work towards a deadline. My communication has improved as I am able to talk to my models and discuss what they are going to wear. This will help me in the future as I will have more confidence to be able to talk to people I do not know. I believe my brand is clearly reflected in the design as my pages have the masthead in the top corner. My models do convey the genre I chose as I have dressed them up in cute, co-ordinated outfits. I have also given them girly makeup which conveys the genre well.

For my updated double page spread, I made my own background. I started off with colouring half the page pink, and the other purple. I then used the mixer brush tool to blend the purple and pink together to create a gradient. This made it less harsh on the eyes. I used pink and purple as it suits my cute and girly concept of the genre I chose.

After this, I used a soft round tool to create the star effect. I used white and pink to create them. I believe this adds interest so it’s not a plain background. I changed the size of the circle tool and made it the soft tool as the original one looked too harsh on the eyes.

I chose the pink and purple colours as it fits my concept. I believe it makes the model look girly and cute. This also suits my audience’s demographics as the age range is around teenagers. The pink and purple also match with my model’s star image. My model is wearing lighter, pastel pink so the colours don’t blend together.

First, I cut out the flower using the polygonal tool to create an outline. I then selected solid colour and changed the blending options to make it more transparent. By doing this, it made the image ‘pop’ with colour and create a lively vibe. I did this as it was plain and white which didn’t suit my genre.

Then, I cut the flower out using the polygonal tool to place around the star. This would portray their star image to be cute and friendly. I changed this in the end as I didn’t like the look of it as it blended with her shirt which is also white.

Finally, I lightened her skin colour as that is a main factor in the style of Kpop. They believe porcelain skin shows them to be young and trendy. I did this by using the dodge tool and making the size big enough to cover the image. This makes the brightening even and not dotty.

During my studies in my Media lessons I have learnt many things about camera and mise-en-scene. By using camera angles, you can create an effective story for example, a high angle can make a model look vulnerable. I need to be able to remember these things during my photo shoot to make the photos look as good as possible.

Camera

• Mid Shot – Angle of a model from the waist up
• Framing – The use of the edges of the frame to select and to compose what will be visible onscreen
• Low angle – Facing up towards the model, making the model look powerful
• Long shot – A framing where the object in the shot is small compared to its surroundings

Mise-en-scene

• Costume – Can show what they’re dressed for, for example, a plaid shirt and a cowboy hat can show the genre of Country and Western
• Lighting – Lighting is important as it can set the mood. Low key lighting can make a set look cold and colourless, but high key lighting may show a modern or futuristic set
• Makeup – Using makeup can show whether your model is of high or low class. Bold, dark makeup may portray a model to be moody or scary
• Props – Using props that relate to the genre can show an audience what genre you are trying to convey

Camera and Mise-en-scene for my Photo shoot

Using these techniques, I now know what I should do for my photo shoot. I will make my model wear a skirt with knee length socks which portray the cute side of kpop, with light make up to make her more natural. I may also do a costume change so that I can reflect and make the outfit more suitable. I will make the lighting high key to show my model as being bright and fun. For my props, I will use an oriental fan which infers the culture of Korea to differentiate Kpop from Pop music.

To make the photos look effective, I will need to use a range of camera techniques. I am going to use mid shots, to show the model from a medium distance. I may also use a long shot to present the whole outfit.

 

 

 

 

After doing all these tasks, I have learnt that a magazine has to meet certain expectations for it to be made well and effective. I will have to follow this criteria to make my magazine stand out to a specific audience.

I will need to:

• Use a wide range of camera techniques varying from high angles, to a long shot. Also, I should use Mise-en-scene to make the model look appropriate to the genre I will use.
• Use magazine features such as masthead, main cover title, plugs, captions, inserts and more as it lays out the magazine.
• Consider fonts as that is what people read to get the information. I will need to make it clear and a colour that people who are colour blind are able to read.
• I will need to consider the ‘rule of thirds’ so the main focal point is off to the side, not dead centre.
• Use AIDA – Attention, interest, desire and action. This will make it stand out to an audience and make them create a course of action, leading them into buying my magazine.

An image can communicate meaning through framing and mise-en-scene as it is effective in encoding hidden details for the audience to decode. It is important using these techniques as it makes a magazine stand out from others.

High angles can make a person look vulnerable if used in the correct way. In addition to this, if the model acts weak, it will make the camera look more dominant over the model.

Using depth of view to make a person far away look blurry is effective in making it seem like they are a stalker. It’s mysterious as you aren’t able to see what that model looks like.

When I am able to make my magazine, I will use these techniques to make my magazine stand out. I will consider mise-en-scene and different camera techniques to tell a story that my audience is able to understand.

 

 

What I hope to learn

In Media Studies, I am hoping to learn more about Photoshop skills. This will benefit me in producing my magazine as I will know how to edit photos effectively. In my recent lessons, I have been learning about Blumler and Katz. This will help me develop my magazine as I now know the different ways in which media is used.

I am also hoping to gain confidence and team working skills as I am lacking on being able to talk to new people. This will help me in the future during interviews or presentations.

Skills I already have

I have very basic Photoshop skills but I would like to develop them and try more complex tasks. I also know how to post updates on a range of media sites such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp.

I’ve learnt that media is used in different ways. There are four ways media can be consumed including social interaction, information, entertainment and personal identity. This was theorised by Blumler and Katz.

I use media for entertainment as it is easy to access for enjoyment. Media can be used to socialise with friends with common interests, also it acts as a personal identity as it is what you enjoy to watch, listen or read. Finally, media is a good source of information as news sites are online.

Putting media into different categories has made me realise that some forms of media are different to others. In order to gain an audience, I need to understand the different ways people use media. I have to use my findings out to suit the needs of people in order to keep them attracted, entertained and informed.