Evaluation Question 7 - Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from that to your full report?

The first photograph is my preliminary task from the beginning of the year, and the second is my final product. The improvements are clear looking at these two photographs. My work is now more structured and organised and also looks a lot more professional. I have learnt how to use the correct colours of both background and text so that they don't clash. I have learnt how to use Photoshop so that I can edit the lighting of my photographs etc. At the beginning of this course when I started my preliminary task, I could barely use Photoshop. Now I know different kinds of editing techniques that improve my work. I have also learnt which fonts I should use for my magazine to make it look more professional. The masthead on my final product looks a lot more professional than my preliminary and this is because my ideas have developed throughout the year. I have also gained new ideas through research and audience feedback from my classmates and lecturers.

Evaluation Question 6 - What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Mac Desktop Computers:

Before this task, I had no previous experience using Mac's and the transition was quite hard. However, I quickly got used to this as it helped my production as the Mac's have higher resolution quality. Using the Mac's greatly improved my work and although I am still adapting to some things, I am confident with using the Mac computers.

Adobe Photoshop:

I had limited knowledge of Photoshop before this task. However, through working on my coursework and using Photoshop in my spare time, my editing skills and understanding of the program flourished and I can now work consistently using the program and I can use different techniques of editing to help my work.

Camera's:

I have previously used camera's before this, however I am normally just used to simply pointing a camera and taking a photograph. However, it was a lot different using a camera for my coursework. I had to use autotimer, set the white balance, enable macro mode to focus on the person in the image and set the resolution of the image to high. My overall understanding of camera's and their conventions (such as depth of field and the rule of third's) have improved greatly and I can now take more professional looking photographs.  

Blogger:

Before this task, I had never used blogger. I have used other websites, for example, Tumblr, which I use most days. I had to adapt to this new website as I was not familiar with it, which I have successfully done. I think that the layout of Blogger is the best website to post coursework as it is organised as it allows formatting, changing of time and date, and editing posts.

Evaluation Question 5 - How did you attract/address your audience?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WP0RvS_7xE

Evaluation Question 4 - Who would be the audience for your media product?

http://animoto.com/play/bUUWIc7F2shZNMVt1wUAhA

Evaluation Question 3 - What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Personally, I would choose Bauer Media as it offers 300 different magazines, which means it has a larger population. This means that there is a bigger audience and more people to read the magazine.  It also offers radio stations and TV stations which could advertise my magazine and get it to a lager audience and therefore get more people to read it. They have a lot of popular music magazines such as Kerrang! and Q. These are just some of the different magazines that I chose to analyse and take ideas and inspiration from. They are all also popular and doing well within in the UK and this shows Bauer Media is a good and successful media institution. I think they would distribute my magazine because of the fact that I would have a larger target audience which suits a wide variety. This would mean they would get more recognition and it would also help them make more money. I also think my magazine is quite similar to the magazines Bauer Media produce so my magazine is something they would look at and distribute as there are other magazines that are popular and successful that look like mine.

Q is a magazine that relates to my own. It is a popular and successful magazine that Bauer Media produces. The magazine has an extensive review section, featuring: new releases (music), music compilations, film and live concert reviews, as well as radio and television reviews. The style of the magazine can be compared to mine in many ways, for example the front cover has one main photograph in the same was mine has. Q magazine uses similar colours throughout their magazine which mix well together and make the magazine look more appealing. I have also used similar colours on in my magazine. There are many different kinds of ways that mainstream retail magazines are distributed. Some of these being through apps, more online opportunities, and free magazines handed out at venues. In my opinion, my magazine would be best distributed through apps and more online opportunities because my target audience is teenagers and young adults and these people will be more likely to spend time on the internet, rather than people from different age groups

Evaluation Question 2 - How does your media product represent particular social groups?

The postures of both girls are similar as they are both sitting down holding a guitar on their knee.They also share similar facial expressions, both looking casual. In addition to this, both girls are wearing similar casual clothes. The angle of the shot is taken so that both girls are directly opposite the camera, which is why in both pictures, there isn't anything distracting in the background. The hairstyles in both photographs are similar also, as the hair is down and looking slightly messy which is usually how girls from this genre have their hair. I believe that fans and readers aspire to be like these people as they are both talented and casual at the same time, and they aren't afraid to be themselves.

Evaluation Question 1 - In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

This is the title and masthead of my magazine cover . It is big, bold and very eye catching and is an example of a real media product title.

A competition is a typical feature used in magazines which is why I have included one on my magazine cover.






 I also made sure to use graphic features and a barcode as this is important to improve the professionalism of my magazine

Because my magazine has 'Exclusive' on its cover, it enhances the audience more and this makes them more inclined to buy it. This is a typical media convention which is why I have used it.

I have included free posters in my magazine and advertised them on the front cover because members of the public are more willing to buy a magazine if it includes something free.

The model on my front cover shows the typical conventions of mise en scene. I have used a medium shot so that her face is clear, but also some of her outfit is visible also. The lighting is good so that she stands out, and she is also on a black background so that she is the main focus of the front cover. The model on the front of a magazine always decides whether or not a member of the public is going to buy a magazine, which is why I used a model from my target audience age range.

The font I have used is white and bold which stands out well on the black background. I have also used capital letters as this is an exclamatory sentence .