Skills Audit

Using IT appropriately I feel so far that I have used IT appropriately to do research , including gaining images which then mean that I can create my online blog filled with images and text about my magazine research. I have confidently used blogger so far, to the extent that I have managed to upload my own photos to my blog and then expand on them in writing.

Understanding of conventions of layout/page design I have researched, using my IT skills to find what types of features are regularly and commonly in various magazines, I have looked at mainly NME, Q, and MOJO magazines where I have found out that the masthead and contents and double page spreads vary, and withhold the same house style throughout the magazine. I have realised that the front cover, a close up, and brief cover lines are integral to magazines such as NME, the minimalist design.  The double page layout also normally has one main dominant image which I have noticed and then hope to use in my own double page spread.

Awareness of need for variety in fonts and text size I have noticed by studying various magazines, not even solely the above music magazines that the font they carry holds a crucial brand identity such as the house style of red and white Q logo spans across all multi platforms that the Q company are part of such as the technological convergence online, music channel, and the Q magazine itself.  The font can be bold, and simple creating almost a retro look such as in MOJO or the more eccentric and extravagant the magazine hints at a higher class brand. The text size even has such a varying importance, a larger font could even be perceived differently than a smaller more detailed font. All these things are of high importance to my magazine of which I plan on using a basic yet highly effective font and style that will flow through my magazine.

Accurate use Lang/register Studying english language has helped enormously in order to understand the type of language that is persuasive or what can and would be included in articles and this case a magazine publication. For example the use of informal language and slang would be more appropriate as well as perhaps even taboo language in places.  Language features such as modal verbs and pronouns are vital as a persuasive technique and feature in several magazines as well ideas of fantasy and dreams such as lexical choices such as 'win' and 'prizes'. Certain modals such as 'must' and 'will' add a persuasive technique and personal pronouns will make the magazine feel personal such as 'you' and 'your' could really engage the reader into feeling wanted by the brand.

Appropriate integration illustration/text By researching various magazines, especially front covers, arguably the most important part of the magazine, I have recognised that the writing needs to crucially be readable and that is useless if its not readable, and it doesnt need to be just about readable, it needs to stand out. The main cover line, masthead needs to be clear and evident, from a distance as well as when zooming in. The images need to be clear and well edited to make sure the outline of images and text such as various fonts are easy to see and blend well. For example that there are no obvious clashes, for me my aim is to make every heading appear professional, and every cover line, even down to the price needs to be clear and simplistic. I already believe my idea for having a block colour background behind my cover star will be a bonus to forming appropriate integration illustration over text.

Framing shots For taking my photos, all original, they will all be taken by myself fortunately, I can include several that I have already taken at music gigs as well as other trips in stadia such as live images from stadia such as the NIA , Birmingham and The Emirates Stadium Arsenal. I also can use regular shots from Bristol City stadium as a season ticket holder, which also plays as a music venue meaning that all of these photos will look professional due to the sheer size of the picture/place or the location. This in comparison to something like a front room of a house posing as an arena. In my photos so far and in my future I will need to make sure the lighting is good and that the photos' faces are easy to see the detail if any, such as facial expression. As well as the background being clear, or deliberately busy if need be, for example I don't want to take an image of somebody (XCU) if there is just a window pane or kitchen appliance in the background. Everything is about realism.

Variety of shot distances as appropriate I have acknowledged the importance of varied shots as well as various distances such as it would be likely that the front cover contains a close up of my cover model , and several alternate shots in other images. My contents will contain what are polaroid images therefore I want some variety with probably some XCU , zoomed right in on a particular object with some zoomed out with an overview over a larger place. My double page spread, I plan on doing a portrait shot of somebody, for my interview page as I hope to be doing a 'artist portrait' appearance as my main image. By studying different magazines I have recognised the diverse shot distances and that a 'live' shot is rarely on the front cover of a magazine.

Shooting appropriate material I must acknowledge and constantly remember the purpose of my publication and that its solely a music magazine therefore all images ideally need to relate to music and music connotations. I also know that this means taking several music images which I either already have or that I can take locally or in Bristol or by setting the right mise en scene to relate to a music. I can also shoot the right material via editing and editing images to contain a musical appearance or something that will relate to my magazine, this could be by using special effects.

Selecting mise-en-scene (inc colour, figure, lighting, objects and setting) I have analysed the way that particular shots are used by the setting of various places to give for example a rustic and rough look for a rock band, or perhaps a dark and deep setting with splashes of light for maybe a more R'nB theme. For my magazine apart from the above I plan on setting the right mise en scene whilst varying night and day shots to have a real variety however not a complete constant contrasting ideas. My figures need to be appropriately dressed with any props needed, something I will look and analyse further when taking my cover photos.

Manipulating photographs (including within text, within IT programmes, cropping, resizing Using photoshop I can manipulate photos via resizing and doing different effects to perhaps pixelate or brighten darker images. I can do this as I am confident with cropping and changing any images. I also can set settings in my camera in order to gain special features or modes of my photos.

Contribution (so far)