This is an image I had found from the first week of creating my magazine front cover. So far, I had cut out an image from my initial photoshoot, implanted my masthead and added a box with general information like price, issue number and web address for the magazine. Throughout this task, I found it difficult to work with this image as the model was dressed in white clothing which practically vanished into the background from the flash of the camera. Although, I overcame this problem and was very careful when cutting it out in order to not miss any of the clothing out. Over the course of making the front cover I am certain to make many changes to suit the indie genre magazine and look professional. For example, I still need to include all of the sell lines, possibly a tagline and also quotes and plugs in order to entice the reader into reading the rest of the magazine.

This week in media I completed the drafts for the contents, double page spread and front cover. I did these tasks firstly by drawing them out on plain paper with rough ideas of what I would want my final product to look like. I believed this task to be relatively easy, because of my past experience of creating a music magazine last year in Media Studies. However, this also adds pressure onto me as I want to further myself and do better than I did previously. Moreover, I got the ideas for each of the pages from the magazines in the same genre and how they create each of these pages. I could then see the generic factors that had to be included on each one of these pages and decided to draft them into my rough sketches. I feel that is vital that I include all of the common codes and conventions of the indie genre in my magazine as it is what defines your magazine as to being from that genre and also separates it from looking like a comic.

       Plus, I also completed my slideshow on the mise-en-scen from my photoshoot, which highlights what props and clothing I used and why I chose to do so. I think that the clothing used in the photoshoots is essential as the clothes need to have a link to the genre so that the audience can have a relationship with it. Additionally, indie magazines are known for being stylish and having a close link with fashion. Therefore, the clothes worn need to be stylish and sleek in order to keep a strong relationship growing between the reader and my magazine.

        Finally, I created my article draft this week and this was to display what kind of interviews are going to feature inside of my magazine. I chose to take great care with my article so that when it came to adding the article to my real magazine, I can either crop parts out or add more to the backbone of the article, saving me both time and effort. I asked questions that the audience are more than likely going to want to know; this makes my article seem more appealing and the fact that I would advertise it as being an ‘exclusive’ adheres to this thought.

Lastly, I had to draft out a double page spread and this again was to give me an insight into what sort of double page spread I was looking into creating. Then, after this was done I could plan about how I was going to achieve these goals and how I was going to make my ideas a reality.
       On one A4 side of the double page spread, I was going to have an introductory page which would simply have a full bleed image of the interviewed artist, with their name in large bold font but also importantly, the word 'Exclusive' contributes vasts amounts to this page as it clearly implies that my magazine is offering something that others cannot, and it is this uniqueness that will help most in selling the magazine.
       Moreover, on the second page I am going to use a variety of images where the model will be in different outfits, but the range of photographs will be from different angles. This will be done so that it will add change to my magazine and keep the readers entertained; but also to simply keep the style of the magazine constant. Additionally, the text used on the page will be neat, clear to read and also layed out in columns. I have chosen this style as it will keep a clear and simple layout throughout my magazine and reflect professionalism but simply keep it easy to read also.

Before I started the draft of my magazine, I had a vague idea of what I wanted to create and this therefore saved me a fair bit of time. Firstly, it is essential that all magazines have a large, and gripping cover image and this is what I attempted to convey in my poor drawing. Moreover, I made sure that the main sell-line linked tightly with the main image to therefore signify the importance of the main artist but also drive into the reader that my magazine can get the biggest artists that other magazines cannot offer. Next, the additional sell-lines were places along the left hand side of the page and the box around them draws attention to them and further highlight what major artists are going to be included in my magazine. Similarly, the masthead comes of great importance as it is pivotal that it is large, bold but also recognisable. I believe that I adhered with the common connotations of the word 'Heritage' because my font was old looking but also formal. Finally, information like the web-site, price and email as this is the key information needed to fulfill the needs of the reader and also to keep them informed on how to stay in contact and up to date with the magzine.

For my contents page draft, I made sure that I highlighted that I wanted to have a busy and informative as this is the key page for finding information about the artists which appeal most to the audience. However, I also want to include some compelling images as these will adhere to the busy theme of the page but also grab the audiences attention and keep them on the page. Furthermore, it will clearly signify who is going to be involved in this issue. Also, I am going to make sure that the main sell-lines from the front cover will be the boldest and most noticable as these are the biggest articles we have, and will therefore be the most compelling and interesting to the reader. Finally, the offer of subscriptions and a 'WIN' sell line gives the readers an exciting offer to win a trip or item that they dream of, but also to highlight how if they subscribe to the magazine; they will receive the magzine for a cheaper price and will also begin to create a relationship with the magazine.

This week I did my second photoshoot and decided to do a shoot outdoors instead of another studio shoot. I believe that this added variety to my wide selection of images and therefore gives me a greater choice of images for when I come to create my magazine, and will be able to use a variety of shots on numerous pages.
             The second shoot took place at my brother's house in Southampton but also around where he lives as there is a lot of scenery that made for a very entertaining, but ultimately successful photoshoot.
               I began the shoot in the garden of my brothers house as it has interesting foliage and shapes in the fencing which I was able to use to create intreging images and poses upon. I believe it is most important to generate an image that will trap the viewers attention and draw them into reading the magazine by having an abstract image. During the shoot I used a lens which blurred the background but still brought the clear focus onto the model. This again added a variety of shots to my arsenal compared to the last shoot, but also added to the quality of creating an image that will be unusual. I think the lens was successful in doing this as it brought out some great images that I am undoubtedly going to use.
               After I had taken a good quality of images in the garden, we decided to move out to the local park. The park seemed to be produce a catalogue of great images as there is a vast amount of scenery to work with. I took shots alongside a bench, playground toys and some without props to yet again provide a variety to the shots I produce. I feel as though this shoot was largely successful as it revealed some jaw-dropping images that will generate the exact feeling I want to out of the audience: shock.
                To conclude, I feel as if so far I have collected enough images to produce a good magazine, but I do not want to just settle for a 'good' magazine and instead want to push myself as far as I can in order to get the greatest results out of it. Therefore, I am more than likely going to do another photoshoot at some point with different models again and different scenery in order to keep my wide-spread choice of iamges growing.