Photoshoot

These photos are ones i have recently taken to put into my magaizne for my front cover, contents page and Double Page Spread.

Photoshoot

Strengths and weaknesses

The strengths of these photos are that they are of similar poses to those you would see in a proffesional magazine as the poses show off the personality of the actors and characters involved also the minimal use of make up shows to the audience the real person and doesn't come across as fake so the audience would associate and create a relationship with the audience. Also the setting in the first photo is also quite a good one as it could suggest going back to her roots where it all started so the photo shows off personality in an effective way. The way in which they don't look at the camera suggests attitude so the audience can see how the performers have a bit of arrogance about them suggesting they are confident so they have been succesful or have success. Looking away from the camera also makes the reader want to find out more about the artist involved as it creates ambiguity and suspense suggesting they might have something to hide so they want to find out more about the artist making them want to buy the magazine.

These photos also have weaknesses the costume used isn't the most effective and doesn't portray the genre as effectively as it could have but the costume used is still relevant to the genre as they arent wearing dark black clothes or highly provocative clothing and the make up used is minimal so it doesnt over exadurate the artists look. The magazine is for a dancey dubstep audience so a lack of black and dark colours is good as that would represent a rock magazine such as kerrang  but as these photos don't they are representative and relevant to the genre. Another weakness is that the photos aren't as proffesional as they could have been as on the photos used in the studio show off a small bit of shadow but this isnt too important and doesnt effect the images to much. In relation to professional photos these photos could maybe so with better facial expressions and body langauge although the sultry and moody look still is effective as it shows off their personality so the audience can see the true artist.

Article Draft (double page spread)

Article Drafts

Here at soundz we pride ourselves on giving you the freshest, newest sound on the scene and we may just have unearthed a lil gem in our latest featured band. With the guys at Soundz studios getting very excited over these youngsters unlike any band or artist before were tipping these guys to go to the very top. The band in question are 'Skies don't lie', and we are sure you will be hearing this name a lot more in the coming months and years. Leading artists have in the past used our mag to publicise this group as potential future stars and a must listen. With a friend of the magazine 'Example' being such a big fan of them he has selected them to support him on his up and coming U.K tour. Now that is a compliment! This exposure to the main stage will do them the world of good and could be the stepping stone to stardom.
The release of there new album 'Coming of Age' has took Itunes by storm with their upbeat bouncy beats proving a hit with fans as they have sold well over 1million within the first 6 months for a relatively unknown band this is a momentous feat. Endorsments from artists such as Example and Calvin Harris on twitter will have gone some way to helping this. This rapid rise to the top is an amazing feat for two brothers who only started playing music just over a year ago. Tom and JP started mixing new sounds and music using their Imac and what turned into just a small hobby in their free time developed into an over night sensation. The brothers decided after each mix they would upload it to youtube to initially share with their friends. It some came aparant though that it wasn't just their friends listening to their sound in fact people as far and wide as Sweden and Norway and even in India and China were listening to them, this leading to them to becoming an over night sensation. The rise of these two brothers shares resemblance to parody band The Midnight Beast. But 'Skies Don't Lie' are different and they have much more potential. 'Skies don't Lie' are further evidence of how recent changes in technology are transforming the face of music as we know it.
A mix of upbeat bouncy beats with a hidden deep meaning is how the band describe their music and this type of ambiguity adds to the suspense of the duo and after their recent surprise success a second album is already on the cards. Here at Soundz we know that its going to be a success and we are eagerly anticipating the new stuff just as much as you. Skies don't lie groundbreaking new sounds could be a start of the next generation of music and new dimension to music with the techno trend really starting to hit the big time. Initiators of the electro sound Example and Calvin Harris can both take massive credit for this and are both excited with the new direction that music is taking. Example recently said to us 'It's amazing to be apart of it's about time things changed and to freshen things up is what we have needed, as the industry was slow and boring, welcome to a new area and were here to stay' Calvin Harris simply stated ' I find it all a cool ride that i'm not getting off in a hurry'
We've gave you a bit of background on the group but who better to give you an insight to their rapid rise to the top than the guys themselves so heres a recent Q&A sesh we organised via twitter! More signs of how the social media and social networking is taking the music industry by storm!

The Interview
Hi its Tom and JP here ready for anything you guys have to throw at us! Hit us hard people!
What made you go into music? ermmm well we accidentally fell into it we just messed around with some sounds and uploaded them to youtube, and they seemed to be a hit we never even dreamed of our success so thank you guys!!
Who's been your biggest influence in music? Example has been like a big brother to us as soon as he heard our sound he has been in touch giving us guidance and help! He's now even asked us to tour with him which we are rapped about it's insane! I remember going to Hmv and buying his album now were performing with him sometimes we have to pinch ourselves to see if its real or if were dreaming! Also we might be about to announce something special very soon soo keep it here tweeters!
What has been your fave moment of your new music life? All of it! Our lives have changed soo much it's incredible!
What's it like being big celebrities? You sure about that haha, Well we wouldn't say that were just brothers from Australia living in London making music! Although we do now have a nandos card is that big time? haha
What's next for you guys? Well were going to be heading back into the studio well the bedroom in the summer, first of all we have a big tour with our big bro Example coming up and were stoked about it man we can't wait! We hear it's a sell out which is going to be insane! But after were done with the tour were planning on laying down some fresh new beats which we will upload to twitter to find out your guys views. 2012 is going to be massive for us hopefully we can carry on and you guys continue with the support which we simply adore and admire you guys thankyou all so much for everything!

That was a snippet of the twitter Q&A sesh we held with the guys from Skies don't Lie to find out more follow us at Twitter @Soundz or the guys themselves @SkiesDontLie! As the band go into depths about their personal lives and interests including why selling their dog Jasper was one of the hardest yet best decision they have made in their lives and also which premier league football ace has asked them to perform a one of gig at their house for 1Million and why they had to turn it down! Also how JP has denied any link with TOWIE star Lydia!

The guys ooze potential and their new sound is simply a breathe of fresh air to us all, here at soundz we know these guys will be a big hit and will be a household name just like their 'bigbro' Example. We are going to follow these guys every step of the way and will give you any updates on them and keep your eyes on it at twitter! This young Ozzie pair are showing turning the tables and are showing that the sounds from down under are making it big right at the top and we feel that they are there to stay.

Things i need to do to improve my blog.

The feedback i received for my blog was generally quite good with most of my ticks featuring in the level 4 and higher level 3 sections on my feedback sheet. There are some things though which i need to do in order to sustain the highest grade i possibly can of all level 4. To get to this target on my blog i need to do the following things.

• Rotate my test images and annotate the strengths and weaknesses and reference to proffesional texts.
• For my secondary audience research i also need to think about including images of audience profiles this would make the post easier to read as well as giving some evidence to back up my findings.
• I have been asked to also include front covers on my textual analysis, My prezi which is my textual analysis does infact include these but aren't easily noticeable as to see these it requires a bit of zooming in so i could either make a note about this or in turn re do my prezi so the front covers are more noticeable.

This is the feedback sheet is the one i recieved in order to improve my research and planning.

Fonts

Fonts

Here are a selection of different fonts which could be suitable for my magazine. As my magazine is for dance and dubstep style music it will need to be quite noticeable and in your face. I would look to use fonts which are bubbly and curvy and not ones which are sharp and ragged which you would find in more heavy metal and contrasting magazine styles to mine such as Kerrang. I am going to use dafont.com to look at different fonts and select one which is suitable for my magazine and that i will find effective. I am going to look at different fonts for my Masthead Contents page and double page spread. I am going to look into fonts which relate to the story so for example if i was to find an image for a story called the heats on i could look for a font which represents fire or flames.

Potential  Fonts

This font could be relevant for my front cover as it meets my specification of being curved and not jagged, so is related to my genre of being dubstep and dance music as it is easy to read as well as being easy on the eye.This font has quite a retro look about it and looks quite cool and i would associate it with quite dancey and bouncy music. So it would be a relevant font for my magazine.

This font would be relevant for my story about the heat being on which is featured on my contents page, it is relevant because the text is fire like which is what the story is going to be about so it is relevant to the genre of the story as well as adding an original and specific feel to the storyline making it stand out from the other stories within the contents page. Also this font would reflect the coolness that the magazine is trying to represent and would be memorable to the readers so it would have a positive effect.

This would also be a relevant font for my magazine as it is quite a cool looking font which you would associate with dnace style music and the type of font you would associate with dance albums such as clubland. Although the genre i am looking to emulate isn't quite the clubland style i feel that this font would also be relevant as it is original and would stand out and be recogniseable. Also this style of font represents dance and my music also has a foot in the dance genre so it is relevant.

This Font is quite simple and easy to read and understand which also part of the criteria of my magazine as i want it to be easy for the readers to read and understand and these are the nice simple rounded letter i wanted my magazine to have. As it gives off a connotation of it being a laid back and fun magazine to read is what i want the readers to think. This is also the type of font i am looking for in my magazine as it would also fit in well with my genre as it isnt sharp edged and it is just rounded and fun reflecteting the dubstep and dance style of music i am going for.

Progress Tracker

Progress Tracker

There are 6 weeks until the Easter break which means - 6 weeks of lesson time to complete my foundation portfolio.

There are 60 marks available for construction and 20 marks for Research and Planning and 20 marks for evaluation - 100 marks in total

To achieve a grade:

A I need to get 80 marks

B I need to get 70 marks

C I need to get 60 marks

To be in level 4 (grade A/B) my work must demonstrate excellence throughout.

By Monday 5th March I should have a rough cut of my products

By Monday 19th March my products should be completed

From Monday 19th - Friday 30th March I will be working on my 7 evaluation questions.

The my completed portfolio should be submitted for formal marking on Monday 16th April. I should use the Easter break to make any minor amendments to my work.

In order to meet these deadlines I will: Make sure that i turn up to all my lessons, waste no time during these lessons and work in my own time to make sure i meet my deadlines.

Images of practice poses for magazine

 These are four potential camera shots i could use the first image here shows what a mid shot of one of the models just staring at the camera would look like. The second shot shows an image shows of the model looking up to the sky which could represent looking to the future or aiming for a higher place within the industry this shot could be neccesary for my image about 'skies don't lie and skies the limit'. The third image shows a sense of power as they are telling the audience to shush and listen to them as they are either worth listening to or are about to make a big statement so it shows power. The fourth image shows vulnerability and how maybe the music industry isnt helping them and hasn't been good to them and could be looking to turn their back on the industry so this image could work as it could create a sense of intrigue to the audience.

Strengths
The advantages/Strengths of these photos are that they show attitude and confidence for example the photo which is looking away from the camera shows  some arrogance and adds a sense of ambiguity and intruige as the audience will want to see more of the artist so this could be a good photo for a front cover as it will make the reader want to read on and see more images of the artists so it would be a good tactic to use to make them buy the magazine. Photos are also used to show personality so if they were hiding from the camera it may something like vulnerability and example shown by the bottom image where my model is facing away from the audience but her face is still facing the camera this is an image which could be used if an artist was struggling or was up against it in the undustry and they werent as succesful A strength of the first image seen above is that the audience get to see all of the artist and the audience can feel that they are on the same level as the artist and they can emphasise with them. So this is an advantage because it will make the audience like the character involved and want to buy the magazine to see the story on the artist.

Weaknesses
These photos are all a bit too simplistic and aren't too difficult to replicate so the audience might feel there is a lack of proffesionalism or effort taken into composing the shoot. Also there is a lack of use of props within these images so there isn't much variety and there is a limit to what can be achieved in these photos. The use of props also show a lack of initative and creativity which may lead the audience to believe the band are dull and it also limits how much of their personality you can show as you aernt showing things they do beyond their appearance. The photos are basic and dont excite the audience too much.

Evidence of me Organising makeup and outfits

Here is an image of my model Lucy applying the type of make up she will be wearing in my photos. I have decided that make up is not the main element needed in my photos so there is no need for any Lady Gaga style make up as i am looking to go for a reasonably natural look. Lucy is here applying some mascara what she would wear on a normal day to day basis.

These two images also show the type of outfit i would be looking to go for on the female as the tshirt has some attitude about it as well as some elegance at the same time it is not to formal so would suit the dubstep genre i am going for. Also the leggins are quite different and unique and suit the original type of theme i am going for within the magazine, i am also looking to make the genre cool and elegant so that the audience feel they can relate to the magazine and see that it is cool. Also the hair style used is something i would look into using as it is quite different and not common.







This baseball cap will be used on one of the male models as it shows a bit of a rebel nature as well as it have connotations of coolness. Also this can be used in a variety of different ways and used correctly it could be a very useful piece of prop as it can portray as it can show attitude and add a sense of intrigue to the audience if it covers the face.

For the male shoot i would be looking for them to wear a printed tee that is something like this or maybe a striped shirt or shirt with a message. They should be wearing a shirt which shows of the band or artists personality. Also the jacket shows an element of class which i like as it shows how the genre can be classy so i would also look to incorporate this style of jacket to the image. The male actors wouldn't need to apply any make up as this doesn't apply to the genre as the men tend to be rough and natural in the dubstep style genre.