Evaluation Question Eight

Evaluation Question Seven

Evaluation Question Six

Q6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

I have learnt a lot about different technologies when constructing my magazine pages. Photoshop was the main software that was used for the magazine making process. 

There was a lot of tools to get used to, but because I'm experienced in Photoshop since GCSE level, I found the use of Photoshop relatively easy this time round. I new what I was doing. During my page making process, I think when using Photoshop, I have had to use at least every tool once for on reason or another. It was fun using Photoshop and getting to know more about the software and the tools that I wasn't particularly familiar with.

All the tools Photoshop offers

During this project, I took my photographs with a Digital SLR Camera, provided by my school. I was never really aware of this camera's full potential due to time restriction. I could have perhaps played around with the effects and how well the camera behaves in doors and outdoors. I sort regret my use of the camera as I had a real opportunity to create some fantastic images but as I said, time restricted that quite a lot.

During my research and planning tasks, I was allowed to use many online services that clearly demonstrated my skill in ICT and the use of digital technology. These services were blog friendly as after using sites like Prezi and Slideshare, once finished with your presentations, you are given a link which help you embed that link and post into a blog

Evaluation Question Five

Evaluation Question Four

Evaluation Question Three

Research and Planning Marks

Level 3 (Proficient): 12/20

Add more analysis of professional pages, extend production schedule and put into table, add drafts and show designs next to professional pages.

Change posts to correct order

Also post production logs and comments/discussion for each task.  

Evaluation Question Two

     

Evaluation Question One

Changes To Double Page Spread

After reviewing my pages, I decided that I need to make sudden changes.

I moved the quote at the top of the page, added the word 'motherf***er' (sic) and lowered the word 'Genius' as my double page spread exposed too much space. I decided to add this particular explicit word because outspoken and arrogant rock artists isn't unheard of. It makes things more real and honest and true to this specific genre.

This is what the top left of my double page spread looked like before I made changes...

...And this is what the top left then looked like after I added the word.

I also changed my text, I eradicated the third column as it wasn't level with the other two. I also added another photo of my main artist to take up more empty space.

This was my initial double page spread, I wasn't really proud of it to be brutally honest. It was far too basic.

And this is my page after I made the changes, there is still a bit of space but there is more going on now. I've added another picture and some text and I am relatively proud of what I produced.

Magazine Pages Evaluation/Discussion

I really enjoyed using Photoshop again for this task, I really enjoyed making my magazine pages also.

Personally speaking, it took me a while to get off and running when constructing my pages, I wouldn't exactly say I was using lesson time productively, and I allowed everyone in my class to overtake me and make progress. Despite this, I made the pages my priority for a long time and spent a lot of hours at home working on my pages as I felt that I needed to or I would miss out on a lot of marks for this project.

Using Photoshop wasn't a problem for me. I had a lot of experience on the software as I also used it for GCSE so I didn't have any problems with the tools or anything like that, once I found my motivation, the rest for me was a doddle and I can say that I have uploaded pages that I am pretty proud of. Despite copying layouts I believe I have produced pretty authentic looking pages also.

Designs Compared To Professional Pages

Here are my designs compared to professional pages, you can see similarities and also differences and its easy to see where I got my inspiration from.

Finished Magazine Pages

Front Cover

Contents Page

Double Page Spread

2014 BRIT Awards Inspiration

The 2014 BRIT Awards were held on 19 February 2014. I was watching to see if I could get inspired for my pages and it turns out I did, when rock group Arctic Monkeys were called up to collect their award for winning the best album, I was amazed to see how lead singer, guitarist and sole songwriter Alex Turner led his group up the stage, took the award and delivered his acceptance speech. The arrogance he had, the confidence made me think I should assign those type of attributes for my main artist when I began to start my pages. 
What I liked in particular with the speech was the way he had control with everything, the spotlight was on him and like a typical rock star he oozed confidence and showed no care, he stayed true to himself and didn't compromise, using metaphors to describe his true feelings, showing signs of his complex nature.
His speech
"That rock and roll, it just won't go away. It might hibernate from time to time and sink back into the swamp. I think the cyclical nature of the universe in which it demands it adheres to some of its rules. But it's always waiting there, just around the corner, ready to make its way back through the sludge and smash through the glass ceiling looking better than ever. It seems like its fading away sometimes. But it will never die. And there's nothing you can do about it."
What I found even more fascinating was at the end of all that he had the audacity to say:
"Invoice me for the microphone if you need to..."
Turner holds his right arm out vertically, drops the microphone, and walks off.
This particular moment of the night inspired me to build my artist around Alex Turner, the confidence of the character, the arrogance but most of all, the intelligence.

Reader Profile #2

This is Brian. He is 38. He eats, sleeps and breathes rock music. He loves his music from the past, the classic rock such as AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper and The Eagles, but also loves more recent, modern rock music for instance Nine Inch Nails, Arctic Monkeys and Muse.

Brian can play the Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Drums and the Piano. He loves music and buys various rock magazines, even the ones that may only target a younger audience.

When he's not doing gigs with his band, Battle Arcaders, he attends concerts regularly, he spends an awful lot of money monthly on his passion of going to gigs.

The 1975 Concert

On Friday 10th Januray 2014 I went to see The 1975 perform at the o2 Academy in Brixton. I saw this as a perfect opportunity to gain more inspiration with regards to how my main artist should behave when on stage, as well as what they wear, and also to see first hand what the audience are like, how they behave, what they wear etc.

At the gig, singer Matt Healy jumped into the photographer's pit before the first song is over. He slaps the hands of the front row in the audience. He later turned up on the balcony for a run around. This gave me a few ideas and allowed me to witness first hand what it is I should d
o with my artist. I will also add a new reader profile based on what I seen regarding the audience.

The 1975, and the audience.