Photographic Tenchniques

Some ideas and techniques that are essential when taking a good photograph:

• shot distance 
• Use of tilt- Tilt up shot(low angle) -Used to convey power or dominance
  Tilt down shot(high angle)- Used to convey vulnerability or weakness of person in shot and to demonstrate dominance of point of view.
• shot composition
• eye line
• Tone-  control of tones including variations of light and dark, emphasising important parts of the image, and colour, generally set the 'mood' of your photograph
  tone control can be used to emphasise the shapes of the most important elements in your image.
• Lines-  are useful for emphasising and leading the viewer towards a main area or subject. They may also divide up the picture space into segments, which may vary in size and shape. The shape of lines and their general pattern can strongly influence the mood of the photograph.
• colour, including vivid, primary and monochromatic colour- Taking control of the way in which colour is used in your photographs is a key way of improving your images. Keep your eyes open for vibrant coloured subjects, but also look for delicate coloured subjects and ones with muted tones. Colour sells, bright, bold colours are used on magazine covers, so choose a plan the shots that you will take. Monochromatic colours, It can also work well to use just one or two colours within a picture, such shots often have an intensity and sense of harmony.
• texture, and hints on creating texture- Most of the time when we are taking photographs we think about the subject, but there is another way of approaching pictures-taking , which involves thinking beyond the subject and looking at it in terms of textures and patterns. Photography is especially effective at conveying the impression of texture. This is a quality, which can be extremely close-up.
• patterns and hints on capturing patterns
• Foreground/Background- when designing a shoot remember to keep in mind both the action in the foreground and the background.
• Framing- Keep the RULE OF THIRDS in mind when designing your shot. The viewers eye is drawn to the cross-sections of a frame, this is where your actions should be taking place.
• Composition- you need to think carefully about how you compose a photograph. Many photographs place their subject in the middle of the photograph, which can often result in a dull image.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Shot distance types

Potential problems with my coursework

I have considered some of the potential problems with my coursework images and article and have found ways in which I can deal with the problems.

Recce

I have made a Recce to establish the location of the shoot, what friends are going to be models and the props I'm going to use.

When taking the photos at home there could be potential hazards such as wires and chairs being in the way when taking the photos and obstructing movement. When taking the photos in the studio things such as wires off the lights.

                                                                                        Images of the studio
 To ensure these risks are minimised I will make sure the space and area of where I'm taking the photos is clear to keep the models and myself out of any danger.

     The time of day/weather will effect the outcomes of the photos when I a at home because I will be using the natural lighting of the room, so if the weather is cloudy for example then the room will darker resulting in the photos not looking very good.

     The background I want for my photos is just to have a plain white background this will be ensured in the studio, and at home against a white wall. This is because the model will be the main focus and stand out against the plain white background.

     When taking the photos at home I have considered the natural lighting and the problems the weather may cause to the result of my photos. In the studio the lighting will be artificial and really bright, I will most likely use a flash so the the image looks really sharp and defined to achieve the best image possible.

                                                                Not real image of studio
      At home I wont need permission. I will have to book an appointment in the Sunderland university photography studio to use it, this will ensure I'm not going to be rushed to use it and will not have to share it with anyone else.

     People and crowds are not going to be an issue because I'm not going to be taking the photos outside or in a public area so this will ensure nothing spoils the effect of the images I take. I will be taking the photos in a private studio.  

     I have briefed my models (my friends) about the photo shoot, what type of clothes I want them to bring and the type of make-up they will be wearing. I have also decided on the props I will take to the shoot which are old records. I am going to plan the shoot step by step plan to ensure it goes well and the photos turn out accordingly.

     When taking the photos at home I have considered every eventuality such it being dark and light. In the studio there are less things to consider for the lighting because I will be using artificial lighting. I am also considering the attitude of the models on the day as this will effect the outcome of my photos.

Clothing research

 

I have done some research into different clothes and styles that I want my models to wear and portray. These different looks will be used for the front cover, contents page and double page spread. I have included quite a lot of darker clothes because I want to interpret the grunge theme to my magazine, I have also included red clothing which relates to the colour scheme of my magazine. I have added more glamorous items such as the fur coats to bring a more elegant look which will contrast well with the other black clothing. I am trying to bring across grunge glamour across because this will like in with the main article of the magazine. I want the clothes of the front cover to relate to the context of the double page spread.

Props research

I have done some research into the different props I could use for my double page spread article. I have looked at magazines and other existing images to get ideas which I could use.

Makeup and Hair Research

 

I have done some research
 in to different makeup trends
 that I could use on my model.
 These are a few makeup
trends that I like and could use
for the front cover image on
 my magazine. From the
 research I have found that
I prefer a dark smokey eye look,
 with a dark lip. I will use this
for the front cover image because
 the dark lip will make my
 model stand out and the smokey
 eye will make her look
attractive and intriguing.

                                                                                       

I have done some research into

 hairstyles which I like and can

use on my models when taking

 photos. These different styles

can be used for the front cover

 and double page spread.

Photo shoot Planning

The emotional impact I would like my photography to have on my reader is for the female audience I would like them to be able to relate with the cover model and also be able to aspire to be like them as the image will sophisticated and attractive. For the male audience I would like them to feel attracted to the model. Overall I want the model the model to have a mysterious look, this will attract the readers because it is intriguing.

The people I will photograph will be young attractive so that they look appealing on the front cover of the magazine, this will also be relevant to my target audience of 16-19 year old males and females. I plan to photograph some of my friends who fall into my target audience, this will make the magazine feel more personal with the readers.

For my front cover the props I will choose wont be the main focus point of the image as I want my model to stand out. I will use EP records for either a front cover image or double page spread images, this relates to music and looks sophisticated.

To emphasise colour I will use clothing such as black which will contrast with my magazine colour scheme of red. The colour black isn't that dominant so the reader will keep focus on just the model rather than the clothing. On my front cover I plan for the model to be wearing black with red lips and nail varnish this will relate to the colour scheme and add an eye-catching look to the magazine, I will keep the background plain so that the main focus is the model. 

I have briefed my models on the photo shoot and have planned the styling they are going to have. I have told them on the types of poses I would like them to do, what clothes to bring etc. I have also done a test shoot with one of the models to practise out hair, make-up, clothes and lighting, this has helped me a lot to understand what I want things to go like in my shoot and what I don't.

When I did my test shoot I used natural lighting with no artificial lighting I also used the flash when taking the pictures. When taking the images I found that I wasn't 100% satisfied with the images, this is because the lighting wasn't as bright as I wanted resulting in the model not standing out very much. From this I have decided to do my photos in a studio where there is artificial lighting so it will make the images bright and make the model look better with a crisper more defined image.

I will do my shoot against a plain backdrop, white wall for at home for the front cover image this is so the model is the main focus so that the magazine stands out. For the double page spread I will have things in the background such as old records or musical instruments to liven the page up. I also want to be able to go to a photography studio, again I will have a plain back background. The reasoning's for using the studio would be the lighting, I could use artificial lighting which could make the images look better and over this is beneficial to the magazine.

The make-up my model will wear for the double page spread will be a vintage-rock look, this is in keeping with the magazine genre. The make-up the model will wear for the front cover will be more subtle on the face, with defined features by adding dark smokey eyes and a dark red lip this will add the mystery and invite the readers in. The clothes the model will wear will be plain and simple like a black silk top or chiffon shirt, this will keep the model looking attractive and will keep the readers focused on the models face and not necessarily on the clothing. For the double page spread the model will wear a black leather dress/skirt paired with colourful accessories, the make-up will be subtle and plain to keep the model looking elegant. I could also have the model wear a white fur coat to add luxury and elegance.

 These are different images that have inspired me for what I what my models make-up yo be like and what I want my model to wear

Institution Research

I have done some research into already existing magazine Institutions, to see which would be best suited to publish my magazine.

EMAP Focuses on publishing magazine in the areas of retail, health, construction, architecture and fashion. They don't currently publish any music magazines so there is currently a gap, however I don't think this will suit with my target audience. 

EMAP publishes magazine such as RetailWeek, MEED, ConstructionNews, NursingTimes.net, TheArchitecturalReview and AJ

Bauer Media is a division of the Bauer Media Group, Europe’s largest privately owned publishing Group. The Group is a worldwide media empire offering over 300 magazines in 15 countries, as well as online, TV and radio stations. Bauer Media currently have published one music magazine, KERRANG!, this is an alternative rock magazine. Although my magazines a hybrid genre, this institution will be beneficial as it has experience with music magazines.

Bauer Media publishes magazine such as KERRANG!, Todays Golfer, GRAZIA, Closer and Your Horse magazine.

Conde Nast produces 18 consumer magazines. Conde nast is largely considered to be the originator of the “lifestyle magazines", including subjects such as travel, food, home, culture and largely fashion in order to appeal to the widest target audience possible. There are currently no music magazines published by the institution so there would be no competitor for my magazine and this company would be ideal in focusing on targeting a wide audience which is what I am aiming to do.

 

Conde Nast publishes magazine such as GC, Vogue, Glamour, EasyLiving and House and Garden magazine.

Natmags is a British magazine institution which, in 2011, merged with Hachette Filipacchi Médias UK forming 'Hearst Magazines UK'. It currently publishes 20 titles nationally and 20 online. This institution mainly publishes fashion and lifestyle magazines, aimed at woman. This is a potential company as there are no current music titles.

Natmags publishes magazine such as Company, House Beautiful, Elle, MensHealth and Esquire magazine.

IPC media is a national institution however its online publications gain over 25 million users a year globally. IPC media publish mainly womans magazines, country, sporting and gossip. IPC media publish one music magazine 'NME', this magazines genre is similar to the genre my magazine im going to produce therefore this could be the perfect institution to publish my magazine as they will have experience. However because they only publish one music magazine this could mean there will be a lot of competition.

IPC Media publishes magazine such as Look, Horse & Hound, NME, Marie Claire and YachtingMonthly.

Future Publishing is an international, award winning institution
which publishes an extremely wide range of magazines in genres including cars, sport, lifestyle, photography, music, design and many more. They reach 51 million international consumers a month and create world-class content. Future also exports or syndicates over 200 publications to 89 countries, making us the UK’s number one exporter and licensor of magazine content. They publish many music magazines in the genre of rock. My magazine would not fit with this institution as the genre is not the same to the other music magazines.

Future Publishing publishes magazines such as Tap!, Fast car, TotalFilm, Guitarist and your family tree.

The institution I am going to use to disribute my media magazine is IPC media because they only publish one music magazine 'NME', this magazines genre is similar to the genre my magazine im going to produce therefore this could be the perfect institution to publish my magazine as they will have experience. Because they only publish one music magazine this could mean there will be a lot of competition however my magazine is of a different genre so this could mean that the two arent competitive. Although NME magazine is a similar genre my magazine will also dance music and chart music which will widen the audience for the magazine and could potentially take away the audience from NME if theres a wider range of music in my magazine.

Music Genre Research

The genre of music I have chosen for my magazine is a hybrid genre with different alternative music, so my magazine will include a large variety of artist making it have a very broad readership. My target audience is for young people of the ages 16-19 for both genders, so the artist I will be using will appeal to this target audience, have current music and also up-coming new artists.

One Republic and Katy Perry have both recently had UK #1, these are examples of chart music and they will appeal to the wider audience. This will keep the magazine up to date with the current popular music and broaden the readership.

Lorde and Ben Pearce are examples of up coming artist, this will keep my readers informed on new different music.

Well known bands such as Arctic Monkeys will appeal to all members of my target audience, as well as bringing an alternative edge to the magazine. The very popular artist Lana Del Rey will attract both of the genres being attractively appealing to the males and someone to aspire to for the females.

Quantitative Survey Results

I carried out a survey with some people from my target audience (male and female aged 16-19) to gather qualitative data to see what the readers would like to see on the magazine and how much they would be willing to pay.



These responses have told me that it will be important for me to include different features as they are most appealing to my audience.

This has told my that the majority of my audience would like to see interviews in the articles. So for my magazine i would try and put a couple of interviews in with the articles.

 From these results I have found that the majority of my audience would be willing to pay between £1.50-£2, so from these results I will then try and keep the price of my magazine to this range



The majority of my audience chose concert tickets to be the free item, this is most likely because it is a music magazine and the reader is very interested in music, therefore i will make this the free item.



This has told me what the most popular music is for my audience. However because my magazine will have more than one genre of music I will try and include the more popular genres which are indie and rock.