First Front Cover Photoshoot

I decided I need to just get stuck in and photograph my model, I knew that even if these first photographs did not go very well I would be able to take what went wrong and improve it.

I like the way my model is posed, however the lighting is unflattering, with the shadow behind and the glare of the flash is making her face appear flat. I could maybe think about changing the lighting and where I have taken the photo, hopefully using a professional type studio set up. As I know that we have the white backdrop and lighting available for use within school. Another option could be to photoshop it in Adobe to improve the flaws in the photograph.

Research into How to Take a Black and White Photograph

Using one website in my research I found that I need to be particular about the type of lighting I use when taking my photograph. Using a lot of light to create shadows, dark and light areas. The contrast will make sure that the person is not flattened by the lack of colour.

In the picture below a lot of depth has been created, with the dark shades and light, to enhance the shape of the mans face.

I also found out that I need to experiment with the aperture on the camera, this is the size of the opening in the lens when the picture is taken. The less light let into the camera the more detailed the picture is. For example the picture of the girl below, has very fine detail, meaning you can see textures.

The main impact changing the aperture has on a picture is the depth of field. With a large aperture number, the depth of field is larger, meaning that the entire photograph is in focus. Whereas the smaller number of aperture, the smaller the depth of field this means a particular object in the foreground of the photograph will be more in focus than the background. Similar to the two photographs above. This may be a good idea to have a shallow depth of field in my front cover photograph as I can use the blurred background to add text over the top.

I decided to take a photograph from the internet that had a shallow depth of field and edit it myself into black and white, maybe keeping a particular part of it and keeping it in colour, to see whether I liked the outcome, and then decided to try a first photoshoot.

I think having a photograph like this would be very suitable for my front cover.

Research into Black and White Magazine Front Cover

After thinking about who I was going to photograph I also thought about the type of music magazine it would be, I have decided to look at a more vintage style, maybe experimenting with black and white. I have found a few magazines with a black and white front cover.
They have either used complete black and white or used black and white with coloured font and surroundings, this may prove a good effect for my magazine. I have decided to look at modern indie folk music and work around this.

I looked at this magazine front cover as, they have experimented with the black and white photograph with the text and colours surrounding it. I like how this has worked, but still find it to be a bit plain.

I have looked at this magazine front cover as it has the type of genre of music on the front, and there has been black and white with colours used again. There is also a more of exciting look as the models are over the title, giving a more 3D look.

Another use of a black and white image with a coloured background with black text, the coloured background brightens this front cover and gives it a differnt look to most conventional magazines.

Research Music Magzine Photograph

Following looking at music magazine front covers I have researched photographs that could suit a music magazine. Looking at existing photographs and how they have been taken and again how this could influence my work.

One of the first photographs that I came across was this of music artist Hudson Moore. I particularly like the camera angle of this photograph and the attitude portrayed within the picture. This type of photograph would suit a front cover as there is the extra space for the other information to be on the front cover.

I could think about having more than one subject in the photograph that I take. The picture to the right is the band Brotherhood of the Lake. I particularly like the background and setting for the photograph. However as the picture has been taken landscape so would not fit on to a magazine front cover well. The casual clothing also does not have a very glamourous feel or look to it as most music magazines would. Again showing me I need to think about the background and clothing in which my subject is in.  

I decided to look at a female star, this is Florence from Florence and the Machine. Although her picture does not look very musical, it can be considered quite rocky and lairy. I like this picture as it again shows quite a lot of attitude . The clothing, accesories and look of the model have been chosen carefully to be quite controversial and give off confidence from the model.

Research Music Magazine Front Cover

We were set the task to research music magazine front covers that could influence our work. Thinking about who we could use as a model and the type of music magazine we wanted to create. As I am unsure as to who I could photograph I looked at different types of music magazine to help me decide who I could possibly use as my model and the sort of image I could create.

As my first stages of research I decided to look at different music magazines and how the different genres of music are portrayed. Looking at the way in which the photographs are taken and laid out on the front page of the magazine. I like how busy this front cover is and the use of very little colour. The small insert of another picture also makes this front cover very dynamic.

This is a very different genre of music in comparison to the last magazine, but I very much like the use of shots and layout. The way in which the passion is portrayed and then repeated with the reflected picture. The dark background with light on the subject gives it a more dynamic feel.

After looking at more magazine front covers I have decided I like the look of the 'rockier' more individual type of music magazine that probably has a very select viewing audience. On the Q magazine I very much like the way in which the title/logo has been smashed by the guitar; it is a very interesting use of editing and graphic design. The use of colours and text are very well thought about. Keeping to red, black, white and greys. This is makes it more appealing to the eye.

One of the reasons I chose this magazine front cover is because Eminem has been made to look like the main character from the film 'A Clockwork Orange'. I as a customer was intrigued as to why he was dressed like this. I feel that therefore the magazine front cover had done its job of enticing an audience. Similar to Q the magazine 'Spin' has used 3 to 4 main colours of red, white, blue and black. This makes the magazine have a more professional and slicker look. The front of this magazine however is very simple and basic. Little writing, and the main feature is the picture of rap artist Eminem.

Similar reasons to the previous magazine front cover I chose this one because I like the band on the front cover and can associate with it. This is therefore appealing to a target audience. I like how the text and picture are positioned. In comparison to the last magazine front cover it is very busy and full of lots of information that the reader can become interested about before buying it. Making them buy it. The position of the text has been thought about carefully. Something I will have to consider when designing my magazine front cover and taking my photograph. Making sure there is either a background or room for text and a title.



From my research I have found that I need to think about the composition of my subject when taking my photograph. Thinking about clothing, lighting, background and anything else that may effect the performance of my photograph. I can also think about using the colours in the photograph and using them for my text and other objects on the page.

Mood Board