When looking back at my preliminary task I can see massive improvements from not only just the layout of the magazine but also through the camerawork and the quality of my photos. First things first is the lighting. The photos taken for the preliminary task were very dark and down casted meaning that not a lot of features on the model can be seen so isn't as flattering or professional as it could have been. When comparing it with my final images for the media product I can see a clear difference in the thought that was taken while attempting to find the model's best angle - especially when the lighting was changed when experimenting different types of techniques. The photos taken for the task were photographed in one of the colleges corridors which included bad lighting as well as an unclear background that didn't help the camera focus on the model and not the wall behind. My final photos were also taken in the studio room at college which contained good quality lighting and a clear white wall for a background which helped focus on the model as this was my main propriety when taking the images. Not only this but the images for the preliminary task were taken by a Samsung phone and not a good quality camera e.g. Nikon unlike my final images which were taken by a Nokia D3200. This made a significant impact in the quality and definition that was contained within the photos as well as made the entire image look more bright and clear which was relevant to the product these photos were featured on. When I placed the images on my school magazine I didn't edit any of them despite the need to do so where as for my final music magazine I brightened each image and even edited one to look a cooler tone than it normally was. After I had thought to do this I learnt the importance of these photos and the value they have when attracting and appealing to the audience. The images either make or break the product and so to make sure these were of good quality was very challenging and hard to get it just right - especially when picking which one to place on the front cover. Both these magazines are fairly minimal and simple however I think my final magazine looks a lot more effective when attempting to engage new readers, also personally I believe that the simplistic format can draw more people in due to the lack of detail on the front cover which is different to other media products.

The images on the preliminary task consist of the same shot distances which is a medium shot which cuts off at the waist of the model. I learnt after making this task how relevant a variety of shot distances can make and what kind of effect this gives off. I think with more shot distances the product looks a lot more professional and realistic due to this common

Evaluation 7Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to full product? feature appearing in high end and good quality magazine

products, this is something that I wanted to improve on when creating my final media product. The photos I used for my final media music magazine had a range of shot distances such as medium shots, close ups and long shots. This made the entire magazine look like a finished product and made it seem more put together. The styling of the model has also massively improved as in the preliminary task while the clothing was very modern and stylish it didn't suit the brief behind the product e.g. school magazine. This means it would not appeal or attract to the intended audience and so wouldn’t be classed as a successful media product. In order to improve this I would have dressed the model in a school uniform so that it was much more appropriate and would have attracted and appealed to this particular audience as this way it would have been immediately recognised to this group of people about what type of product it was. However, on my final magazine I think the clothing, make-up and hair of the model is much more appropriate for the contents of what the magazine is and the suits the genre. As the product is an indie style music magazine the clothing suits this particular style due to the simplistic use of denim on denim with a white crop top - not only was this a trademark indie look but it also matched the colour scheme of the product. When comparing them together it is clear which one looks more effective and which one presents itself as dull and boring.

When I look at both these magazines together I see my understanding of the forms and conventions of a magazine improve and how effective these features can be when attempting to attract and appeal to my intended audience. The different styles of lighting I have used in my final magazine presents a better quality product as it looks much more professional and realistic when compared with the preliminary task. Quality of images have continued to improve as in my final media product they look much more clearer which improves the look of the entire magazine. I have learned the importance of good quality equipment and what kind of effect it can have on the overall magazine. For example, the Nikon camera used for my final images made the photos look defined and sharp with the model being the main focus - this helps when deciding which image to place on the magazine in order to make the product much more effective. Lighting equipment is also valuable as different techniques of lighting can provide multiple scenarios. For example, one light on the side of the model's face can create a serious and engaging effect which will draw more readers attention due to it being eye-catching when compared with a brighter image. The photos in my preliminary task didn't have the same effect as I

used natural lighting which is good for some situations but not for this occasion. On the front cover natural lighting doesn't look professional or realistic which is an important value for this type of media product. This is something I would do if I had a chance to improve it and would change the lighting so despite the lack of styling it would possibly look more realistic. The model in the preliminary wasn't styled smartly when referencing the hair and make-up however I don’t think the lack of style was too different from my final magazine as I decided that this kind of style would suite better for my genre and my intended audience as I thought this is something unique and different that would draw them in. Finally, I have learnt how important it is when representing a model in a certain way as young adults look up to these people with respect and admiration when in context to style and music taste so it's better to present them in a certain way - in my case it was to show natural beauty. This was also extremely important as the model is the centre of visual interest.