Choosing the images for my

music magazine

By Debbie Onyemelukwe

InspirationThis is an image from Vibe magazine which caught my eye because of its simplicity. When thinking of ideas for my front cover images, I was initially thinking of complex images which have to show every bit of the genre. However, this shows that front cover images don’t always have to be so complex in the model’s actions or poses but they can also just let there photo be taken and that speak for itself, without having to create an interesting pose.

Another reason for this being my inspiration is because of the colouring of the cover image. This issue of Vibe magazine doesn’t follow the common idea of the photo being its original colour. An effect of black and white is used which adds interest and class to the picture. The close-up also lets the customer focus on only the model and not other random components which may distract them on where to look.

InspirationI liked this another image from Vibe magazine because it is an obvious representation of the genre it signifies.

The mise en scene is a close-up shot of the celebrity rapper Jay Z. This in itself shows that this issue of Vibe magazine is one with content of urban music, perhaps of a main feature of rap.

The attire in which Jay Z is dressed in also symbolises the urban genre. He is dressed in a black top, new era cap with an accompanying black watch strap (which match with the colour of the font) and this, along with his pose symbolise the genre of the magazine.

Inspiration

Another big part of the inspiration of my chosen picture comes from the hip-hop artist Chris Brown’s video for his single ‘Deuces’. The word deuces elicits the action of the peace sign which is seen throughout the video of the song. Chris Brown is a hip-hop artist which is why using his pose from this video was a major contributing factor in choosing the image I did for

my front cover.

Mood Board

Image OneThis image is unsuitable because this was my test shot. I took this unexpectedly when the model wasn’t ready just to see the lighting, my position as the photographer and the overall quality of the image.As you can see, the model is still adjusting his prop of the bandana into his trousers and is not looking at the camera. The image is also inappropriate because I knew that I wanted to leave space above the model’s head in order to fit the magazine masthead there.

The way in which I was holding the camera also makes this picture unsuitable as I intended to hold it portrait as opposed to landscape to get a better vision of how the magazine would look because it is closer to the A4 layout. The model’s white vest is also poking out slightly from under the grey one which makes the image look unpolished as it does not pay attention to detail.

Image TwoAlthough not a bad image, the photo is unsuitable to be used for the cover of my music magazine. This is because I took the picture in a landscape position as opposed to the desired portrait arrangement and I wanted it this way in order to gain better vision of how the magazine would look because it is closer to the A4 layout. I am also not happy with how the bandana is placed in his trousers as I would’ve preferred it hanging down and not in a loop because it makes the length of the bandana shorter than what it actually is.

Another factor which led to the decision of not using this image for the front cover is the model’s facial expression. He looks unimpressed and quite sad and this would be noticeable to customers who may want to buy the magazine. The image is also quite 1 dimensional as there is not much happening in the shot which is not very effective of eye-catching for the customer.

Image ThreeThis image is not appropriate for the cover because firstly, there is not enough space left at the top of the image in which the masthead would go. Therefore, I would have to completely change my ideas of the positioning of each component of the front cover in order to fit around this image.However, the model’s pose of having him point was my idea in which I would develop when producing the magazine to have him point at a possible coverline. I thought this would be effective as it draws attention to that coverline which the customer may not have originally seen.

Once again, the model’s facial expression does not look very happy and I feel this would be an inaccurate representation of what the magazine is about and could give negative connotations of the contents of the music magazine. I think that the image doesn’t give a professional look as the proximity of the model from the photographer (me) was quite far resulting in a far distanced photograph.

Image FourThis image is highly inappropriate and was taken as another test shot. It is extremely unsuitable to use as the front cover of a music magazine because firstly it has no connotations of music in any way and it doesn’t suggest any type of music genre. The photo was actually taken in order to see how the pose would come out as I wasn’t sure if the ‘LA’ hand gesture would come out in the correct way or backwards to the person looking at the magazine. I came up with this idea in order to communicate location as this is a typical factor rappers and other artists often use as inspiration for their songs and I have also seen this sign appear in music videos and pictures.

As you can see, the image was taken quickly inside a home for the sole purpose of checking the quality of the pose. To use this image would be extremely unprofessional as it is clear for the customer to realise that it was a ‘spur of the moment’ photo that wasn’t intended to be anywhere in the magazine, but to in fact heighten the quality of the images that do happen to appear in throughout the magazine.

Image FiveUsing this image would be pointless as you can only see a bright, luminous cap and nothing else. This image doesn’t show any meaning and have any implication of being music-related. If the potential buyer was to see this image as the front cover of a music magazine they would be incredibly confused as my friend who saw this image didn’t even realise that it was a hat, but in fact thought it was a snowman head. There is evidence that actually shows that this image would be ineffective if it was used.

The reason this image was taken was because I initially wanted the male model to wear a new era cap in order to really push the hip-hop genre and make it recognisable from my photo. The colour of the cap also matched with the model’s grey vest which would’ve complimented the colour scheme.However, because of the dark conditions the photo shoot was conducted in and the shiny metallic appearance of the cap, when I took the photo the flash resulted in this unsuitable product.From this, I decided to remove the cap from the image in order to avoid the cap being the focal point of the photograph and so the model can actually be seen.

Image SixThe chosen one

I decided to make this my chosen image because I held the camera in the correct portrait position as it is eventually how my magazine would come out as. There was also enough space left at the top of the image in order to fit in the masthead and a possible strapline/selling line. I also think that this image is dynamic as its more than just the model standing there.

I tried to add interest with this image by choosing the alternate model gaze of not looking at the camera. I did this in order to defy the conventions of having models face on to the camera and to go against the norm by having the model looking down. This gives a mysterious effect and will hopefully make the customer intrigued and buy the magazine to find out more. The positioning of the model himself is in a prime location as there is enough space for the barcode and a number of coverlines and explanatory text.Also, having asked a number of my peers what genre is image suggests the vast majority answered correctly.

Alternate Model Gazes

Here are 2 examples from ‘Esquire’ magazine in which the model is not looking at the camera. This shows that not all models have to be looking directly into the camera in order to have an effective end product.

More examples: