Final Major Project

1. DEVELOPMENT DIARIES
Simran Jabbal

2. I am really excited to start my written work for my final major project because it meant it was close to get to production and start
taking photographs and creating my products. I felt confident enough to write the proposal as it reminded me of other projects and
because I knew what my final idea was and I was excited to get started. I am going to invent a new female artist and create her
advertisement such as tour date poster, magazine cover, double page spread and album cover.This made it easier for me to write a
proposal and actually got the written section done when I got given it.
At the moment, I still need to carry on researching so then I have enough behind me to carry on. However, I have knowledge from
my last projects which can help go forward, such as the magazine and poster research. I don’t want to carry on without having my
new research as this will help me more when I start production as I have will have different types of structures.This will help as I will
have professional made products and see what kind of structure they have used.
I am still in the process of finishing my research.The things I still need to look at are tour date posters so I know the lay out style and
as I haven’t created this type of poster before, I will need to research it so I have a better understanding. Other aspects would be
different photography portfolios as I will be creating a portfolio consisting for edited images from the photoshoot.These will be a
mixture of portrait and landscape images. I will be using a website called Portfolio Box which I have used before so I am familiar
using it. Also, album covers are on the list to have a look at too, I will need to be know the measurements and what kind of images
are used.
I personally don’t think I have produced enough work this week so far.This is because I still have a lot to do concerning my research
and I have to consider my production schedule which will take some time to think about as I am not sure when to do certain
products. I believe it will be easier when I figure out the models I am using for my work and then it will come together. I think the big
improvement is to take more time and concentrate on my research to get it done by the deadline.

3. I decided to go to the library to have a look at there music magazine sections and ended up finding 1980 album covers of which I
took out the folder and had a look in class what kind of album covers were in there. I also did find music magazines which were
NME magazines. I couldn't take these magazines out of the library so I scanned them in and added them to my research.This has
influenced me to have a look at album covers so then I can create it for my musician.
I carried on with a few slides that needed finishing on the context power point. Once I had finished the context, I started
researching and I decided to pick three popular musicians of who were Dua Lipa, Camila Cabello and Madonna. I have picked
different genres of music and picked an age range difference to show the different type of work they’ve produced. When I have
created photography based projects in the past I have used Billboard magazine as it’s consistent, colourful and because they’re
images are different and I like how they look and laid out.Whilst I was browsing the Billboard website, I found two photography
portfolio which I have took as inspiration so I can see how they have used different angles, lighting and costume/make-up.
Furthermore, the next bit of research I will be looking at is album covers or/and record covers. I believe I have produced enough
work so far in the week so be able to carry on. As I’m only looking at research, it means I can look at other things if I need to, such
as their music videos. From my improvement last week, I think I have accomplished this as I have all my work complete.

4. From researching magazine covers, double page spreads, tour date posters and album covers I have learnt different structures
and colour schemes. The colour schemes were really important as I’m not sure what kind of scheme to go for. I have looked at
two photoshoots of female musicians so see the different styles, angles, locations and costume/make-up. This is going to help
with my own work as I can take some of these aspects such as I can use these skills when I go out for my photoshoot.
I still need to look at secondary as part of my research. For this, I’m going to look at how to create an upcoming musician and
how to create advertisement and promotion to get the musician out there. Another part of research I need to look at is the
production. I will be looking at different make up tutorials to make the musician look good. Additionally, I will look at a
photography tutorial so I know where to position the musician and get the accurate angle as I will be needing the images for the
magazine cover, double page spread and portfolio.The structure of a magazine and posters will be looked at so then I know how
to lay my work out.
At the start, I was unsure about the photography portfolio as I didn’t know what kind of location and scenery I wanted to use or if
I should just use the white/black screen. However, when I went onto the Billboard website there was photographs from a
photoshoot with Normani and Avril Lavigne. This has now clarified what I can do with my own work. But I am still thinking about
the scenery/location.
I think the most successful part of my research has been the photoshoot as I said before, I wasn’t sure and since I’ve researched it
has become more clear. It was unclear because I haven’t figure out where the location of the photoshoot, the outfits, the make
up/hair style and colours.

5. In the few days, I have started looking for models to use for my project. I asked a couple of people and one got back to me and
responded with a good attitude. However, a few days ago, I got a message saying that she didn’t want to do it. Luckily, I haven’t
started my actual production otherwise I would have been stuck.
From the model issue, I have now put out a post on Snapchat and have got many good responses from it.When they all
messaged me, I said that we could all do a photoshoot and then the ones I like the best, I will use and they seemed happy with
this.This will show me who’s got the look for my project and suits it the best. I believe doing this photoshoot is a good idea as I
can see who’s photogenic enough and will suit the name that has been picked from the audience. Another thing, I thought of is
to have a back-up model, just in case something happens.
It has as it’s made me look further into the project than just the basics. I have now looked at different tutorials for make-up, how
to dress the model, photography and the camera basics. I have written many notes from each video I have watched that I
thought I could use for my own project. I will conducting a few experiments so I get the hang of using the camera. I have already
watched a tutorial on how to use the camera which is a Canon 600D.The video showed what all the buttons do and how to use
them and change them to what you want. Any other questions I have I can ask my tutor for the help. I will practise at college for
the time being and then when I go for my photoshoot, I will be all prepared.
Some of the ways I will record my work is by creating an experiments or production reflection power point and talking about
the tools I have used and why I have and how this will affect my own work.
In the past, I have managed to get through a problem by solving it in the correct way.This one issue I’ve had so far with the
models, I have solved well and now haven’t had any other problems and hopefully will not have any more. I could go back to my
research and see what I could do as another option.

6. This week has been good, I have carried on with problem solving. I created a shot list by paper and pen and then photocopied it so then I had spare
sheets.This is going to help with my production later on as I can have it with me. Another thing I need to figure out is what kind of poses that I want the
model to be in. Also, I have started experimenting with getting to know my way around the camera.This will make it a lot easier for when it comes to
production.
The other day I went out and took some photographs and unfortunately they were really blurry. However, I learnt why that happened to the image as
the camera setting was on manual focus instead of auto focus.What I have done now is booked the camera out again so then I can go home and take
some more photographs and getting better at using the camera. I will know if I have solved this issue when I come into college tomorrow and look at
the images. Furthermore, if the photos don’t come out properly again, I will book it out for the holidays and carry on experimenting in my time off.
The only problem is using the camera, I really need to keep using the camera and really getting the hang off using it and getting used to what all the
buttons do on the dial. Just need to keep practising is how I’m going to solve it.
Again, I have learnt how to use the camera properly to make sure my images don’t come out blurry as it was out of focus. Another thing I have learnt
this week is how to use the graphics tablet which I have been using for experiments. I haven’t used the graphics tablet before so it was interesting to
use. I believe if I had to use it again I would be okay using it.
I believe I am ready to start planning.There are a few slides in my research power point that I need to complete, apart from that everything is done.To
get my research done, I need to take some time out and get it done before I get back to college.
My website is not up to date, this is one of the things to I still need to complete.The work is done, I just need to find time to put it onto my website. The
things I still need to figure out is who I’m going to use as a model, the locations of my photoshoot and I need to finish a few slides in the research power
point.

7. I started the first week of planning by creating a list of what I needed to do.This has helped me as I can tick them off as I’m going
along. So far, I have got through most of my list.The opening for my planning is inspiration. I have chosen the images that I
found as part of my research. Next, I looked at image styles that were going to help with my photoshoot, from these images I
have collected a colour scheme. This time I have used a different website for colours. I have used Adobe Colours CC and have
found it easier to use as you can any image you want and it will pick out the main colours.
I have already planned my photoshoot with a model. I looked at my work rota to see when I’m working and when it was the best
time for my model to be free. I have already come up with the layouts for my front cover magazine, double page spread and tour
date poster.
One thing I need to organise still a day to meet up before the photoshoot so then I can talk through everything with the model.
In the meeting, I’d be talking about location, clothing and make up. I haven’t got my response for this yet.This will get sorted
before the photoshoot. My website is not up to date which is something I need to do so then I can get my work marked.
From last week’s list I can tick off models and location.There are still a few slides in my research that I still need to do. However,
this week’s list is to create another layout for my tour date poster to show I have thought about more than one structure and to
start the article for the copy so then I’m not writing the article last minute. In my last project, I wrote too much is what I’m going
to do again so then I can cut it out if I have too much.

8. I am planned enough to start production on Monday. I have already got the photoshoot planned, the model to come during
the day on Saturday and a camera already booked out and a location sorted out for both inside and outside in case of the
weather turning.
I feel like I have worked very well with my planning as I have already finished it a week before. I have got my inspiration on
there to show what influenced me with my work, image style which are the images that I have found on the Billboard website
and taken the ones that I like and the ones have inspired to recreate an image like that. I have come up with different colour
schemes, fonts and layouts to show what my work may look like. Other things I’ve looked at is locations to show I’ve thought
about weather and contrast. Lastly, my production schedule which will help me when I start production on Monday.
I have already finished my planning which means I can go back to any other work that I haven’t finished off and get it
completed. One last thing that I need to work on is my article for my double page spread. I have already got the questions
written down, I just need to write a story from it. I do have a production schedule, in previous projects I end up not using the
schedule. However, the very last project it proved to work very well as it meant I could look back at it to see if I’m missing
anything else out. I will be reviewing my planning to look at my schedule as I feel this is going to help me and at least I can add
more tasks and aims into it. Nothing has gone wrong from my planning in previous projects so I think I should be alright with
this project. I have already planned the model, however the model I was going to use has now become busy with work so I
have got a few replacements for this weekend. I don’t think anything could go wrong, I’m just hoping that the weather holds
up for the photoshoot. But even if it does rain, I have already planned different I have learnt to properly explain myself, my
work and why I have chosen certain things.

9. Last week, I had said that I was planned for production which I was however, an issue had occurred with the model. I had
planned it so the weekend I had off from work so I could take photographs which meant I could start production on
Monday. Except, it turned out the model that I was going to use was busy.The model I have chosen is wanting to
become an actress and at the moment is an extra forTV series’.The weekend I wanted to take up by taking
photographs, she was busy with aTV series called Ackley Bridge. I had picked this particular girl out of all the other
people that responded because she really fitted the role a lot more.
During this week I have been trying to find another model that was available this week.Very last minute, I have been
able to find somebody that wants to model for me.This will happen onThursday after college. Unfortunately, this was
the only time she was free and I will not be able to spend much time photographing as I have work later on. I will get a
good hours work done though before I have to go. I have already spoken to the model and talked about what she needs
to wear and what her hair and make-up should look like. She has agreed to have the outfit and the hair and make-up to
be all good. As it was last minute, I didn’t get the chance to meet up with her to talk about everything so I have sent her
a few images from my inspiration which worked out easier.
In this week I have started writing my article for the double page spread. It has gone alright so far, but I want to put as
much detail into it, just in case I need more of the article on the double page spread when I start to lay it out next week.
Some things I still have to work on is my article.There is a few questions left to write. It has proven to write the article as
I’m answering the questions so I’ve had to be in the mind-set of a new female musician. I have tried my hardest to try
write it so it doesn’t sound like me writing.
In my schedule, I should have put alternative solutions in case something didn’t go the way I wanted it to. So from my
schedule, I am not on target to what I have put down as I was hoping to have the photos already. I have no reason to
read my schedule at the moment, but I am going to go back and alternative solutions. Instead, I have taken a week out
and start proper production next week.

10. I came into college all prepared this week with photographs. On theThursday, last week, I managed to make a photoshoot
happen with the model. In that hour before work that I had, I made sure I spent all my time on trying to get the photos right. Just
before the photoshoot, I had a nosy through the models wardrobe (which she let me do) and picked out a yellow dress with red
roses on it which I thought worked perfectly. She did her make-up and her hair how I wanted it to be and looked really good. I
liked this look as it was from my inspiration which the model got sent images of last week. I have figured in the next photoshoot, I
need plain background as if she was in the studio and because she can’t come to college, I’m going to have to use a white sheet.
In this week, I have started editing the photographs and have already made a first draft album cover. With the cover, I have used
my skills to change the background colour and make it blurry slightly so then the model stood out and in that dress, it really
popped. As this album cover being a first draft, I’m going to wait until I have the new photos so then I can create another cover so
there are alternatives.
However, some of the photos I’m not really happy about as they didn’t look right on some of the work.To perfect this, I have
organised another photoshoot with the same model onThursday again as she is free. I have now written a list of what kind of
images I want to take so I’m not taking longer by thinking of different positions.
Today, I have been editing another image and have learnt new features of Photoshop like camera raw where I can change the
contrast, the highlights, the exposure and the shadows. Another aspect, I’ve learnt is match colour which I can change the
luminance (the brightness) and the colour intensity. I have used the colour intensity to make the yellow dress pop out more. This
has been helpful as it creates a different look to the image.
From my schedule, I haven’t followed it as I took the photographs later than I thought. However, the good thing is I have started
production. When I look back at my schedule, it does say that I am creating an album cover which I have done already. Also, in the
third week it says I’m starting my magazine cover. As I will have new images, this means that I can get back on schedule and carry
on following it.
I have just realised that I have missed two structures out of my planning which were the album covers and the t-shirt designs. This
means at the end of the week; I will go back and add them in.

11. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get any more photographs onThursday as the model was ill. I just told her to tell me when she
was feeling well enough to do another photoshoot and she’d let me know. In this week I have been editing some more
images. I have been experimenting with the magnetic lasso tool which has helped when I wanted to change the colour
of the background and nothing else in the image. I have also looked at the hue and saturation but mostly the brightness
and contrast.There was one image which had come out really dark so I have changed the brightness and edited the
colours. In another image, my friend mentioned to me that in the background there was a man standing in the building
window. I wasn’t sure how to do this so I used the paint brush and have coloured in all the windows, to the point where
my tutor thought the original image was edited. I have done most of the editing this week as it will most likely go onto
the photography portfolio on PortfolioBox which has been set up already and got a few images on it too which may
need changing again and put the new edited ones on instead. This week I have learnt to be a little more on Photoshop
about editing different images either when the image is dark or maybe too light and when there are useless things in
the image that aren’t needed. I think the only problem would be not having any more images to edit so I can get on
with more of my production. I still haven’t added in the extra bits into my planning which I’ll still need to do.

12. When I messaged my model again, she was feeling ill. So I had to message around to see who would want to model. Luckily, this girl I
met on a night out ages ago who agreed to model when I messaged. The next day, I managed to get the photographs I need. The
mistake I made from the last photoshoot was doing one round of clothes so this time I got her to do three rounds of different clothing
and because I had longer as well it meant that I could experiment a bit more with the camera.
I straight away started going through the images to see which ones are good to use. As I had already added the article into InDesign,
all I needed was an image which I edited and added one in. However, with this image I had a few problems with it.The first mistake I
made was placing the edited image straight into InDesign which had white background and the image had a grey one. I went back to
edit this image and used the colour picker to match the same colour of the image so I could make the rest of the background the
same colour. After this, I placed it back into InDesign but realised it was missing something from the spread.These were the page
number and the website. Also, with the page number I have added in a title label ‘interviews’ so then the audience knows what kind
of page this is going to be.
In the couple of days, I got feedback from another class member who answered the question ‘On the double page spread, I still need
to change the masthead font, however what do you think of it?’The response was ‘just need something to make it stand out’ and
‘slightly bigger font to cover more space.’ From this, I have now used the red from the album cover to make the mast head and the
quote from the article stand out. I took on board that the spread had blank spaces. My improvement was adding in Polaroid’s in the
middle with edited images in them. Another aspect I added was the date which is also in red so it stands out.
Next on the list was to complete the album cover which was finished but needed to create a back cover for it.This took longer than I
thought and had to do some of this work at home. I started off with block colours such as red and green so it matched with the front
cover but I didn’t like the look of it so used the brick wall from the tour date poster. But, the background of the brick wall was white
which didn’t look good. So, I used colour overlay and changed to the same red I used for the poster, this looked much better.
The last improvements I made were adding the flowers to all my work so they’d have a link and carry of the theme of graffiti.