3. As you can see earlier on in my blog, I
analysed other CD covers to see what
the conventions were. This gave me an
insight into what I should add to my
own CD cover to make it look
professional, and so it appeals to the
target audience successfully.
4. I also did some research into music
magazine adverts, and made a few
conclusions about the forms and
conventions. Some of these conventions I
decided to use, but others I decided to
challenge!
5. PHOTOS
In my research into CD covers I found that having a main image, or a
set of images that cover the whole page was one of the main
conventions of a CD cover. I used this convention, and had various
images of instruments on the cover. The images of instruments tends
to also be one of the conventions for a CD cover, especially in this
genre of music. I made sure I used these conventions so that my CD
cover appealed to the target audience.
6. PHOTO EDITING
In my research into CD cover images, I found that CD covers of this
genre of music tended to use natural colours, and a lot of the photos
tended to have a sepia or vintage effect. I decided to use this
convention by giving all of the images a sepia effect, so they looked
more vintage and natural, just like the genre characteristics.
7. LAYOUT
One of the conventions of acoustic CD covers is
that they tend to use a scrapbook effect with the
images and text; I decided to use this convention. I
layered my images up so they’re overlapping
eachother slightly, so it created a scrapbook effect.
8. FONTS
For this I decided to challenge the conventions. Usually acoustic
artists want to go for a ‘natural’ look on their CD covers and adverts,
so they tend to use a font that looks like handwriting. However, I
decided to challenge this by using a normal font that looked more
modern. I did this for both the CD cover and the magazine advert
because I feel that it represented the artist more – he’s acoustic, but
has a modern edge to him too!
9. IMAGE OF CD COVER ON
ADVERT
I found out in my research that magazine adverts for CD’s usually
include a big image of the CD cover, or the artist themselves. I
decided to challenge this convention slightly, instead I had a small
version of the CD cover at the side, and used similar photos for the
main part of the page. These images were from the same photo shoot
so they looked similar, and were edited in the same way, which helped
with the artist’s brand identity, because it’s easy to recognise who it is.
11. SEPIA EFFECT
I carried on the convention of the genre by adding a sepia effect to all
the shots that feature an acoustic guitar, like I also did with my other
products. This also helped to develop the artist’s brand identity, because
it has the same elements throughout the CD cover, magazine advert and
music video.
12. LIP SYNCHING
In my research I found out that one of the main conventions of a music video is
that there is always lip synching. I decided to challenge this convention, and no
include any at all. I decided to do this because I wanted my music video to be
different and edgy. I did this by having signs with the lyrics on instead of the
actual lip synching. This way it makes it more individual and gives it a more
natural and less false feel to it. Also, it draws the audience’s attention to the video
more effectively.
13.
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16. STORYLINE
Usually acoustic music videos tend to have a storyline to their
music video (narrative). However, I decided to challenge this
convention because I felt like it went with the mood and
atmosphere of the song. I feel that if I had a complicated
storyline it would take the emphasis off the song, and the
audience may not take as much notice of it.
17. SHOTS AND TRANSITIONS
Conventions of acoustic music videos suggest that transitions
and shots should be slow, whereas songs with a faster beat
should have faster transitions and shots. I decided to use this
convention of acoustic music videos, because it’s better that
the song fits the beat of the song. However, that doesn’t mean
that my video if slow and boring, it’s still quite upbeat in some
parts!
