2. Front cover (splash image)
• When doing my market research I found that most magazine covers are shot in a studio as this allows control over the
mise-en-scene(lighting, backdrop etc), and means that the setting can be worked to fit the brief and result in whatever
particular ‘look’ that the editor is going for. It also ensures that lighting is at it’s optimum and ensures a good quality
image, helping the final product to look professional and presentable.
• Therefore, I propose to take my splash image in a studio to replicate this look and meet the standard of other
established music magazines that are already in the market.
• The cover will feature a female artist, who’s dressed and styled herself in a way which represents how she’d go out on a
day-to-day basis. I’ve chosen to do it like this as I think it gives readers a much more accurate representation of the
artists they aspire too, and fits in with the ideology of Composed magazine which is that it’s about down-to-earth,
honest information which centres around the passion for music, rather than gossip or elaborated, twisted stories.
• In terms of props, I will include an acoustic guitar which the artist can play or hold in the photo, as long as it looks
natural. The backdrop will be white, and I’ll set my camera on a tripod in order to get a sharp, focused image.
• Examples of the type of splash image I’m aiming for are shown below;
Rule of thirds
In terms of the composition of my cover, I
would like the girl to stand to the right of
the image so that she falls over the two
right hand focus points. This will create an
image which looks less awkward and
more natural, but also allows room on
the side for sell lines. A few centimetres
of headroom will also be left so that
there is space for the masthead.
3. Contents page
• When looking at other music magazines I found that there were quite a few different styles of contents pages, however
one particular sort stood out to me as being the most effective and aesthetically pleasing. This is where there were a
number of small images, like thumbnails, which gave a visual representation as to what was on each page of the magazine,
as well as page numbers and text to briefly describe the ‘main’ articles.
• I plan to have 6 photographs on my contents page- 5 smaller thumbnails and one bigger one for the double page spread.
I will include a variety of different shots to reflect the variety of articles and topics within the magazine, such as a group shot, two shot and
close up. Different shots suggest different things, for example a close up may represent a personal article or interview. I’d also like to
include a long shot of an artist busking or playing outside, but couldn’t find a suitable example of this. This will create a bit of diversity on
the page, making it more engaging for the audience. I’d like all of the images to be in colour, as the background of the page is plain white,
with minimal added colour as it will follow the magazine’s house style, and therefore colourful images will have nothing to clash with.
4. Double page
spread
1
2
3
The photographs I plan to use on the double page spread will be
from the same studio shoot as the splash image, as this creates
continuity throughout the magazine. I want to include 3 separate
image, 2 on one page and the third acting as a splash image for the
right hand page, with text over part of it.
As a result the 3rd image will need quite a lot of white space above
the people in the photograph as this will allow room for the article
text.
5. This image of Ed Sheeran gives
a good idea of the first photo I
intend to take for my double
page spread. Obviously
because of the positioning on
the page it will have to be of a
portrait orientation, and will
most likely be a medium long
shot, so taken a little further
away than this one of Ed. I’ll
also be including my acoustic
guitar as a prop, in order to
illustrate the model’s talents
and draw attention to the fact
that they composes and
produces all their own music.
1
3
2
This just demonstrates the
fact that I’d like there to be
a difference in height
between images 1 and 2.
The mise-en-scene will be
continual throughout the
three images in terms of
clothing, setting, etc, but I’d
like this second image to be
of the model sat down or
knelt down, in order to give
a bit of diversity to the page.
For the 3rd image I’d like something a lot more natural looking.
As the article will be about two artists teaming up and going
on tour together, It will be a two shot of both the artists (both
female). I chose this image to the left as an example as I like
the way they’re laughing and smiling, but not necessarily
looking directly at the camera. In terms of outfit it will be
kept very casual still, such as leggings, jeans, denim jackets
and t-shirts.
