My editing, photography, management, and research skills have all improved from my preliminary task to the full product. When starting the main task, I was able to apply more advanced Photoshop effects like 3D on the cover thanks to tutorials I watched online. I also learned better photography techniques, such as taking angled shots instead of straight on and shooting on plain backgrounds. For management, I created a production schedule to stay on deadline and arranged transportation for models. My research abilities strengthened as I learned to use advanced Google searches to find competitor magazines and analyze their conventions.

1. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

2. Photoshop Skills I believe my editing skills have improved drastically from my preliminary task. As I was using a simple editing program for my preliminary I was restricted from the different effects I could have applied if I used Photoshop. When staring my main task I used Photoshop cs5, this is the latest Photoshop out and has many different effects such as 3D which I used for my front cover. Youtube has also helped me lot in learning these new skills as I was able to watch tutorials online and try them myself and experiment which would look attract my target audience.

3. Photographic Skills After taking pictures for my preliminary task I was able to identify aspects which I could have done better. My photography skills have improved a lot as I have learnt that taking pictures indoors is not good especially if you do not have the right amount of light as it can effect the quality of the picture. Also I have learnt after my preliminary task that if I want to cut the image out from the background it is better to take pictures on a plain wall which will make it easier to edit after. Taking pictures straight on is not always attractive as taking pictures in a slanted way could have a better effect. I have learnt this after I took lots of mid shots for my school magazine which later looked very boring and non creative.

4. Management Skills During my time producing the preliminary task I was not completing my task on time as I had problems getting people on time for the Photo shoot and I took to long in completing my research for the school magazine. However when I started my main task I produced a production schedule which helped me stay on task and motivated to keep to the deadline. I was also able to get my models on time as I arranged a car to pick them up and drop them of as well as snacks during the Photo shoot, this incentive motivated them to work worker and get the best possible pictures.

5. Research skills For my preliminary task I was not I found it difficult to research the different school magazine which are already out there. However for my main task I was able to find the different music magazine which will be my competitors as I learnt how to use Google advance which narrows doing my search and finds me what I specifically want. Also my analysis skills have improved a lot as after my preliminary task I was aware of the different conventions of a magazine and was able to acknowledge why they are there.