This document provides guidance for students on planning and taking photographs for a magazine project. It discusses key elements to consider like shot type, camera angle, composition, lighting, mise-en-scene, location, and who and when to photograph. Technical terms are defined to help students describe the style of photographs needed. Planning is emphasized to ensure photos fit the magazine style and are of models that look suitable.

1. Photography
Look at the following photos and identify the different elements the
photographer has used to construct the shot.
Next, think about what is being connoted through the use of the
technical elements.
We’ll do the first one together....

9. Image Analysis
AS Media Studies 2009
Technical Codes:
Shot type
Camera angle
Composition & Framing
Symbolic Codes / Mise-
en-Scene:
Costume / clothing
Body language / facial
expressions
Location
Colour
Connotations of these
Connotations of these
Genre – how do
you know?
How is the image
appealing to the
target audience?
How are the people that
are featured being
represented?
Does this conform to
dominant ideology?

10. Image Analysis

11. Photography
For you main magazine project you will need to produce your own photos
You will need to use at least 4 images in your final project
You will need to plan your photo shoot to ensure your photographs will
look right and that you make the most of your time
Your photographs must fit the style of your magazine
You can take photos of friends and family but think carefully if they have
the right ‘look’ for your project. You might need to find models or find
appropriate costumes. (Facebook group might help you here)

12. Photography
Key things to consider:
Shot type
Camera angle
Composition & framing (portrait / landscape)
Mise-en-scene:
Costume / clothing
Body language / facial expressions
Location
Colour
Lighting

13. Who
You will need people to be in your photographs.
Think about who would be willing to let you take their photograph.
The person you take pictures of might need to wear something different to usual or have
make-up or props. Think about where you will get these from.
To gain the higher marks and give your work a more professional look you need to make
sure that the models look ‘right’.
Most magazines will feature more than one artist so take pictures of more than one
person. This is especially important for contents pages.

14. Where
The location for your photo shoot is important.
Think about the photography in the type of magazine you are making and
where it is taken.
You might be able to find suitable locations around college or you might
need to go further away to get the pictures you need.
If you need or want to use a room in college then it will have to be
booked so you need to plan ahead.
Think about the composition of your shot. What you leave out is just as
important as what you leave in.

15. When
Planning a day for your photographs to be taken is important but so is the
time you take them.
Will you need the location you use to be light or do you want it to be dark
when you take the photographs?
The weather is not good at the moment so you need to think about how
this might affect your plans.
Also the time of day could affect how many people are moving around
the location, especially in college. Think ahead so you don’t waste time.

16. How
Look closely at the photography in your chosen magazines and think
about the composition and the mise en scene.
Make sure you have plans for the shots you want based on the style of
the magazine you are making.
Draw up the shots first and make sure you stick to them. Take reference
material if you need it.
Get all the shots you planned for first and then any extra time can be used
to experiment.

17. Terms
Some terms you could use to describe the photography in your magazine
to help you explain what you are trying to achieve:
Candid/Naturalistic: Photographs that are not obviously posed
Posed: Photographs that have been posed for
Live: Photographs that involve the band/artist performing
Studio: Photographs taken in a photography studio
High key: Photographs which are very bright overall
Low key: Photographs which are dark overall

18. Terms
Colourful: Photographs which contain a lot of colour
Monochromatic: Photographs which contain only one colour or are black
and white
Busy: Photographs that are busy contain lots of visual information
Passive: Photographs which contain limited visual information

19. MCU –
medium close up
MLS – medium long shot
CU - close up
LS – long shot
MS – mid shot
ELS – extra long shot

20. Composition
• The composition of an image is simply what it is made
up of. An image will display a series of objects or
people, and when referring to its composition we look
at their arrangement within the picture.
• Often we infer meaning through two objects
relationship with each other:
• Is one depicted as larger?
• More central?
• How much space is there surrounding the objects?
• Is one in the foreground / background?

21. The Rule of Thirds
• Images are usually composed
around the 'rule of thirds'. The
rule of thirds divides the frame
into thirds both horizontally and
vertically.
• The points where the vertical
and horizontal lines cross are
said to be aesthetically pleasing
spots to place subjects or to
have perspective lines converge

22. Depth of field
The distance through which elements in an image
are in sharp focus.
Shallow Depth of Field: The camera focuses
on specific objects , the rest of the frame is
blurry
Deep Focus: Describes a
scene that is kept in sharp
focus, from close-up to the
furthest plane

23. Mise en scene
Look closely at the mise en scene to help you plan your own photographs.
Make notes on the location, costume, model and composition
Think about how you plan to use the photograph in your final piece. Does
it need to be portrait or landscape format?