The document outlines the process for selecting and editing photographs for a hip-hop magazine coursework project. It describes 4 stages: obtaining permission from models, booking a camera, taking photos in suitable locations, and selecting photos based on suitability for the magazine layout and content. The selected photos were then edited in Photoshop by removing backgrounds, adjusting brightness/contrast, and making one image black and white to achieve a minimalist double page spread. The edited photos were deemed more professional and suitable for the intended 16-20 year old male target audience.

1. PHOTOGRAPHS

2. STAGE ONE - PERMISSION
• I contacted a range of my male friends who I thought would be suitable
to model for pictures for my hip-hop magazine. I felt it would be more
sensible to ask for permission, rather than to use the photo’s without
them knowing it was being used for my coursework.

3. STAGE TWO – BOOKING CAMERA
• On the day I wanted to take photos, I went to the College Media
Department and filled out a booking form to book out a camera to use.

4. STAGE THREE – TAKING PHOTOS
• After booking the camera, I went and found places that I could take
photos of the people I had asked permission of. I took a range of
photos, below are some examples:

5. STAGE FOUR - SELECTION
• After taking a range of photos, I had to select which ones were most
suitable to use in my magazine. I had to consider what the pictures
would look like after a bit of editing. These are the pictures I chose to
use:
Front Cover Contents Page Double Page Spread

6. I chose to use this photograph because the
model is wearing quite rich clothing which
reflects the stereotypically rich status given to
hip-hop artists. Although he is not wearing much
jewellery, he is wearing a diamond watch which
contributes to the hip-hop look. He is also
wearing a red top underneath which co-ordinates
well with my masthead, as that is going to be red
too. I decided to use this for my front cover as he
is making direct eye contact with the camera and
his pose would make the photo fit around the
layout I am hoping to achieve.
I didn’t use these photographs because the
I chose to use this photograph because the
two models have their bags on in the photos
model is wearing headphones which means it is
so it makes the photographs look very
suitable for a music magazine. He also has his
unprofessional.
hood up which reflects the ‘rebellious’ stereotype
associated with hip-hop artists. Furthermore, the
background is interesting to look at visually so
the picture will look attention-grabbing on the
page. I am going to use this picture for my
contents page because it is a photo of another
artist so it will enhance and add more depth to
the content of the magazine.
I chose to use this photograph because the
dress sense of the model is fashionable and
associated with hip-hop so it is appropriate for
my magazine. The model is also wearing
I didn’t use these photographs because the sunglasses and a watch which is reflected off the
model isn’t looking directly at the camera so I light which boosts the expensive gold it is made
felt that it wasn’t suitable to use because it is out of. These props add to the whole hip-hop
more professional and conventional for there look.
to be direct contact between the model and This is the same model I used for my front cover
reader of the magazine. as the cover story is going to be about him so it
will make the magazine flow better
I am going to use this for the double page spread
and not the front cover as there is no visible eye
contact due to the sunglasses.

7. STAGE 5 – EDITING (FRONT COVER PHOTO)
I edited this picture in Adobe Photoshop CS6. I did
this by:
• Using the Magnetic Lasso tool and Quick
Selection Tool to remove the background of the
image so I was left with just a cut out of the
model.
• Using the brightness tool to increase the
brightness of the image.
• Using the ‘Auto Tone’ and ‘Auto Contrast’ tools.
I feel that the edited image looks much better than
the original and more professional which makes it
more suitable to use in a magazine.

8. STAGE 5 – EDITING (CONTENTS PAGE PHOTO)
I edited this picture in Adobe Photoshop CS6. I did
this by:
• Using the Magnetic Lasso tool and Quick
Selection Tool to remove the background of the
image so I was left with just a cut out of the
model. I went around the circle shape of the
background so it looked more interesting.
• Using the black and white and threshold effects
to make the image black and white with a
posterize effect.
• Using the Clone Stamp Tool to make the
headphone shape more circular at the top of the
models head as his hood was getting in the way
of it.
I have edited this image like this to challenge the
typical conventions of images used on contents
pages as I want mine to look more interesting and
suited to my target audience of 16-20 year olds
males.

9. STAGE 5 – EDITING (DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD PHOTO)
I edited this picture in Adobe Photoshop CS6. I did
this by:
• Using the Magnetic Lasso tool and Quick
Selection Tool to remove the background of the
image so I was left with just a cut out of the
model.
• Using the black and white effect to make the
image black and white
I edited this image like this as I want to adopt a
minimalistic look to my double page spread so
using a black and white main image make the page
look clean and simple.