The document outlines photography plans for a magazine cover and inside pages, including shot types, angles, models, costumes, locations, and lighting to establish a dark and intimidating aesthetic while maintaining cohesion across the issue. Medium shots of bands in grunge clothing against plain walls and outside locations will be lit dramatically to grab attention yet still feel approachable. Continuity of the same models across shots in slightly varying poses is intended to create a sense of ownership for readers.

1. Photography Planning
Media Studies Coursework 2015-16

2. Front Cover
• Shot Type: Medium Long Shot: This will allow for a balance between a wide enough shot that includes the artists’ full costume (and
instruments but I don’t plan on including them), and a tighter shot that still has enough detail to show off their expressionand
costume in detail. I also want enough room around the artists upon which I can place puffs, plugs and cover lines etc.
• Angle: Eye level/slight low angle shot: This will allow readers to connect with the artists and feel in a similar position to them
(considering that they will be using direct address) but the slight low angle shot is to make the artists seem more menacing and
powerful, as fits with the tone of my magazine.
• Characters/Models: A pair of artists from the same band, one taller than the other to emphasize power further and look down on the
reader, one shorter to connect with them. I would like these two to be of different sexes as I feel my magazine’s genre is not gender
specific, and I feel some readers may be put off if confronted by two darkly dressed members of the opposite sex.
• Costume/Props: Classic grungewear; lots of leather, chrome and loose, dark band shirts. I would like their costumes to be mainly
black but feature hints of red to match the surrounding graphics. This will make them feel part of the magazine (increase cohesion),
fit with the house style and also make the whole cover more visually attractive thanks to the complimenting colours. A decent amount
of skin should be on show as this is a magazine designed for the sexually driven youth of today (and sex sells better than anything else)
but not so much that we lose respect for the band. A few alternative accessories (chokers, goggles, neckerchiefs etc.) will help readers
to connect with the pair as assumedly they will wear similar things themselves. I do not, however want these costumes to be too
extravagant and intimidate/alienate anyone who is not quite so dedicated to the genre. The artists will not be posed with their
instruments as this shot is more about their style and attitude than the music they play, so they will instead be posed casually or
crossing their arms to give across attitude.
• Location: I would not like the location to be too large or distracting from the artists, so I will most likely shoot them against a fairly
plain wall. This means my lighting will cast visible shadows which can hang over the artists, adding to the dark, intimidating aesthetic
but I need to be careful not to obstruct the view of either artist in doing so. I want the shot to feel spacious, yet intimate so removing
extra depth from behind the artists will help the magazine to seem approachable, yet a little uneasy/claustrophobic.
• Lighting: I would like a single light source in my shot to cast dramatic shadows and accentuate the artists’ features. As well as fitting
with the dark tone of the magazine, this will increase contrast between the well-lit artists’ and the unlit background, making them
appear to stand out from the magazine in order to grab the readers’ attention. This light source should be white as I do notwant to
tint the image with any other shade of light than red as it would clash with the surrounding graphics, but a red light wouldbe too
overbearing I feel, and overface the reader with an almost entirely red page which would not look inviting. This light also matches with
the white text I plan to use to highlight parts of puffs etc.

3. Contents Page
• Shot Type: Long/Very Long Shot: The contents page needs plenty of room for the contents to be listed on (I also aim to put
an editor’s note here), and I would like the photo to cover the entire background with graphics laid over the top of it, so I
have chosen a long shot to provide this room for me to work with. I would also like the magazine to feel a little more
spacious once opened, so this looser shot should help to get that feeling across.
• Angle: High Angle Shot: I would like the magazine to feel as if it puts the reader in a little more power once they have
entered it, so this angle will help to make the artists smaller than them. A high angle shot also feels like more of an
examination than other, less empowering shots, which is what the contents page is all about so I hope this page will feel a
little more voyeur-ish than the other two.
• Characters/Models: Same pair as the front cover; I want to create a sense of continuity throughout the magazine, and a
sense of ownership through repetition so that readers feel comfortable with the artists by the time they reach the main
article.
• Costume/Props: As a result of this want for continuity, the artists will be wearing the same costumes as on the front cover.
They will, however, have their instruments now. I want the contents to feel more technical and musically themed than the
cover as it will suggest that the atmosphere is becoming more purely musical as we progress through the magazine.
• Location: This shot will probably be outside, to create some variation from the first shot considering the continuation of
characters and costume. I would like a fairly run-down seeming location outside with plenty of space, so I will try to get
access to an abandoned ruin or, failing that, find a grungy street corner. The addition of depth in comparison to the front
cover will make the magazine seem deep, mysterious and full of content to discover so I will make sure to have a long
background behind the artists.
• Lighting: Again, I choose to use a single light source as I did on the cover to cast similar shadows., but this shot should feel
much warmer. Yellow light is probably my best bet, as red will seem too intimidating and white will be too cold. If in the ruin
location, perhaps an old lightbulb or worklight will provide this for me, but the street corner will (hopefully) already have
streetlights to stand under, as this shot will be at night to enhance the dark aesthetic and appear menacing/mysterious.

4. Double Page Spread
• Shot: Very Long/Extreme Long Shot: I would like to continue the tradition of covering the entire
background with the feature image, so this shot will need huge amounts of white space to place the
article on. The artists will still be featured, so we need to be close enough to see their expressions and
costumes but I will take this photo as far away as I can in order to not run out of room.
• Angle: Eye Level: This article is an interview in which the artists will give a direct statement to the reader,
so I would like them to feel on each others’ level. There may still be elements of the image that loom over
the reader to maintain the intimidating feel
• Characters: Same artists from the front to continue building cohesion and ownership, but the two will
seem distant in this shot.
• Costume/Props: Again, same costume as the first two pages for cohesion purposes, but instruments will
be present in a casual fashion. I do not want them being used, but maybe just held aside by the artists to
insinuate that they are looking past the music and talking directly to the readers.
• Location: Either the same location as the contents page or the other possibility (ruin/street) if I can get
access to both. The shot will be at a different angle but objects will be present across the two to ensure
the location feels solid and real to the reader.
• Lighting: These photos will likely be taken at the same time as the contents shoot, and probably use the
same light source so that the two pages feel connected, but they will cast a different light over the artists
so that they feel more accessible and inviting (better lit faces, more distinguishable features etc.)