2. Shot Type
The cover is a medium close up and the editor
chose this shot for many reasons. Firstly there
are lots of equipment being used, such as the
beakers, therefore it gives the reader the chance
to look at all the props used in the foreground
and background. This engages the reader as it
makes the picture look more interesting.
3. Angle
The angle is straight because, just like the shot
type, it gives the reader a chance to look at
everything clearly. If it was a low angle then they
would not be able to see a lot of the foreground.
If it was a high angle then you will not be able to
see a lot of the background, therefore choosing
a straight angle is ideal for the shot type.
4. Mise-en-scene
Many props are used in the image such as safety
glasses, beakers and chemical equipment. Beloit
have chosen these props to reach their target
audience, who are students that are looking to
go to university to study science. Therefore it
grabs the students attention and it gives them
an insight about what the magazine will be
about. The setting is in a classroom, which
further shows the magazine trying to reach out
to their target audience.
5. Depth Of Field
Shallow depth of field makes the reader focus on a
specific thing. In this case it is to make the viewer look at
the woman and look at what she is doing. Also having a
shallow depth of field is more relaxing for the readers
eyes, because they are focusing on one specific thing
rather than the whole image itself. To add on, there is no
action in the background therefore there is no need to
focus on the background as well. Lastly, the background is
not completely blurred and this is because there is
writing on the whiteboard which adds a more formal feel
to the magazine, which suits a magazine of this genre.
6. Real or Artificial?
The front cover is very realistic because there
are no bright colours or a edited background.
This was done to achieve a formal overall feeling
about the magazine. If the editor chose to
include a artificial constructed image then many
of their potential readers are unlikely to buy the
magazine. Why? Because their target audience
are looking for a respectable and official
university, so by making it look real it adds more
of an intellectual feeling to it.
7. Single or Collage image?
The single image enables a professional overall
feeling towards the magazine, especially since it’s a
magazine targeted at university students. It gives a
feeling that the university is top class and very
good. On the other hand if the editor chose to do a
collage, then there will be lots of different images
with different actions and it will make it look very
excessive. If the magazine was about sports then a
collage would be perfect because there are many
things happening but with a picture like this it is
best to make it look simple and professional.
8. Soft or Hard Focus?
Editors often use hard focus to tell the reader
where to look exactly. The initial look that the
reader takes is directly at the woman because she
looks very clear. To add on the background has been
blurred, therefore you focus on the woman more.
The editor did this because he wants the readers to
know what this magazine is about as soon as they
looked at it. Additionally if soft focus was used then
it would be very ambiguous as to what the woman
is doing. Overall, using hard focus allows the reader
to see exactly what the woman is doing and to
know what the magazine is about.
9. Mode Of Adress
The main image immediately informs the reader
hat this is a school/university magazine. Firstly
we know this because you can see the girl is
doing science. Secondly if you look at the
background you will see a whiteboard, this
implies that the magazine is school related. This
magazine has an indirect mode of address
because the girl is not looking directly into the
camera.
10. Lighting
The lighting is high key because it is very bright and
also because there are no shadows or dark areas.
This is because the editor wanted to make the cover
very clear and bright. To add on the reader can see
everything from the foreground to the background,
therefore this adds more clarity to the image. Lastly,
by having high key lighting it makes the magazine
seem more formal because it is more conventional
for a magazine of this kind to have bright lighting
rather than dark lighting.
11. Text choices
The font of the masthead is white and the main cover line
is also white. White is the brightest image in the image,
therefore the editor chose to make the name of the
magazine stand out as well as the main the cover line. To
add on the woman is wearing a black blouse and the
main cover line is positioned on it. This also makes it
stand out because if they would have chosen a dark
colour then the text would not be clear. The masthead is
positioned above the main image because this way you
can focus on both the masthead and the main image. The
size of the masthead is large to make it stand out and the
angle of it is straight. This makes the magazine seem
more professional.
12. Representation
Representation in this magazine cover is very
positive. The woman seems to be enjoying her
time doing science at the university.
Furthermore this also this makes the university
seem good because it implies that she is
enjoying the university. Moreover, there is lots
of laboratory equipment in the image and this
shows that the university have lots of teaching
facilities, which in return attracts students into
doing science at the university.
