Looking back at the preliminary task, the student feels they have learned to plan and prepare more thoroughly for the main task. For the preliminary task, details were overlooked and aspects were kept vague to complete it quickly. However, for the main task, each part of the process was planned in more detail to ensure success. Conducting more in-depth research into magazine forms and conventions helped make the main task magazine more professional. Improved skills with software applications and photography allowed the student to produce higher quality images and magazine layout for the main task. Feedback from a focus group further helped tailor the magazine to the target audience.

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

2. Final Production pieces:
Main
Task; Indie/Indie Folk
magazine for 16-19
Preliminary year olds
Task; Rock magazine for
college students

3. Planning & Preparation
Preliminary Task: In the preliminary task, it was more general and small details were over
looked in order to get it done quicker. Not every part was taken on with as much
knowledge and effort so it resulted in things being kept quite vague and to a basic level.
It was more about getting a grasp of what I wanted for the magazine, rather than being
specific, to make sure that nothing was missed.
Main Task: The planning for the main task was done a lot more detailed; taking care in
each part of the process to help me to be more than ready for the production. It made
me aware how more important this stage was as it was the difference between my
magazine being successful or failing miserably.

4. Forms & Conventions
Preliminary Task: Apart from basic pieces of information that I had picked up from reading
magazines myself, I didn’t really know at the point what was typical for a magazine. This
stage seemed to stay quite general and it was hard to consider conventions specific to
the genre, and even to a sub genre.
Main Task: I devoted a lot more this time round in looking into existing magazines to find
out about the forms and conventions that would need to be applied to my final
production piece. The analysis that I conducted was a lot more detailed and was done a
lot more closely by looking at two existing examples: NME and Artrocker which was
done in the format of a video (something that I hadn’t considered using in the
Preliminary Task). Also, after doing the preliminary task, I now had existing knowledge
to help me take on this part of the research without struggling too much.

5. Timing
Preliminary Task: As the preliminary task was not as complex, timing was not as
important. As long as I kept to the main deadline, it didn’t seem to matter what order
I did things in.
Main Task: However, with the main task and the deadlines being so much more
serious, it meant that I had to keep on track. It made it easier breaking each main
stage into smaller tasks more manageable and it made keeping to the dates a lot
easier. I also now had access to new websites that help me create a timeline to
follow to keep to dates, ready for the final deadlines. Also, I started to maintain
order so that it was more like a process, rather than just combining all my ideas
together just to get the job done.

6. Photography
Preliminary Task: The preliminary task was the first time I had used one of the
professional cameras and so, when taking the photos during that post production, it
was pretty much about learning the basics in order to get some sort of material to
use.
Main Task: With the main task, I arranged taking the photos in advance, meaning that I
could get many photos that weren’t rushed and were suitable so that the magazine
would not look forced. Also, I considered each shoot separately and each element
was just as important as the next. It was now more about what was suitable for the
magazine, in terms of costumes, locations and poses, rather than just what was
available to me at the time.

7. Post Production Skills
Preliminary Task: Once I had taken the photos, I assumed that they were ready to use on
the magazine. Being exposed to two new pieces of software, InDesign and Photoshop,
was quite daunting as my skills on either one was very limited. At this point, it was more
about getting a magazine produced and less about it looking professional.
Main Task: After using these programmes already, I was a lot more confident to try out new
things to make the photographs more effective for the magazine. I was able to use a lot
more of the features and, to my advantage, it helped me to produce a better magazine
the second time round.
Main: However, for this cover star a
Preliminary: With the cover
filter was placed over to take the
star for there was no effect
photo and I used the “art history
applied, she was only cut away
brush,” “clone stamp” and “spot
from a plain background and
healing” effects which made her
placed in front of a black and
complexion more even and naturally
white image
flawless.

8. Target Audience
Preliminary Task: When making my magazine, my target audience and their profile was
very much still being considered. Although, this was more based on my interpretations
of their views and so the magazine was more about what I wanted, rather than the
audience.
Main Task: The target audience was a much bigger part of my making my magazine during
the main task. From the research and Planning (where I created profiles and made a
focus group to give feedback on the first drafts), the Production (where my focus group
continued to give me their view after each part was completed) and the Evaluation
(where they gave their final opinions over the final pieces) they have been more than
necessary in letting me know how to make the best magazine for this genre as their
“Rockers and view was real, and not just what I wanted to hear. “Indie, 16-19
College Students” years old”

9. Before moving on to the main task, I set my self three targets to help to improve to get a better grade.
The research part of my coursework needed to improve in terms of detail. Looking back, I think that
I have managed to achieve this as it has been a lot closer, in terms of the analysis. With
production, I wanted to make my magazine look more professional and sleek. By having more
experience with the software and by being more concise with my research, it meant that I was able
to do this based on the knowledge that I gain from the previous task. Overall, I wanted my work to
appear improved by focussing on the presentation. I worked hard to make my blog look neat and
organised, and more importantly in order, and I think this helped me to be in the frame of mind to do
the same with my production piece and any tasks that followed.