Preliminary Task Evaluation

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

In my research into existing school magazines I found many codes and conventions and so utilised many of them within my preliminary task. I used three colours in my colour scheme, and chose colours that contrast yet compliment each other. I also used a medium close up that took up the majority of my cover. I also positioned my model to appear very happy following a key convention of school magazines. One thing that I did to challenge conventions was my main model was not dressed in a school uniform. My magazine did contain two students in uniform however my main picture depicted a sixth form student in casual clothing, I did this because I wanted my cover to show that all the students had their own personality and to make the school seem more accepting of all the students.


What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

In the lessons leading up to my school magazine I learnt how to use the programmes Photoshop and InDesign, I also started developing my knowledge of the cameras. When I was taking my photos I thought carefully about things such as, the rule of thirds and lighting to make sure my images creates the right effect for my magazine. I used Photoshop to cut out my main image and apply it to a new background  I thought this created a much more appealing, artistic cover. Once on InDesign I used boxes to organise my page much better and this allowed me to move around and play with the layout much more. I also used a range of tools, that I had previously developed my skills using, to create a sleeker, more professional view.