Blog #1 - Magazine tips

Go to the link below:

http://www.pubexec.com/article/32-tips-tales-techniques-evaluating-appeal-your-next-magazine-cover-84611/1

Read the 2 page article about magazine cover design. The second page is much more important than the first page. On your blog tell me 5 things you should be thinking about when you design your magazine cover.

1. Color
2. Shadows
3. Overlap
4. Angle
5. Trick


Blog #2 - Best magazine covers 2013

Next, go here and look at some great designs:

http://www.magazine.org/asme/magazine-cover-contest/past-winners-finalists/2014-winners-finalists

Look at and read about ALL 32 designs, please stop when you get to the section called Cover of the Year. Make a new post titled : "Best Covers"

17 of them involve a portrait. Number a blog post from 1-17. Figure out which ones are portraits (these will be the ones with people in them), start your count with the Section called News, Politics and Business. The first portrait is from the New Yorker and it has Michael Douglas on it.

Next to each number, write "Formal, Informal, or Environmental" 

1. formal
2. informal
3. environmental
4. formal
5. formal
6. environmental
7. formal
8. environmental 
9. formal
10. informal
11. formal
12. formal
13. informal
14. formal/ environmental
15. formal
16. formal
17. formal


Blog #3 -- My Favorite Cover

FAVORITE 

"In Bazaar’s biggest issue ever, Sarah Jessica Parker ushered in the fall season. Clad in Chanel and a feathered headpiece by Ellen Christine Couture, it’s clear why Parker is fashion’s queen bee. The stunning image shot by Terry Richardson showed that what’s essential in fashion is a bit of fun." 

Write a 100-150 word critique of the portrait on the cover.

The reason why I chose this photo as my favorite was because of how natural yet formal it is. I like how the subject isn’t looking directly at the camera and seems to be genuinely laughing about the situation. The subject still looks classy and beautiful due to her dress and hat as well as impeccable hair, but, she doesn’t seem stiff like other models and seems to be enjoying herself. I like the fact that the background is white so the whole focus is on her. I like that she isn’t wearing too much makeup and the makeup that she is wearing isn’t overly dramatic and that adds to the natural look of the photo. I like the lighting on her as well that adds a sort of glow to her look. 

Blog #4 - Magazines Part II

You also need to know a little more information about the types of magazine covers that have been used through the years. Here are the most common types:

Cover types

1. Early Magazine Covers
2. The Poster Cover
3. Pictures Married to Type
4. In the Forest of Words

On your blog, write a short (50-150 word) explanation of what the main attributes of each of the four types are. Use your own words, and DO NOT copy and paste.

Early Magazine Covers: The covers were bland and had more words than pictures on them. Obviously, the pictures were not photographs but drawings instead. There weren't any colors in the drawings or on the actually cover itself, just the color of the paper.

The Poster Cover: The covers became more colorful and the photos became more of the focus of the magazine cover itself. Their were less words used and only the title was in bold. Then later, the photos became practically the whole cover. 

Pictures Married to Type: The photos started to become more and more integrated with the words of the magazine. Part if a photo would cover up the title of the magazine. 

In the Forest of Words: Quite the opposite of the one above, the photo would be covered up by all of the words featured in the magazine cover. 

FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY

1. List the changes that were made to the model's face in the computer. (Look carefully)
The changes that were made to her face were her eyes, eyebrows,nose, chin, face shape, and mouth.

2. List the changes that were made to the model's body in the computer. (Look carefully)
They tucked in her stomach AS WELL AS HER WHOLE BODY. They made her neck longer, they made her nose smaller, eyes bigger, face more angelic. They also basically spray painted her whole body and made her legs and feet smaller and longer. They made her butt smaller too which doesn't make all that much sense cause the big deal now is big butts. 

3. List the changes that were made to the model in the computer. (Look carefully)
They made her extremely thin, made her hair longer, and rounded her butt and boobs and flattened out her natural curves.  

4. Is it ethically acceptable to change a person's appearance like these in a photo? Why or why not?
No, I don't think it's acceptable because you are changing that person and stripping them of their natural beauty. 

5. Are there circumstances in which it would be more ethically wrong to do this type of manipulation?
Nope, it's completely wrong because the public is being lied to and they think that this beauty is what they have to become to be socially acceptable. People shouldn't be lied to about appearance because that's what most people are insecure about.  

6. What types of changes are OK, and what aren't?
Making the skin smoother and filling in eyebrows and such is alright. Any edits that can be done with makeup are alright. 

7. Explain what you think the differences are between fashion photography and photojournalism.
Photojournalism does edit certain things in a photo but fashion photography changes the whole subject into something fake. 

8. What relationship does each type of photography have to reality, and how does this affect the ethical practice of each?
It shows how the public views beauty in this era.

9. Why do you think I am showing you these three videos?
To open our eyes about the corruption of today's media and view on beauty. 

10. Why are none of these videos about guys???
Because guys don't care what they look like for the most part and aren't pressured physically, and they also do not wear makeup or other cosmetic things for the most part. 

COLD

ELECTRICITY

PURPLE

A. What is the most powerful image from the slideshows? Why?
I think the photo of Ian's mother crying awaiting his arrival is the most powerful image because it shows the strength of  mothers love.


B. Through the photos, Ian is in different locations, each set of photos from the same location comprise a short series or set.

Set #1 At home in Denver - Tell me which image #s from image #1 to image #9
Set #2 At Basic Training - tell me which image #s from image #10 to image #49
Set #3 In Iraq - tell me which image #'s from image #50 to image #70
Set #4 Back in Denver - tell me which image #s from image#71 to image #82


Which set of images was the most powerful? Why?
I think that both At Basic Training and Back in Denver are the most powerful because it shows to hardships of having to be trained for the army and also the emotion of ones return.
C. How do the images work together to tell a story?
The images each show individual and personal experiences of Ian and his family members.

A. For the photos in which Ian is the main subject of the photos, in what tense are the verbs usually written?
The verbs are written in present tense.

B. How do the captions enhance the photographs?
They help the viewer understand what's going on if there is any confusion.4. Now its your turn to write a few captions - DO NOT COPY THEIR WRITING

A. Write three of your own captions to photos without looking at the caption written by the photographer. Be sure they are written in the following form. For this assignment you can make up names and facts to write your captions.

First sentence:
Subject -- action verb (present tense) -- object -- how -- why -- when -- where.

Second sentence:
Subject -- verb (past tense) -- object (describes background [context] of the situation shown in picture.)

Example:

Image #2

Ian studies his transcript and diploma as he departs the Bear Creek High School commencement at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. He dismisses the importance of the ceremony but not of the diploma. "If I didn't get my diploma, I couldn't join the Army. I couldn't do anything like that - and where would I be?" Looking back, he said, "I wish it went by a lot slower and I did a lot of things differently - grades." Ian's grade-point average was 2.0346.

CAPTIONS 

1. Ian holds a religious rosary necklace carefully in his hand to calm himself down in his barrack after returning from more training. He also kept a small memo of his girlfriend Kristen in his pocket.

2. Ian rips a small photo of his ex girlfriend sadly and angrily in his hand while sitting in his room. Behind him, there were photos of other friends and family members as constant joyful memories.


3. Ian holds his fiancé's hand lovingly in his while they get married in an empty courtroom on August 29 2009. He wore a crisp red shirt for the very special occasion.