The document discusses photo shots taken for the front cover and double page spread of a music magazine. It analyzes conventions for different types of images. Front cover shots usually show artists looking directly at the camera in mid or close-up shots. Double page spreads more often use casual long shots. The document examines its own shots taken and determines several could work for the cover while others are better suited to the more relaxed double page spread due to the artists' poses and facial expressions.

1. The shots I took for the front
cover and double page spread

2. I found that conventional front cover images
show the artist(s) looking directly at the camera.
They are usually quite posed, with a front on
shot, usually either a mid shot, or a close up.
This convention is shown in music magazines
such as Vibe, Mojo and Rolling Stone.

4. However, some music magazines such as NME
use less conventional images for their front
cover. For example, in one of their issues, a
cover image of Alex Turner and Miles Kane
shows a mid shot of them facing back-to-back.
However, they are still both looking at the
camera. Another of NME’s issues, shows Lily
Allen, again looking at the camera, but from a
high angle shot. These front covers show that
although some conventions need to be
followed, it is also effective to be creative when
it comes to shots for a front cover.

6. I found that it is conventional for double page
spread images to be long shots of the
artist(s), showing their whole body, as shown by the
issue of RWD magazine, that includes a double page
spread for the Black Eyed Peas. The double page
spread image is also more casual that the cover
image. This is shown by a double page spread of
Pink. She is laughing, which shows she is being
casual. Another double page spread shows The
Teenagers. The image of them is them laying on a
bed. This is very casual and would not be used for a
front cover image.

8. My images…

9. This long, two-shot of the boys shows the car
behind them, and was taken to show them being
casual, whilst also being posed. Neither of the boys
are looking at the camera. If I were to use this
image, it could only be for the double page spread
because it is very unconventional for artist’s on the
front cover to not be looking directly at the camera.
In fact, this is a VERY important convention for ALL
magazines, including music magazines.

11. The next image shows Andy (left) looking at the
camera, and Liam (right) looking downward.
Again, this image is quite casual, and because
Liam is not looking at the camera, I could not
use this image for my front cover, however I
could use it for my double page spread.

13. The next 4 images show long, two-shots of the
boys, both leaning on the car. This shows that
they are very laid back and ‘cool’ which is often
a connotation with Urban music artists. Both of
the boys are looking at the camera in these
shots, so I could use one of these images for my
front cover, or for my double page spread.

18. The next two images show very similar shots. They
are the same location, same angle, same
lighting, both long shots and both the boys are
looking at the camera. Except in the first, Liam
(right) is slightly smiling, and so is Andy (right). But
in the second, Andy (left) is smiling more, and Liam
isn’t smiling at all. Both images would work well.
They are both posed quite casually, and the use of
different levels looks effective. However, I think that
the image of them both slightly smiling looks best.
They are supposed to be a double-act, and
therefore they should be similar. On the NME
cover, with Alex Turner and Miles Kane, they both
had the same facial expression. Therefore, I will
discard the second image from the possible images
to use.

21. The next image shows a mid, two-shot of the
boys. They both have fairly serious facial
expressions, and are posing in a similar way. I
could use this image for my front cover, because
both boys are looking at the camera, however
part of Liam’s (right) head has been cut off. And
this is not conventional for front cover images.
However, I could use this image for the double
page spread, because double page spread
images are more casual. This technique of
‘cutting-off’ part of the image was shown in the
double page spread of Pink.

23. The next image shows a close up of Andy
through the rear-view mirror. I thought that this
was an interesting and creative shot. As shown
my NME, it is okay to be creative and different
when it comes to magazine images. I think that
my target audience will find this image fun and
artistic shot. I could use this image on my
double page spread.

25. As you can see, I took images in a variety of
locations, using a several different camera shots.
I did this so that my images would be as
conventional as possible, and also so that I had a
variety of choices when it came to choosing my
final images.
All of these images show a very casual
background. I may use the background, or edit it
out, I haven't decided yet. I will make this
decision when I decide which images to use.
I will choose the images that I feel are most
conventional, and will appeal to my target
audience the most.