Professional Photography

1
Professional Photography

• Selecting and Constructing photography for the
  music magazine

2
Investigating Photography

• I looked at a series of websites to find
  appropriate professional photography that I could
  use in my magazine. This is because
• I need to have lots of options for what to use in
  the magazine.
• I need to have plenty of variety that helps to
  represent my music scene accurately.

3

• I like this one because its very natural and is
  perfect for a front cover picture.
• The dead space in the image (the sky) could be
  used for the masthead and banner.
• It would influence the design of the page by
  focusing on the woman and putting text over the
  man in the back who is blurred. This can be
  manipulated in Photoshop for him to be darker so
  white text would stand out more bringing more
  focus on the woman.
• This image would have been created from a low
  angle, long distance shot. The black vignette
  corners would go well with lighter text and the
  white sky would go well with a coloured masthead.

4

• I like this one because its so striking and
  dramatic. It draws you in because she stands out
  due to the higher lighting and the mode of
  address is quite mystical in a way as she is
  looking up to the heavens which is complimented
  with the beams of light.
• It could be used for a front cover, theres a lot
  of space for text but then that would take away
  its flair so is it only had a masthead and a
  headline it would look a lot more effective with
  this black dead space rather than be cluttered
  with words.
• It would influence the design of the page by
  using the monochrome effect to the font leaving
  the whole front cover black and white.
• It might have been created by a low angle shot
  like the previous image but this time the focus
  is more obvious and centered.

5

• I like this one because its an effective, vibrant
  close up, the camera is lower down because she is
  on the floor but she is still looking up, she
  looks smaller in this image.
• It couldnt be used for a front cover because
  its landscape but it would be good for an
  article image.
• It would influence the design of the page by
  bringing a lot graphic features with the way her
  body is breaking, this can be reflected through
  font by adding a lot of sharp edges.
• It might have been created by using different
  angles until they found one that they liked. To
  create an image like this, it takes a lot of
  experimentation because its so unusual.

6

• I like this one because it features the whole
  band, casual sitting around a table. Its
  effective because the angle is lower down and it
  makes them looker bigger which a band wants to
  show that they aren't small but they are trying
  to make an impression.
• It could be used for front cover but its very
  square so this image couldn't be used but it can
  be reinterpreted so it becomes portrait and the
  band is centred in the middle.
• It would influence the design of the page by the
  sepia tone, this can influence a lot of shades
  and would go well with other coloured
  photographs. The mode of address is unusual
  because everyone but the lead singer is looking
  directly at the camera.
• It might have been created by placing the camera
  on the table and changing the angle so the table
  and the wall frames the band.

7

• I like this one because its a medium close up
  featuring all band members. The lighting looks
  quite natural even though they are inside and the
  facial expressions are unusual and draws you in.
• It would influence the design of the page by
  bringing more focus to the band members because
  the image is so clear and close up. The mode of
  address isnt serious but it becomes more personal
  by directly looking at the camera.
• It might have been created by using a studio, the
  white background makes them stand out more than a
  natural background would.
• It would have been used for front cover because
  the background can be manipulated in length

8
Costume
Costume is important because it can become a
second focus and represent what the band is. It
can create a good graphic feature and can define
a page.
9
Natural
Its natural because the photographer has
captured a moment during a performance which
isn't posed, its full of emotion and there is no
direct mode of address because they are unaware
of the photograph being taken.
10
Used in magazine front covers
Professional photography used on magazine cover
usually has a white background, examples like NME
have a red masthead and the white brings it out
more. Dead space tends to be filled using text
but some is left to frame the image which
brightens up the cover. Mode of address is
important because it makes it personal or it
gives it an edge, looking in opposite directions
shows the band to be serious but also quite
modern because direct mode f address is quite
typical.
11
Inter-Texuality (Iconography)

• When one text refers to something else e.g. film,
  person.
• It creates iconic images which can become
  parodies.
• It has to be familiar and eye-catching.
• If its a parody, it has to have a message or
  close to the original.

12
Resources for Reference

• Delete the slides from this point once you are
  ready to upload this powerpoint

13
Investigating Photography

• Photography useful for a front page might be
• Artists in dramatic poses that focus on their
  character.
• Pop-up figures that are cut out at the bottom
• Unusual designs that can be used as album covers
  and adjusted in Photoshop
• Close-ups and medium close-ups for secondary
  leads
• Live shots, stage shots and poster-style shots
• Backgrounds and textures

• Photography useful for a contents page might be
• Mugshots of the editor for the editorial
• Framing images that help to create a shape that
  the contents can work around
• Close-ups of instruments, clothing etc for
  features with a special focus
• More band and artist shots
• Drawings and designs that represent artists /
  ideas
• Unusual designs that can be used as album covers
  and adjusted in Photoshop

14
Investigating Photography

• Photography useful for a double page might be
• Shot series that show various poses and
  expressions
• Wide angle shots that help to create mood /
  atmosphere and highlight setting
• Long, loosely framed shots making maximum use of
  mise en scene
• Fun or story-relevant inset shots of the artists
• Many of those also relevant for the other pages
  such as

• Framing images that help to create a shape to
  work around
• Drawings and designs that represent artists /
  ideas
• Artists in dramatic poses that focus on their
  character.
• Unusual designs that can be used as album covers
  and adjusted in Photoshop
• Close-ups and medium close-ups for secondary
  leads
• Live shots, stage shots and poster-style shots
• Backgrounds and textures

15
Great Links for Photography

• Professional Photographer - http//www.professiona
  lphotographer.co.uk/
• BIPP (British Institute of Professional
  Photography) - http//www.bipp.com/
• BJP (British Journal of Photography) -
  http//www.bjp-online.com/
• Ami Barwell (Rock n Roll Photographer) -
  http//www.musicphotographer.co.uk/
• Graham Smith (Music Photographer) -
  http//www.grahamsmithphotography.com/
• Michael Williams (Photographer) -
  http//www.michaelwilliams.co.uk/
• Dazed ( Confused) Digital - http//www.dazeddigit
  al.com/Music/Default.aspx

A Google image search for Photo Shoot with the
word Rock/Indie/Punk etc. in front of it can also
provide good results.
16
Great Links for Textures

• CG Textures - http//www.cgtextures.com/
• Filter Forge - http//www.filterforge.com/
• Mayang - http//mayang.com/textures/
• Free Textures - http//www.freetextures.org/
• Texture King - http//www.textureking.com/
• Background Labs - http//www.backgroundlabs.com/
• Vector Art (geometric shapes which can be used
  for graphic features) - http//vectorart.org/
• How to make vector art - http//www.melissaclifton
  .com/tutorial-vector.html

17
Great Links for Album covers

• 99 best designed album covers -
  http//inspiredology.com/99-best-designed-album-co
  vers/
• Top album covers - http//www.topalbumcovers.com/
  
• Top 50 album covers - http//www.ugo.com/music/bes
  t-album-covers