magazines part II

A characteristic of the early magazine cover is that it is very similar to newspaper back then. They didn't always have a photo on the front, often looking like a book. It wasn't until later in magazine design that photos began being put on the covers. As time went on and photos began being used more, the poster cover was created. The poster cover utilizes bright colors, fun pictures, and minimal or small text. A common distinction among these types covers is simplicity. As the cover photos began getting more complex, designers started using text and in a more interesting way. Designers use cover lines and big titles to tell what the magazine is about as well as create depth and dynamics in the cover work. This type of magazine is called the pictures married to type. The utilization of text really grew when the modern in the forest of words type of magazine cover came along. It uses text and titling and cover lines prominently, lessening the importance of the model, turning them into kind of a billboard.

prompt shoot: cold, electric, purple

my favorite cover

"Just before her intimate photos were hacked--and splashed across the Web--Jennifer Lawrence posed topless for Patrick Demarchelier for the cover of Vanity Fair's November issue. As part of the accompanying cover story, she decided to break her silence about one of the biggest scandals in Hollywood this year. The Guardian called her salvo "the end of the 'shamed starlet.'" So strong was the outpouring of social-media support for Lawrence's stance that The New York Times reported on the fact "fans took to Twitter to applaud her." Demarchelier's striking photos of the Hunger Games actress also helped spark a thoughtful debate about a woman's right to reveal her body. Lawrence (and the V.F. cover) made her message loud and clear: "It's my body, and it should be my choice." 

I think the cover is great because the first thing I notice is nudity with a subtle touch of decency because of the necklace. It adds a certain classiness to the photo which goes along perfectly with who Jennifer Lawrence really is. I also like how the foreground pops from the background. I think that there could have been more of a contrast, but I think it pops enough. I also think that the reflection of the water could have been either more of a background thing instead of it just being there, or it could have been more reflective. I think the quote included in the photo correctly illustrates what the quote (included) by Lawrence means. She fights for women's rights and being able to express herself without being considered a sexual object. I think the photo is doing justice to what she is trying to say. 

best magazine covers 2015

1. formal

2. environmental

3. environmental

4. environmental

5. environmental

6. formal

7. informal

8. formal

9. informal

10. environmental

11. formal

12. formal

13. formal

14. formal

15. informal

16. informal

17. formal

18. formal

magazine tips

things to be thinking about when designing a magazine cover...

1. Color. Using a bright coral, for example, instead of gray or brown might increase the costumer's interest in the magazine.

2. Pattern. If there are a lot of crazy shapes and fade and overlapping on the cover, it has better chances of catching someone's eye.

3. Subject. Who is the magazine targeting? Put things on the cover that would appeal to who its being sold to.

4. Dominant Foreground. If what ever is on the cover pops out from the background, it will catch someone's eye rather than there being no difference between foreground and background. 

5. Text. Try not to distract from the photo with a lot of typing. Make the font modest and easy to read at the same time as stylish and attractive to the eye. 

self portrait and portrait part I

Tips of Photography

You can also use yourself as a test subject for experimenting with lighting or other creative techniques.

Break the Rules of Composition

Get Closer

Portrait Examples

               Environmental Portraits

I really liked this photo because it leaves you with a feeling of mystery. I don't really know what's going on in the photo, and I love that. I chose it because it's a great example of a fitting environment for an environmental portrait.

I liked this photo because I like how much he looking like he had a history where he was. The photo holds a lot of character, I love that aspect of everything. I chose this photo because it is a really good example of a background to use for an informational photo. It really clues as to what his life was like.

               Self Portraits

I liked this photo because when I looked at it, I was very intrigued. First of all, she's not wearing clothes, she looks like she's been crying, and there looks like a bit of smoke is coming from her mouth. Ultimately, I love mystery and I want to know what was going on in the photo. I chose this because the selfness of the self portrait is very evident. She did a wonderful job of interpreting herself.

I like this photo because the man looks very much like he is just not having it that day. I also like it because he's holding himself in a way that makes himself look almost aloof. I chose this photo because its a great example of a unique method of shooting the photo. He most likely did it in a mirror or reflective surface.

               Casual Portraits

I like this photo because the woman looks like she's having fun. It's a cute photo and the little message on the bench is adorable. I chose the photo because it looks like she's doing something casual, and she's is being welcoming, perfect for something casual.

I like this photo because the scenery is beautiful, as well as that the rules of photography in the photo create dynamics that are pleasing to the eye. I chose this photo because she's wearing something very casual and that she looks comfortable.

Portrait Assignment Plan

For the portrait that I will do for the assignments, I am going to either shoot my band mates, Mia Shippey and Bella Lufschanowski, or my father. I would shoot them in the grass, maybe around some plants. I might also shoot photos of them in our garage at practice. The way I will make the photo's good is that I will use natural light, I will focus the camera in on one of their features or actions, and I will get close to them. I will also but them in a dynamic area of the frame, and try to utilize lines. 

love and loss warm-up

1. Immediately after reading she had cancer, I went into a state of anticipation, waiting for a multitude of results. I thought it was going to end up very happily, and I was also willing to accept a sad ending. I did feel very sad and surprised at the end.

2. I feel that maybe the photographer was referring to the fact that they do not have definitions, and that the photos represented who they were as individuals.

3. I think I could, I would be physically able to. I just might not have the emotional strength to document that.

4. If I could write a letter to the photographer, I would tell him how much I admire what he did. I think it's really awesome to be able to share personal emotion with the world.

american soldier

a.) I think the most moving photo from the set is the one of him and someone who is older than him pretending to hit him on the head with a big piece of wood. They are all laughing and smiling. This was the most moving for me because it was kind of the small ray of sunshine on a rainy day. This photo showed joy amongst photos of war and unhappiness.

b.) set 1 - at home - image #1-image #3
set 2 - basic training - image #4-image #13
set 3 - in iraq - image #14-image #27

c.) I think the third set of photos is the most powerful. This is because it represented how hard things finally were, and how his life was really affecting other peoples'. I think the fact that real conflict was going on in the photos makes it more meaningful and sacred almost.

d.) The images all tell a very dynamic tale. The photographer designed it to show Ian in the decision making process, the start of the life he chose, the harder aspect of it all, and then the last photo ties it all back up with a happy ending.

e.) Present tense for the most part, second portions of the captions are past tense.

f.) Some of the details in the photos aren't obvious by sight. Like how the tears were welling in his eyes, and how the girl kissing him was his girlfriend and how her name was Ashley.

g.) Ian Fisher was a troubled kid who got into fights. He wanted to go into the army. He started training and left his party life behind. It was rough, he got little sleep, was constantly doing work, always being injured, and he was starting to think he wasn't cut out for it. Thoughts of quitting infected his mind, but he remains diligent. He moves up in ranks, facing challenges along the way, flying through girlfriends, working hard. Fisher gets into a little bit of trouble when he did not return to camp on time, but he moved up ranks even still. He returned to his home town of Denver, Colorado and proposes marriage to girlfriend at the time Devin, only to be married an hour later.

rules of photography part II - more composition ideas

RULE OF THIRDS 

BALANCING ELEMENTS

LEADING LINES

SYMMETRY AND PATTERNS

VIEWPOINT

BACKGROUND

CREATE DEPTH

FRAMING

CROPPING

MERGER