My answer to question #4
Thursday, April 8, 2021
Evaluation: Question 3: How did your production skills develop throughout the project?
Answer to question #3 https://youtu.be/K4WfxKTzbkc
Transcript
Yellow - Black Shirt (BS) Green- Red Shirt (RS)
Wednesday, April 7, 2021
Re-evaluation of Magazine
The Ups and Downs of my magazine production
In the beginning of this project, I began with a baby magazine idea because I thought it would be easier for me to construct since I had a model in mine for production. I was passionate about young children and knew that my magazine would flourish about something I personally enjoy. The only idea I had at the time was a baby magazine. I thought that I had a complete plan but I'm not too sure now that I think about it. So I decided that I would still include young children within my magazine somehow. This is where I thought, "Why don't I include concepts that build up a child?" like their childhood and upbringing which is where the birth of a parenting magazine came about. Once I figured out this parenting idea, I researched different forms of parenting magazines and what content is included. Advice, stories of childhood, current issues with parenting in todays society, emotional differences between certain relationships and much more are just a few of the elements that can be included in a parenting magazine.
Once, I found the direction in which I wanted to focus on in my parenting magazine, a child upbringing, I believed it was a cool idea to produce this form of magazine so that teens and young adults can be advised about the differences of childhood and the effects in which it has on someone. Although I had doubts about creating a parenting magazine because I was not a parent and still in my early years of living, I appreciated the perspective taken from a teens point of view which creates a diverse dynamic that many are not used to when they hear parenting magazine. Additionally, my magazine is not based on parenting but more so the upbringing from parents but being that there is not a specific genre for this form of magazine, parenting magazine in general fits in that niche.
Constructing this magazine was not easy because of the topic and productions. I was concerned that my direction of childhood would not be as easily seen as I ,of course, had seen it. I altered my models, interviewees, my interview questions and other elements that would better preserve the upbringing image. Furthermore, I received information from magazines that would support my attempts of clarity to my magazine which, in turn ,eased some of my concern. All in all, I enjoyed the difficulty because it allowed me to think outside the box and find ways to express my idea as clearly as I could.
Production - Behind the Scenes
Behind the Scenes
Santana = The behind the scenes production working with Santana was no easy task. The items I utilized to receive the pictures seen in the image includes a red comforter, a led light, and his toys (motorcycle, learning desk, sports balls, etc.) As I sat Santana on his stool, his mother remained on the sidelines to keep him from drifting too far into his own world. His age did not benefit me with his production being that he was distracted by the many items around him rather than me taking a picture of him. I assured myself to wear comfortable clothing during this process because I knew I had to remain flexible to keep up with his activity. A key item that I learned would assist my production process with Santana was snacks. A bowl of dry cereal was not only a slight prop that helped with the cover page image but calmed him down and made him feel comfortable while shooting. I have learned that working with a two year old for my attempt at non- action pictures is no easy task. I honestly felt quite discouraged because of how much movement he was doing during the shoot and I could barely keep him still; I thought that would impact the quality of the image and if I would receive any useable images in general. Thankfully, with his mother around she was able to keep him under control long enough for me to snap pictures that could be utilized in the magazine.
Destiny = Destiny is a lot older and easier to direct and position so
that made the process more effective. Although I did not have to take as many
shots of her as Santana, to obtain those images were quite difficult to do
being that we had to exercise social distancing practices due to the current
pandemic. However, we made it work by having multiple FaceTime calls and
discussing exactly how the images should come out. Taking her images were a
quick and easy process and everything come out according to plan. I have learned that it is better to work with older individuals if they are able to fit into your ideas , which she was, her availability was actually better than the other model which is surprising but true. I enjoyed working with her also because of how communicative she was and how expressive she was with her story which allowed me to have the feature story I currently have.
{Below are a few pictures I was able to capture during one of my production days}
Tuesday, April 6, 2021
Color Scheme & Changes of Final Project
Color Scheme
Changes
Before I finalized the edits of my magazine options. I decided to look back upon the questionnaire results just to clarify that I was producing a magazine that would be catering to my target audience. I reviewed the results and made the following edits so that I will remain on board and produce a more appealing and realistic magazine.
- - 3D effect of main background photo
- - The color scheme
- - The side content that would elevate the realism of my magazine such as : the bar code, side content, font differentiations to showcase texture and revitalization, and layout/format.
Once these edits were made, I completely noticed a drastic change that not only looked better but pleased my target audience. I enjoyed the transformation and how I went from "A magazine look alike" to " A possible magazine in a store or office."
Changes
After the attempts of my table of contents page, I changed the "STAY ACTIVE" title by filling in the wording and curve the text. I reminded myself of the questionnaire and made adjustments as need be. Overall, I remained within the desired brown theme but added those hints of green and orange for youth, spunk, and to follow the second highest color scheme.
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ChangesI completely followed the desired color scheme from the questionnaire. From the images to the layout, I ensured that I would dedicate a whole page to the requested color scheme so that my audience knows that I listened to them. I really like how this page colors worked together with the images as well as with the other pages. |
Ohana Cover Page Options
Cover Page Options
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| Option #1 is a great playful outside shot that displays freedom in adolescent. Santana is posing for the camera and enjoys riding on is top motorcycle, so this shot was a win-win on both ends. I enjoy the color scheme and how the green compliments the entire page. |
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| Option #2 has a clear and well-lit image of Santana making a peculiar face as a young child does. The effortless shot was perfect for a cover but I am taken back by the limitation of color. Everything is laid out clearly and neatly placed, not too much is taken place in the picture or with the surrounding content. |
Thursday, March 25, 2021
Ohana Double Page Spread (RD)
Double Page Spread
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| This sketch of a two page spread showcases a possible layout for my double page feature story. I sketched this from my research with double page and learned how important it is to layout the wording so that readers will have an easy flowing path to follow. My version of a flow content spread will sure provide an easy to read story. |
Once I got my sketch I went to Canva to begin my draft process.
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After my attempt, the following product was created.
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I believe I was able to layout things better. Although I didn't follow all the elements of my draft sketch like add a picture at the top ,because I had more content than I thought, I added the images on the sides so that I could add those elements that would bring realism. I also decreased the color of the background and added more content besides the story itself so that I provide more information and explanation about the affects of parenting. > FINALLY < |
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| After examining my writing for the last time, I realized that I had the same information twice so I cleaned that up and enhanced my "THE UPBRINGING" section more so that I could discuss my magazines purpose clearer and everything was complete. I am overjoyed about the outcome and did my very best to depict a real magazine double page spread while adding my own style! |
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Reflection of "The Deep End"
Reflection - Feature Story
Plan - The plan that I had for my feature story would involve someone who has experience a significant element within their childhood. This personal experience would tie into their upbringing and how they were raised. I did not have an ideal person in mind but did have an ideal story, thankfully I was able to received that in a different fashion than I expected which came out better than my original idea. I began with a few directed open -ended questions that would cause for more elaboration. ( I also knew I had to construct questions as I continued to conversate with my interviewee)
Process - Being that a global pandemic is taking place I have to work with the conditions that I am in. This meant that my interview took place during a facetime call. I scheduled a facetime on an available day and time for the both of us and had pre-planned questions (That can be found in another blog) prepared for this interview. Destiny Felton was the person that I interviewed and she was fully pre-pared , without being prepared, for the questions. The responses given were far more that I expected and I am glad that I was able to gain them. As Destiny answered questions, I typed in a separate word document her responses as quickly as I could while constructing further questions that I figured would be best to elaborate on based on her previous response.
Outcome - The outcome came out very well. I was able to not only include both personal aspects about her as a child growing up with a mother and cautious and worrisome tendencies but utilize a cool, comical yet traumatizing story to tell it. Personally, the final result is clearly written and tells a story that illustrates mother and daughter behaviors that impact a child upbringing.
If I had to change anything about my feature story I would probably include how this effected Destiny child hood more. I believe I slightly touched on it but should have went a little more in depth being that my magazine is based on the effect of upbringing. Nonetheless, I was able to capture her mothers reaction which adds to a child upbringing because Destiny mother plays a significant role in her life. I think that I was also able to capture the effect of her upbringing based on the reaction to the accident within the story. I don't think I missed the target but I could have gotten closer to the target.
Feature Story Interview Questions - "The Deep End"
Feature Story Interview Questions
The following are questions and responses that led towards the Feature story with Destiny Felton. The direction of my questions were mainly about her childhood and upbringing. (Responses are unedited.)
1. How do you feel about your
childhood? 3 words and why
- - Entertaining – parties all the time, celebration and know how to have fun
- - Loving – always have your back, rank on each other, don’t let nobody talk bad about each other
- - Motivational – pushing you to do better even if it hurts your feelings.
2. How do you feel about being a twin?
- - Lot different because he’s a boy
- - Conversations would be different if he was a girl
- - Haven’t been without each other for a week
- - Friends are around the same
- - Doing girly things
- - Lefties vs rights
3. Change one thing from how your
parents raised you what would you change?
- - The approach from situations
- - Tone, and Approach to situations
4. What would you keep from your
parents?
- - Traveling
- - Being motivated
- - Strict
- - More open and not one sided
5. The difference in upbringing?
- - More conservative
- - Middle school more reserved
- - Different principles than friends and family’s upbringing
- - How that effect the child? = stunted growth and very secretive, little reckless
6. How has your parents career
affected your future career?
- "Since I was young, I was admired by the effort
my parents put in my career. But with I knew that wasn’t the path I wanted to
follow. do for the rest of my life
following. So, they have expose me to running a business and working under
someone else. I’ve furthered my research
and seeing what was my best fit." - Destiny Felton
Biography
- - Future: Economics/ Business/ aesthetician = ‘After achieving my economics degree which will not only allow me to know the ins and outs of knowing business and where the money is going. I wish to open my own skin spa and create a bran that allows people to love their self in their skin cosmetic changes and loving if you are love yourself for who you are and having a place where girls and men and love their self and their skin care and love yourself from the outside looking in – self love retreat. Investment properties”
- - Fun fact: Challenges yourself and tackling to do list, open for improvement loving to travel
- - Hobby: hanging with friends, and cooking / baking
- - Most memorable childhood: summer in Georgia I treated grandma to manicure and went to pedicure $91.00 wasn’t mentally prepared – spent trip money in one day. (14 yrs. old)
- - Stitches (9 yrs old) free dive pool and then went to free play and destiny had a hold in the chin and ask my mom for Pringles so she could see the hold.
"The Deep End" Feature Story - Part 3 (RD)
Rough Draft Feature Story
This feature story is both narrative and descriptive when composing this story, I interviewed a friend of mine who In believed fit with the direction of my magazine - one set of twin siblings. The home life she had was quote interesting so communicating with her via facetime was interesting for my magazine.
"The Deep End"
"A free dive that age was sure to cause trouble but that
wouldn’t stop the cannon ball from happening. The anticipation, the increase in
acceleration and the lifting of toes off the edge of the concrete was all that
raced through her mind. The landing of this careless move was not the expected
splash of cold chlorine but an intense loss of awareness that resulted in a sudden
planting of her face and the bottom of the pool floor. Destiny Felton left that
perfect summer day for a visit to the ER after receiving a busted chin instead
of the applause for her grand diving performance.
Felton decided to visit some family in Atlanta, Georgia one
summer to reunited with some loved ones. This event led to a warm pool day with
some cousins that resulted in a tragic case of medical assistance. Felton
remembers this story as a childhood event that brings laughter and
embarrassment each time it comes up in conversation.
“I had no idea there
was a hole in my chin until I rose from the water and my family saw blood and
asked if I were okay. I was so hesitant to tell my mom because I knew she would
freak but I told her anyways. “
Felton’s efforts at 9 years old to hid this from her
guardian not only portrayed the anxiety she felt exposing such sensitive
information but how in her mind the situation was already handled and needed no
further investigation. Felton shows her mother the issue at hand but not how
you probably expected. See, it was not a “mom look at my busted chin” but more
so “hey mom can I get that pringles can, I am a little hungry.” As Felton
elevated her head in an attempt to show her mother the injury, a cry of anger
and concern fled from Felton’s mom and soon after she found herself being
dragged into the car. Felton knew this would happen, but everything was just a
surprise to her as it was to her mother.
“My mother knows I
hated going to the ER. With her being a nurse, I thought it could be a simple repair
that a band aid and Neosporin could not do, clearly I was mistaken.”
The ER visit was anything less than enjoyable. At only 9
years old Felton had to receive “uncomfortable and painful” stiches to close
the opening of her chin. Cutting her summer vacation festivities short she was
disappointed that she couldn’t hid her injury as well as she hid her
pain.
“Looking back on this day, I think I was more scared to tell my mom than I was to receive stiches. I knew stitches would hurt but I never wanted to receive the wrath of my mom because she can be quite dramatic sometimes. I learned my lesson from that trip though, never cannon ball around your cousins from Georgia. "
Monday, March 22, 2021
Research - Costume/Props
Props & Costumes
Props
Props are crucial with story telling, it allows readers to envision the cultural dynamics or time-frame in which the image is displayed. Props are also a great way for the model to feel more in-tune with their character, if one is being played.
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| The props within this photo include the gloved hands and the razor or un-identified objected placed on the models face. These dynamics along with the other mise-en-scene elements create a complete image that tells the story the photographer wished to be told. |
Costume
Similar to props, costumes allow models to feel in-tune with their character. Costumes for magazines are different than the typical one utilized for a role in a film. Costume can simply be a casual outfit, or a monochrome aesthetic to capture the area in which the picture will be placed throughout the magazine. Costumes can also be in the form of makeup as a model discovers a character to portray and sell.
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| This costume was added to allow the model to feel more in-tune with her future career path. Although she is not currently in her field, she has achieved steps that allow her future career to be closer to her than others. This costume purpose could be motivation. |
Ohana Sketch Layout- Production shot layout (RD)
Production shot layout
Working with a toddler only allowed my shot layout to be more of a spontaneous event rather than extremely structured. I did plan however an indoor and outdoor shot where I would implement playful activity with each - of course with changes of scenery. The first was indoors, I wanted the focus of this shot to be of joy and play from the model; Very natural and realistic nothing to structured except for the placement in which the toys would be in the shot. The outdoor shots were located in house yards and I intended to showcase freedom, youth, and excitement each of which a child delivered without instruction.
Ohana Magazine - Camera Shots
Camera Shots
The following are a few raw, unedited camera shots taken on a production day. Although I have yet to decided on which one I would be utilizing, after editing I should have an answer. These shots best portray freedom of youth which is why they were selected for this portion of my magazine.
Ohana Table of contents Editing
Editing
The following images are edits made before the final project of my table of contents page. Canva is the website mostly utilized during this magazine.
Items that were changed since 1st draft:
- Images
- Amount of pictures
- Text/Font
- The editing of the actual images
- Colors
- Layout
The colors in which I planned to utilize for the background was the second color of the second column because it was a subtle color that wouldn't take away too much from the new images placed since my 1st draft.
The adjustments are as follows: enhanced the color quality (tint), the surrounding darkness to focus on the main image (vignette), the un-clarity of the image (blur), lighting of the image (brightness), the darkness of the image as well as the details of the image (saturation), and the quality of the image (contrast).
These filters allowed me to bring a color pop to the images and enhance them from the dull gray scale color that resonated over them. The model skin tone, clothing, and background were all enhance with color from this modification.
Realizations - The edits that were made to this table of contents were still not enough to bring forth the realism I desired. So, I utilized my findings from the cover page transformation for my new format of table of contents. I would not be able to use image as content anymore because I failed to find the niche that would work for me with that style of table of contents. I want my magazine o look real and if it did not look real because of my chosen style then I would need to replace it.
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| I utilized this magazine because it would guide me towards a clear yet informational style of table of contents. As I produced my personal magazine I made sure to include elements that I liked and rejected the ones I didn't like to ensure that my magazine would be realistic, appealing and follow the audience desires. |
|Below are the drafts of my 3rd attempt at Table of Contents|
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| Attempt #1 |
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| Attempt #2 |
Attempt #1 was simply me trying to find a template that would look the most realistic. I found a template on Canva that mimicked the reference photo. Once I found that template, I was able to edit it as the reference and utilize my skills and background knowledge of color schemes and themes to construct my attempt #2. Afterwards I made a few modifications to make elements more vibrant, realistic, and appealing. - This will be found in my final project.
Ohana Sketch Layout - Table of Contents (RD)
Table of Contents
The layout in which I chose for the table of content was "Image as content" which is the order of the magazine displayed through images. I chose this method of table of contents simply because I like the form of it, and find it more intriguing and playful which is a characteristic towards my magazine. Also working with a toddler allowed me to receive a mass amount of images ,so I am speaking honestly when I say that, I will not allow those images to go vain and will find a way to utilize it. Being as expressive with my production as I can be while correlating it to my content is a good fit for "Image as content" table of contents.
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This was my attempt at a "Image as Content" table of content. I believe that this doesn't depict the best layout of a table of contents and looks more like a book rather that a magazine. Therefore, I must make alternations that would keep the "Image as content" alive but format it differently so that a content page can actually be seen. |
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Ohana Model Choice
Model Choices for Magazine
Model: Santana Travis
Age: 2 (Two)
Build: Short and Thin
Hair color: Dark Brown/ Black
Eye Color: Dark Brown
Ethnicity: African - American
Location: Cover and Table of Contents page
I chose Santana Travis to be the model of my family magazine because he was an efficient and easily accessible choice that fit the direction in which I wanted to go into with my magazine. Santana and I worked for the entire shooting production week and were able to get as much as we possibly could with the age difference of course. Santana was definitely eager to play and capture those free shots but it was difficult to keep him in certain poses for a certain amount of time. The images I was able to take of Santana are mostly him in action and taken on live photo so that I could slow down the filmed image and capture the best shot of him. (iPhone iOS option)
Model: Destiny Felton
Age: 18 (Eighteen) Build: Tall and Thin
Hair color: Dark Brown/Black
Eye Color: Dark Brown Ethnicity: Caribbean and African - American
Location in Magazine : Feature Story Page
Destiny Felton was chosen as my feature story candidate being that I enjoyed her home life. Destiny is a fraternal twin to her brother Danny and the older sister of siblings who are not twins but born on the same day, different year. Destiny would naturally discuss her life as a twin and older sister of basically twins and the challenges and advantages the family took on. I have always found her family interesting and felt it was best to receive more of what that is like. Working with Destiny was awesome, Destiny was comfortable and extremely enthusiastic about working with me which showed in her descriptive answers. Overall, the content of her story is an interesting tale that her and I both believe will raise chins.
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