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

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.

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.

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.

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My images…

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.