Music magazine analysis task.

Magazine cover example.

What has the photo been taken for?

• A interview in the magazine and also to get people to buy the magazine as the photo may be off someone that they like.

What type of photography is it and how do you know?

• It is portrait as, it mostly just contains the person's face and shoulders with some of their torso in shot as well. This is most likely so they could fit the text as, a bigger image would mean it would be harder to put text on the cover but not cover up the image.

Discuss the framing and what type of shot and angle has been used and why.

• The shot that has been used is a medium close up as only the waist up of the person is in shot. The angle they have used is lined up with the person in shot as there facing straight towards the camera so, this could be to draw people's attention more.

Discuss the composition.

• The background used in the shot is a simple brick wall which appears to be a white colour. In the foreground we have, a person in a black shirt with red flowers on holding up a vinyl record. The rule of thirds would be the person and the record as they would sit on the lines making them important.

Discuss the focus.

The image is in focus as it is clear and easy to see what is going on in the image and it is quite well detailed. If it wasn’t in focus, then nobody would buy the magazine as it would look cheap and not of high quality.

How has the mise-en-scene been used?

The setting is quite bland as it is just a white brick wall with no detailing on it. The person in the image is wearing a black shirt with some red roses on it. He then has a red and black vinyl record in his hand as the main article about him appears to be about which record ‘changed his life’.

How does the photograph ‘anchor’ the text or written material?

It keeps the picture in the centre and the main focus of attention to help promote it and keeps most of the text away from the image to not cover it and the only text to cover the image is about the person in the image.

This means that everyone will be drawn to the image first as it is in the middle, as there is a theory that people would usually pay more attention to the object in the middle than the ones to the sides.

How does it promote or market the product?

It promotes it as they are a famous singer or band artist on the front cover, so they would have a large fan base which will buy the magazine and future issues as someone who they like was in one of the issues.

How does it appeal to the target audience?

It appeals to the target audience as the person on the cover would be someone who they like as well as their music.

What story does the photograph tell?

• That someone likes vinyl because he’s holding a vinyl record in his hand. This might also affect the main story as the text beneath is talking about vinyl records.

How does it increase sales?

Because the person on the cover might be famous or has a large fan base so their fans would buy this magazine as they are on the cover.