Evaluation Question 6 - AS Media Studies
- 2. TECHNOLOGY Throughout the production of my final task, I’ve learned to use a number of technology and used them to improve it. These include: • Photoshop • Lighting • Camera – Canon 600D • Internet • Microsoft PowerPoint
- 3. PHOTOSHOP I used Adobe Photoshop Elements 7.0 in the whole production of my magazine. So it was used to add text, add my images, manipulate the contrast and brightness of my images and the edit my images. Before the production of my magazine, I had very limited skills in Photoshop, but after a while I picked up how to use it through trial and error. To the right shows my progress in learning how to use Photoshop and how crucial it is to the making of the magazine. I used it to add lipstick, change the background, the contrast of her face and more.
- 4. LIGHTING I manipulated the lighting in order to better light my photographs as I came to the conclusion that artificial lighting (of which the school supplied) was the best bet in getting the right shadowing and highlighting I wanted in my pictures. Getting the right lighting was difficult for me, as too much lighting could potentially ruin my image and too little would leave me nothing to work with, so to get over this issue I research lighting tutorials on YouTube and a lighting guide the school had. The positioning of the lighting was also important to make it look professional. So, for my cover and contents I used lighting straight on and for my double page spread the lighting was to the side so that a shadow was cast on one side of his face. An example of the lighting I used for my double page spread is shown on the right, the far right image shows the lighting more clearly as the brightness has been modified.
- 5. CANON 600D The camera, of course, was a crucial part in the production of my final piece as it allowed me to capture the images I was going to use. However, before taking the actual pictures I had no clue how to use a camera and the only experience I had was a phone camera. So, I had to research all the aspects of the camera in order to get the best image I could (examples of these aspects are ISO, aperture and shutter speed). The links I used to learn about the camera are on my blog. Something handy about the camera was that it had a large memory so I could take many photos, which was necessary as on the main photo shoot day I took over 300 pictures of my models. Because I had so many pictures that I could take it allowed me more freedom to experiment with more poses and different lighting to get the perfect image, and it allowed me plenty of opportunity to confer with my focus group about the best image.
- 6. INTERNET The internet was another key aspect in the making of my final piece and throughout the making of my piece I learned a lot. I used the internet in my codes and conventions research (On my blogger) which showed me what all music magazines did and therefore what to do too, but also what to do to make my magazine stand out and be different from the rest. It also helped me understand the typical layout of magazines and the little pieces which make it look complete. As well as that, the internet gave me blogger, which is an ideal way to organise all the research I have been conducting for the production of my magazine and to store all the links which I found useful. Without the blog, keeping track of all the information would have been extremely difficult and time consuming. Furthermore, websites, like YouTube, helped me learn about aspects of magazine production which I would not have known otherwise (e.g. camera functioning, lighting)
- 7. MICROSOFT POWERPOINT PowerPoint was a great way to conduct my codes and convention as it is an structured way of putting together all my information, which let me refer to it at a later date (especially when doing my evaluation).
- 8. CONCLUSION The use of technology has played a large part in the production and creation of my final piece. Without this all, my final piece would lack professionalism and would be to a much lower standard. They have also helped me organise all my research, work and planning. Before this task, I lack knowledge in some area of technology but now I have developed a basic understanding of the technology.