Stage 2: Experimenting with image to form a background

I started experimenting with the blurry shot i took as i thought it might make a good background. I cropped my model and duplicated the layer so it looked like there where three figures lurking behind the main image. This was done to symbolise the artist's different mindstates/personalities almost as if has lived the life of different people. This is apparent in his music and has intrigued question, which is exactly what makes artists more interesting.

Stage 1: Main Image

The first image is the photo I chose to use for my main image. Despite the photo itself not being of a high quality I thought it had all the aspects required for the front cover. The lighting coming over his shoulder, his positioning which makes him seem as if he is in search for something, wondering the streets at night. All that was needed was a bit of editing and some adjustments. First the i cropped out the original environment, then I used inspiration from the second image based on the effect it had on the Weeknd's audience, it left them wondering who the two people were. So to give the artist more mystery I imitated the effect. Finally I added some artistic filters to help blend the two layers and give it more of an 'arty' look.

Pitch

These images are a compilation of shots that I took which are most likely going to be part of my magazine. This was the result of my photoshoot. I did not know that the camera had a low battery, this resulted in some more abstract shots as the photo took so long to process each shot. In low light, there was a noticeable blurred effect and I knew instantly that i wanted to include some of these images in my pages. On reflection, i should have tried to get the model out of his comfort zone to get more varied positions and expressions.

Planning for shoot

These are the positions my model will be in for the photo-shoot. I chose these positions as they all imply the person is going through a state of depression or constant dissatisfaction. Melancholy is often portrayed through many PBRnB artist's lyrics and there are many people who feel better when they listen to the music because they can sympathise and come to know they are not the only ones going through hard times.

None of the images will contain direct address. I want to keep the artist's mystery consistent and a way of doing this is by creating distance from the audience. Small details mean everything and I want to keep the audience questioning and interacting with sources that include some sort of  symbolic value. There are music videos that have been analysed completely to convey some sort of understanding of the story behind the visuals, and everyone has a right to their interpretation.

Genre research

Music Magazine Covers

On the left side of the mood board you can see there are some hip hop magazines. The way the genre is portrayed through the magazines suggest that hip hop is a dangerous, aggressive and provokes violence. It is almost as if the hip hop genre us colour coded since they all contain the colour red which connotes danger, passion, rage, strength.

Female hip hop artists are presented completely differently. as you see in the Billboard magazines with Iggy azalea and Nicki Minaj they arent really presented as intimidating or angry. For one the Masterhead is pink - a stereotypical colour for women, which symbolises tenderness and delicacy - things hip hop isn't exactly known for. In the main images they appear to look like models, it seems as if they are trying to remove any aspect of the music genre that helped them create fame and instead be objectified because of their gender.

The three rock magazine covers on the right all differentiate, however they all give the impression they are from the sane genre. Slash's appearance suggests he is related to the stereotypical rock image (long hair, dark clothing, leather). Jimi Hendrix also fits the fashionable rock image in the 60s. And the last magazine the music artist looks like he is in a concert and is playing the guitar.

 Lastly the rnb/soul genre is presented in a number of different ways whether abstract like Grace Jones or Subtle like Labrinth in B&S magazine

Editing

Annotations

Magazine Cover + Contents page

Magazine cover + Contents page plan

Sound

Stereotypes In Media

Magazine Covers

Inception final scene (camera angles)

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibX4WbnFdHo

  

  Inception Final scene:

• Begins with extreme close-up, highlights his confusion and makes the audience just as confused by not revealing any parts of the background.
• After a few seconds, change into mid shot, the angle gives the feeling that he is gradually registering his environment, at the same time the viewer begins to understand where he is
• Matte shot while panning- end of suspense we now know he is in an airplane with one of the other characters
• Slowly panning towards different characters slowly, this conveys he is still unfamiliar with his surroundings but the pace of the shot gives the impression that it is a peaceful and relieving atmosphere 
• Extreme long shot showing the environment at the airport, some of his friends in the background
• Over the shoulder shot as he gets his passport checked
• Tilt shot (upwards) towards the dream architect in the background
• continuous slow movement when tracking gives the impression he is still in shock and confused, he passes his friends
• tilting downwards as he uses the instrument to see if he is in a dream, showing his emotional state before doing so
• Long shot of him and his kids hugging while panning again towards spinning object
• Zooming in towards it building tension and suspense......... Will it drop? Is he still in a dream?