Creating my Listings Magazine - Background

As I stated in my photography post that I would edit my two best images to test which is most appropriate for the listings magazine background, I began editing this image using Photoshop to blur and straighten the background to overlay, and enhance my model.

Straightening my image to create an aesthetically pleasing, professional straight background with the bookshelf.

Adding my image to a larger canvas representing my double page spread, and adding a blur to form the blurred gradient grey background. I erased this blur around my model in order to make her the focal point.

Finished blurred image background.

However, I decided that the background of this image was in fact too busy in comparison to the sophisticated, simple backgrounds within the Radio Times listing magazine (my exhibitor). Although I had planned to draw the attention of young people with this boldly colourful background, and introduce the main library location of my documentary, I felt that my second image was more appropriate for reflecting the seriousness of my documentary, and for overlaying text clearly. Therefore considering the time scale and my inexperience with using Photoshop, I decided to use Picmonaey to edit my image and create my listings magazine, due to my accessibility and familiarity with this software, allowing me to use it to its greatest effect and produce a better product.

I began by enhancing her skin using the blemish fix tool, as demonstrated by these before and after images.

I also added subtle colour to her lips, creating a more bold, colourful and youthful image, relating to my younger demographic.

One of my issues with this image was the fact that her expression was one which was less critical of the media, as my directions were to have a raised eyebrow to demonstrate the theme of the documentary through this symbol alongside the headphones - as by holding one of the headphones away from her ear, this suggests that my presenter has something to criticise about the music industry and media in general. Therefore I used the distort tool to edit a raised eyebrow.

However as this function wasn't accessible to me, I had to screenshot the image at 100% zoom, overlay the screenshot to the original image, erase around the eye/ eyebrow, resize, and add this over the original eyebrow, which was successful for solving this problem.

Final raised eyebrow.

To follow my plan of enhance her bold red hair against the soft, de-saturated background, creating a youthful and stylised look, I used the precisely painted over her hair with the red tint tool.

I also experimented with the exposure of the image, and decided to enhance the shadows by reducing brightness, to create a sophisticated, professional background similar to the Channel 4 double page spread within the Radio Times which I am basing my design on.

I also enhanced the colours of this image through the highlights and shadow tools, bringing out the boldest colour of my colour scheme; red.

After finishing my edits to the original image which will form the background of my double page spread, I created a new design to create the listings magazine over. I measured the dimensions of a double page of the Radio Times to fit to my exhibitor (w=44cm x h=29.8cm) and resized my canvas to these proportions, with the height as the height of my image to maintain its quality while I edit. I will scale the finished edit to exactly 44x29.8cm using Photoshop.

I then added my edited image as an overlay of this canvas to create the bases of the background. Following the layout of Channel 4's double page spread within the radio times, I aligned Rowan's head which is the focal point of my image within the centre of the right page (so that the text is read first on the left), with her headphone holding hand overlapping the left page to draw attention to this mise en scene as it is broken away from the page (similarly to the Channel 4 article image which draws focus to the drugs John Snow is holding). I added a line in the centre of the canvas to divide the two pages precisely whilst I align my image.

I then erased the excess background of the image with soft edges to blend the backgrounds, and in a curve following her body to form an artistic shadow due to the darker shades which will contrast with my grey canvas background.

To select a shade of grey which blends with the image background, I used the colour picker tool for changing text colour and copied this colour html code. I then proceeded to blur the edges of the image and background using the soften paint tool, and added a frosted edge precisely using the paint tool to create my planned gradient, shadowed effect - with the lighter background on the left page so that my dark text can be clearly read.

After removing the colour test text and adding more frost to experiment with balancing the light, this is my finished background which I will proceed to add my article, tiles and layout text to (such as page numbers) as planned.

Ancillary Product Photography

Following my plan for my photography, I styled and photographed my documentary presenter, Rowan, for my TV listings magazine double page spread photography in the style of the Radio Times (my exhibitor). To prepare this shoot, I brought my make-up kit and borrowed a still camera from my media department to ensure that my image is high quality, as it will fill most of an A3 page being a Radio Times style, double page spread background. As I photographed in my trademark Forum library location to present the setting of the majority of my documentary, I used the same clear natural lighting for this shoot.

Below, I have evaluated my images in order to determine which is most appropriate for my double page spread.

• Poor lighting with an unnatural orange tint whilst I was figuring out the flash on the camera.
• Rowan's expression isn't very bold or interesting - too relaxed.
• The headphone is too far away from her head, preventing an aesthetically pleasing focal point.
• The headphones wire is looped.

• The shadow of the background draws focus to Rowan, creating an aesthetically pleasing balance.
• Rowan's facial expression is more interesting and dynamic than the previous image, with her wider eyes and slight smile.
• Although the smile makes the photo less serious, it presents the youthful style of my documentary.
• Same issue with the looped headphone, although this could be cropped.
• Her hand it raised higher to draw a focal point.

• Effective balance of shadows similar to previous image - however I don't want to focus on this area too much as I can edit this using Photoshop or Picmonkey.
• Her expression seems unnatural and draws attention away from the seriousness of the issue, due to her wider smile and lower 'concernedly raised' eyebrow.

• This is one of my two favourite expressions of Rowan's, as it captures the critical, serious, but playfully youthful look I am creating to represent the style of my product, and links to the photography within the Radio Times due to the similar expressions which I've deconstructed.
• The lighting is very clear and high quality, with an effective shadow balance for the background, however the exposure of her face may be too high; which I will need to lower during editing.
• The pink within the background relates to my topic of feminism, which presents my article content and the theme of my documentary.
• The colour balance is warm, bright and youthful due to the red, pink and orange which markets to my younger demographic and presents an eye-catching look, whilst her black costume aligns with the sophisticated, muted and monochromatic style of the Radio Times' photography.
• The tones of grey along the outside of the image can be selected to form my planned, fading left, gradient, soft grey to blurred bookshelf background.

• The plug socket on the wall can be edited out easily.
• The clean, clear background also naturally forms this soft grey gradient, fade, which is conventional to the style of the Radio Times.
• The lighting is very clear and balanced, although her red hair is washed out by the white background - however I can edit this to enhance the boldness of this colour.
• The colour scheme is muted, sophisticated and monochromatic which is conventional to the Radio Times, and also features the bold pop of red from Rowan's hair to add an expressive, youthful and interesting style.
• Her expression is quite bold and interesting, and is my second favourite expression overall due to the captured youthful and concerned style, despite her lower eyebrow.
• Her position to the side and the high slightly high angle forms a flattering and professional look.
• The headphone wire contrasts well with her black costume, follows the contours of her pose, and blends with the white background.

• Her position facing directly forward is less interesting and stylistic than my other images, or the photography in the Radio Times.
• Her expression is less interesting than some other images due to the lower eyebrow which prevents my concerned and critical envisioned look.

Overall, I've decided that these two photos are the most professional looking and appropriate for my intended style, audience and exhibitor; therefore I will apply them to my draft to test which is most effective: