Project management and monitoring log - January 30th

Lesson 1 
For monday's lesson, I continued developing my first DPS; this didn't go according to my schedule plan as I was still making alterations when I should have completed it last week. Although, I have been making more improvements on this outside of lessons, I now think that my first DPS is more or less finished; although I will first get feedback from Becky and my class mates to see if any more improvements can be made.

This lesson I have successfully changed my DPS layout. Firstly, I needed to create enough space on the right page for all of my article (as this is the new layout I wanted to change it to) to do this, I changed the font size of the text to 10 instead of 12, this worked and fit on the page well. Additionally, this has made changes to my initial idea from my treatment and DPS layout flat plan; the DPS now contains the article on the right page.

Lesson 2 

This lesson, I used the hour and a half lesson to complete my photo shoot. This was successful as I have roughly 70 photos for two of my DPS'; one of which was False Faces And Phoney Figures. For this I my model was Charlotte Copeland and had to look expressionless (slightly upset and miserable in order to link in with the article) with the "Hello my name is...Photoshop" stuck to her chest. This changed my initial plans for this photo shoot, as I what I stated in my treatment was different. However, some of these could have been better through lighting; the lighting on some photos was darker or lighter than others, to improve this I could have kept consistent lighting.

The second DPS was Stressed? Relax, breathe and Read On. For this, I needed the photos to target her expressions and emotions through her face, therefore I took mostly long medium shots. In order to link with the article of stress, the model needed to present connotations of anger, unhappiness and anxiety; the shots I got were what I needed, such as biting her nails, putting her hands over her head and face etc.

After the photoshoot, I transferred all of the photos on to the computer and chose two of the best ones for my False Faces DPS; the only thing that needed to be slightly adjusted was the lighting, which I did over Photoshop. From this lesson, I have learnt more about operating the lights in the studio and how to adjust them according what mood and genre a photo is supposed to be.

I have chosen to use the two photos below for my False Faces DPS; I think that these present the best connotations for my article and to the audience, they also contain consistent lighting, emphasising the expressions on the models face. The first picture will be used to fill the entire left page, whereas the second image will be used on the right page in order to break up text. 

Lesson 3 
During Friday's lesson, I planned to write my monitoring log for my activity this week. However this did not go to plan as there was a problem with my email address on blogger.Therefore, instead of writing my monitoring log, I continued creating my second DPS layout (False Faces and Phony Figures) This was successful as I applied my photos taken in the studio onto my article.

Project management and monitoring log - 23rd January 2015

Lesson 2 - In this lesson I stuck to my schedule and made improvements to my first DPS (Your Festival Survival Guide) This consisted of trying to fill any blank spaces the were available in the DPS, perhaps by using a background or more imagery. I was successful in meeting this aim as I altered certain aspects of this, I chose to stretch out the image I used only on the right page, so instead it was spread out over both pages.

My actions went to plan this lesson as I developed my initial layout of my first DPS; gaining opinions from classmates and Becky and looking for more inspiration from other magazines in this genre. However, when writing my schedule, I thought this would take less time to complete; I may be set back from this as I will still be making developments and improvements next lesson.

Lesson 3 - From looking at my schedule plan, it appears that I have not successfully completed everything I aimed to, although I have edited and altered aspects of my first DPS; my schedule states that I should have completed this DPS within this week. I think I was not successful with my first aim on my schedule  due to large amounts of editing I ended up doing (which wasn't planned) which resulted in changing the full layout of the DPS; from this, i now have two versions of my first DPS.

In this lesson I successfully edited my first DPS, making improvements and creating a new version to see which one I prefer. I knew that my first version looked to blank and contained a lot of empty spaces, therefore I created a new version, where the article is all on the right page, instead of being split over both pages (creating more space) I also changed the opacity of my boarder to present more feminine connotations; the other version was too bright and vibrant and may have took too much attention from the article content.

As I have mostly been on Photoshop this week, my production for each lesson is very similar and mostly consisted of deciding what appearance suited the overall DPS best. Currently, my DPS actions are the same as my treatment intentions, as I have not changed anything drastically throughout this; the overall colour scheme, fonts and imagery remain the same.

Influential photos

Photo shoot plan 3 - False Faces And Phoney Figures

Photo shoot planning document: False Faces And Phoney Figures

Date and time of photo shoot: 28/ 01/ 15

Material to be shot:

The model will be sat, photographed from the waist upwards (medium long shot) not looking into the camera lens. On her top, she will be wearing the “Hello My Name is…” and written on will say Photoshop. Later, when I have uploaded the photos I want to my DPS, I will present the picture with the square box used on Photoshop when editing.

What personnel do you need?

Lighting assistant: Myself, as there will not be any frequent change in the lighting when I will be taking the photos.

Makeup assistant: Myself, the makeup used will just be neutral/ natural.

Models: Charlotte Copeland

What props will you need?

“Hello My Name Is…” stickers to be stuck on the model.

Describe in detail your make-up & costume needs. (Include reference material to illustrate your needs)

Make up used on the model will be mostly natural and neutral colours, to present the model as an average member of the target audience, In order to attract the target audience. This will also emphasise a Photoshop free image, not unrealistically portrayed.

Studio shoots: what kind of lighting?

(include reference material to illustrate your needs)

I will use the soft box lighting in order to achieve broad lighting upon the model; for this photo I need full lighting on the models face to enhance her features. 

Backdrop:

I will use the white backdrop, as this will suit my overall DPS colour scheme the most. This will also present correct connotations for my target audience; using a black backdrop would be too harsh on the model and the lighting and may present more negative connotations.

Lighting equipment needs:

Soft box lighting – this will create a soft diffused light over the subject.

Drawing of studio layout:

Photo shoot plan 2 - Front cover

Photo shoot planning document: Front Cover

Date and time of photo shoot: 01/ 02/ 15

Material to be shot: For my front cover, my model will be dressed in fashionable up to date clothing (in order to appeal to the target audience) and to relate to the fashion and beauty side of the magazine. She will also be wearing an Indian head dress in order to link to the Festival article, making it appear that she is actually at a Music Festival. 

What personnel do you need?

Lighting assistant: No lighting assistant needed as this will take place outside, so I will rely on natural lighting for this shoot.

Makeup assistant: The model will do her own make up as it will be natural and similar to the target audiences appearances and styles.

Models: Jasmin Brown 

What props will you need?

Indian head dress

Describe in detail your make-up & costume needs. (Include reference material to illustrate your needs)

The makeup used for this shoot will be rather minimal and natural to make the model look similar to the target audience in order to get their attention. Clothing will include a baggy white band shirt and shorts, in order to present connotations of summer as well as the important fashion aspects of the magazine.

Studio shoots: what kind of lighting?

(include reference material to illustrate your needs)

This photo-shoot will take place outside so I will rely on natural lighting.

Backdrop:

As this shoot is will take place in an outside environment, the backdrop for this is going to be trees and grass, which will relate to the Festival theme, presenting summer connotations.

Lighting equipment needs:

As this will be taking place outside, I will only be using natural lighting.

Drawing of studio layout: NA

Photo shoot plan - Stressed? Relax, Breathe and Read on...

Photo shoot planning document: Stressed? Relax, Breathe and Read On…

Date and time of photo shoot: 28/ 01/ 15

Material to be shot:

Material to be shot for this shoot will include the model in a long medium shot, biting her nails and expressing worried emotions and negative connotations. Additionally, the model will not be looking directly into the camera lens; instead she will be looking upwards and to the side, presenting her as deep in thought. 

What personnel do you need?

Lighting assistant: I will be operating the lighting myself, as minimal changes will need to be made to the lighting throughout the photo-shoot.

Makeup assistant: This will be left to the model to complete her own make up look for this photo shoot, as the makeup should look the same as the target audience (average, natural etc)

Models: Charlotte Copeland

What props will you need?

No props are required for this photo shoot

Describe in detail your make-up & costume needs. (Include reference material to illustrate your needs)

Firstly, no use of excessive make up will be used on the model, as it should convey similarities between herself and the audience by looking like an ordinary teenage girl. Therefore, only very natural and neutral coloured make up will be applied to the model. Secondly, clothing isn’t the main aspect of the photo to be concentrated on (it will mostly be on her face, expressing emotion linking to the article) due to this the model will be wearing a plain shirt.

Studio shoots: what kind of lighting?

(include reference material to illustrate your needs)

I will be using soft box lighting for these photos to create a soft relaxed lighting over the model, in order to enhance her facial features and emotions, by use of the shadowing.

Backdrop:

The backdrop used here will be white to link with the connotations of the article; white connotes relaxation innocence.

Lighting equipment needs:

Soft box lighting

Drawing of studio layout:

  

Monitoring log

For my first schedule log, I have arranged my schedule chronologically, beginning with catch up lessons (blog work) then moving on to production of my three different DPS's as well as photo shoots. I think I have been realistic with my schedule as I think I have given myself enough time to complete each DPS in a week (as well as using free time to complete them also) Furthermore, as I have already created two mock ups for my first DPS, this will only require improvements which may even take less than a week to complete. Additionally, this is realistically written as I have also mentioned other homework I will have to complete for other lessons, therefore altering my schedule plan.

I have mentioned some contingencies time in my schedule, by thinking of what I would have to do if my models didn't turn up, I stated that if they fail to turn up I  will have other models who could also be there. I feel that this is important to include in my schedule as unplanned events are likely to occur, therefore applying them to my schedule will allow me to think of ways to avoid it or fix it e.g. Plan outdoor photo shoots various weeks in advance of me needing the photos, I will do this so if the wether is bad on the day of the photo shoot, I will have plenty of time to redo it with extra time. 

Article 1 - Version 2

Toilet Trauma 

You will have heard horror stories and consistent negative rumours about the toilets at Festivals, but to summarise, the experience isn’t going to be a pleasant one. We spoke to Jessica McLauchlan who was one of the many members of the public stating that the toilets are just something you have to endure. 

“Honestly, the camping toilets are a nightmare! Especially for women who actually have to sit on the disgusting toilet seats while they’re doing their business.” Although on the plus side Jessica also claims, “The camping toilets are horrific but the arena toilets are different story! They have porta loos rather than a hole to squat over and are so much cleaner, so I would advise people go there instead. 

Travel light 

On your first festival, many tend to pack everything we think we’ll need for the following weekend; however this can sometimes make your journey there very difficult and inconvenient. “As soon as me and my friends started walking to the campsite (which is about two fields away from where we got dropped off) I realised I had seriously over packed,” Says Millie Newbold, as she continues to advise “Festival virgins” not to over pack! “You need to consider how your journey to the campsite is going to be with a heavy rucksack on your back! As well as that, you’ll have food, sleeping bag, tent so only take things you know for a fact you’ll need.”

Plus, departing from the Festival is often just as bad, depending on what you take.
“The one thing that is very convenient (as well as something you can leave behind when you leave) is a pop up tent. They aren’t the biggest tents, but they’re handy to put up quickly.”

Camp like A Pro 

Camping can be difficult for a lot of people who aren’t used to the smell of greenery and fresh air, but settling in will be your main priority when you get here. Additionally, it can often be difficult to find your way back to your tent due to the mass amount clearing the grounds; we got some advice from Jordan Nelson who has attended many Festivals in the past.
“If you’re scared of potentially “losing” your tent, try to camp near landmarks to make it easier to spot where you have camped,” Jordan states, “You also shouldn’t spend a lot of money on your tent because of the state it will probably come back in – I had piss and drink all down the side of my tent.” Many Festivalgoers take a pop up tent which is convenient for setting up…Not so great for harsh weather conditions.

Pace yourself 

We all know the typical Festival scene – Parting, drink, drugs and staying up late. But this will easily become exhausting after the first day (depending on how you cope with alcohol and other “essentials” you may be taking) we talked to Melissa Muncaster who recently attended Leeds Festival and had plenty of stories in the field of unwanted fatigue.
“It’s all about how you PERSONALLY cope with your consumption of alcohol or other stuff you’re taking, but at a Festival you just don’t care! The Saturday was when I felt seriously ill from too much drink and walking for far too long without having any water.”
Whether you’re drinking alcohol or not, you should always provide water for yourself as you will be walking miles upon miles every day without even realising. Melissa continues to explain where she went wrong with her negative Festival experience, “At the time, it felt like sun stroke but I think I was just seriously dehydrated! My best advice to someone who can’t handle drink is to know your limits!” 

Eenie meenie minie mo

Due to multiple different stages at Music Festivals with a large amount of artists performing every day, it is not a good idea to try and see everything; pick a few favourites so you don’t miss out! For some personal experience in this field, we decided to speak to Anthony Anderson who claims that you aren’t going to be able to see every band you want to, for several reasons…”Some of the bands you’re going to want to see will probably clash, but there’s no way around it really; just choose your favourite,” Anthony states, as he continues to claim that seeing a full set list of a band is probably better than running around trying to catch the end of another one. Additionally, there are also other reasons why you could potentially miss bands, “From personal experience, there are a lot of bands I have missed because of me and my friends getting too drunk the night before, then being SO tired the next day and lying in for the first two bands of the day.”  

Keeping Clean

Mud, camping and heat aren’t the best combination, especially when you are going to be restricted from a shower for over three days! This is when you should think about providing mini cleaning essentials for yourself, such as baby wipes, hand sanitizer and body wipes. Upon all of this, the heat won’t be the only thing making you feel dirty…Mud will be covering the grounds of everywhere you go. We spoke to Emma Craggs, asking her opinions and personal stories in this field. “I went to Leeds earlier this year and there were showers available, but I didn’t see the point…at the end of the day everyone else is going to be just as disgusting and sweaty as you are. Plus, if you’re a girl with long hair, can you imagine how long that will take to dry naturally!?” Emma Continues to state how the best advice she can give is to provide your own dry shampoo and hygene products, as showers a re a waste of time.

Article 2 - False Faces And Phoney Figures

Media influence
From a very young age we are exposed to social media, images and messages that give us the idea that the only way to be successful is to be thin, giving children a goal to become just like their celebrity idols. Today, a woman’s adolescence will have them obsessing over gaining the right breast size, a tiny waist and thin legs, to live up to their celebrity standards. But how many of these images are actually accurately presented? There are infinite amounts of technological methods created to perfect imperfections and digitally alter ourselves…How do you know if a photo is faked?

Body image
It is not news that young women like to obsess over perfection…Until it goes too far. In this century, more than any other, it is apparent that this generation are so intoxicated with the idea of looking a certain way, they will go to extreme measures to succeed. With the media smothering us, we get to hear about interesting and shocking diets celebrities participate in, as well as exercise regimes that only seem possible to complete if you’re super human; once again, setting the standards too high for the rest of us.

Body image is something a lot of us worry about…In fact some of us worry so much, we will take It to the next level. Issues due to low self-esteem and constantly comparing ourselves to others can result in major physical and mental health problems; issues such as anorexia, bulimia, depression, anxiety, paranoia, self-harm and more. The main problem with the celebrities, models and actors we’re idolising is that more pictures than we’re aware of are faked to look flawless, giving the rest of us an unachievable appearance to actually possess.

Dieting
Ever considered feasting on baby food? Or how about only eating a few hard boiled eggs for dinner? These are just some of the unbelievable diets celebrities are willing to participate in, in order to achieve a thin figure. Dieting has become so extreme and ridiculous, some are willing to risk the health to lose a few pounds…The “air diet” is a real thing and yes, it is what it sounds like…

The strange diets combined with the incredible figures of celebrities lours us into actually believing that these psychotic diets work, when instead eating healthily, people would rather starve themselves to receive extreme results.  One of the most common weird diets to be heard of amongst celebrities is Reese Witherspoon’s baby food diet, which consists of replacing breakfast and lunch with a jar of baby food and eating one proper meal for dinner.

Photoshop: Altering photos…And our minds?
When you’re looking at a magazine cover these days, the sad fact is, you’re not looking at a real woman. Technology is almost always used in magazines to create digital alterations to the front cover models we see, creating a deceiving perception for the rest of the world. 42% of girls in grades 1-3 want to be thinner. No 7-year-old should be self-conscious about their body. Not only is Photoshop used to reduce weight from models, magazines will also add weight to underweight models, making their minimum amount of body fat look presentable and healthy. Additionally, publishing these altered images have raised issues in the past, as the magazines do not gainpermission from the models to digitally alter their appearances. In the past, Jennifer Lawrence (Hunger Games and Silver Linings Playbook) was outraged at the fact that Vanity magazine reduced the actor’s waist, bust and thigh size, in order for her to look slimmer and more like a model. This disheartened the 27 year old as she has confidently stated in the past that she is confident with her curves and doesn’t see the appeal of being skinny; it is a wrong message to send out to the younger generation of women.