How did your production skills develop throughout this project?
Director's Commentary:
Script:
Throughout the course of this project, I was able to learn, develop and greatly improve several technical and production skills regarding Photoshop, my researching skills, photography expertise and my website.
Before starting this course, I had pre-existing knowledge of Photoshop as I had used it extensively during my GCSE Media Studies course and Film Studies. However, through this course I was able to evolve my technical skills by learning how to use new tools and functions in the software, such as the Liquify filter to manipulate my model’s facial features in order to have her conform to western gender beauty norms such as bigger lips, thinner nose, smaller forehead, etc. This would appeal to my western female target audience, who would identify with the model and aspire to look like her, according to the Blumler and Katz theory. I also developed my skill to edit the background successfully using the clone stamp tool, spot healing brush and masks to edit out blemishes, flyaway hair, or any other imperfections from my images, making them look professional. I also learned how to properly utilize Hue/saturation, levels, curves and brightness/contrast which I used to adjust the high key lighting in my images of my model, and low key lighting for my perfume bottle. Hue/Saturation enabled me to enhance the colours of image in order to make it look more appealing to my audience. I gained this knowledge through tutorials online, experimentation and lesson with my Media teacher who helped me understand the software in more depth in terms of what tools are best used for what. These sessions with my teacher were quite helpful as I was able to explore Photoshop and practice skin retouching on another model before I conducted a photoshoot for my magazine. I used Photoshop tutorials on YouTube and CreativeLive.com, teaching me how to achieve clean, airbrushed, unblemished skin. My practice on a test model at first took me nearly 2 hours as I had to follow the tutorials carefully. However after having done it a couple of times, I was confident enough to retouch my model’s skin, hair and background all in under 30 minutes. This allowed me to have my model adhere to the western beauty convention of clear skin, appealing to my target audience. I used experimentation when it came to laying out conventions of my magazine such as text and image placement. Here you can see me experimenting with where to place the text and images on my contents page and which font to use where on my cover page. I also experimenting with different layout styles for my article page, before settling on my final one. All this research and practice enabled me to harbour several technical skills in Photoshop that made my end product look professional and polished.
Professional product photography was another important skill I learned through this process. I had never edited an inanimate object in Photoshop professionally; but, because at this stage I had a large bank of Photoshop, I found it easy to edit the image, making it look airbrushed, clear, and professional. Although I did experiment with different filters to see which suited the image the best. This furthered my abilities in Photoshop, as I learned to how to professionally edit images of people and objects.
I had some experience with photography before this project, which I earned during my Media Studies course and Film Studies. At first, I was not confident with the camera, as I was unsure of how to correctly adjust the settings, and didn’t understand what parts the shutter speed, ISO and aperture played in photography and how they worked together to produce the desire image. Nonetheless, through weekly sessions with my media teacher and attending a photography workshop I was able to quickly figure out how to correctly use my camera to produce professional-looking photos.
I also developed my production skills by taking photos of the perfume bottle. However, I conducted some research on how to photograph products for advertising, looking at perfume adverts in Vogue and Elle magazines. For the shoot I used low-key lighting, with high key lighting in the centre of the image to make the perfume bottle look mysterious, allocating an inanimate object a human trait that would attract my target audience. This would raise enigma codes for the perfume, making my target audience desire the product being advertised in a magazine. I also used three-point lighting, using diffusion sheets to soften the background light and create an effective backdrop setup. Due to my use of new studio equipment, my images came out looking professional and high quality, improving my skills in technical media production equipment.
Before my photoshoot with my main model, I did extensive research, planning in detail which model I wanted to cast, what she would wear, and what venue to choose and at what time. I also had a small catalogue of poses to direct my model with, along with 3 different outfits for the shoot, each with their own hair and makeup styles. I also went to my chosen venue, the Opera Galleria 2 days before the photoshoot was scheduled, to scout the most ideal locations for my model to be photographed in. This was immensely helpful as on the day of the shoot, I knew exactly what I wanted my model to do, where and how. This helped me face the challenge of photographing my model in natural light on a small time budget. I used natural light and a gold reflector to give my model a natural golden glow, which was another new photography skill I learned; this photoshoot helped me improve my time management and organisational skills. My photoshoot was a success and progressed smoothly and professionally, in part due to my extensive planning, and due to my large cache of photography skills that I developed over time.
This project also helped me develop my communication and collaborative skills as I had to talk to the Opera Galleria about being allowed to shoot at the location. This required me to get in contact with the authorities of the property and schedule the photoshoot with Crea Butlin. Getting their permission required me to improve my communication skills as well as my collaborative habits. Hence, this project allowed me to develop my directorial, time management and organisational skills; enabling me to become a more confident photographer and director, as I also had to direct my models during the photoshoot.
I also believe that my creative abilities have grown exponentially throughout this project, as this course allowed me an abundance of creative artistic freedom. This project enabled me to develop my researching skills as well, as my knowledge and understanding of magazines and their design was limited. And while I was able to identify conventions of magazines, I had trouble articulating my design as I didn’t fully understand magazines and their codes and conventions. Hence, through my extensive research on magazines, I gained knowledge on how magazines subvert and adhere to their stereotypical conventions in order to appeal to their target audience. I also had a lack of knowledge and understanding of the codes and conventions of contents and article pages of magazines of this genre; and so I secured my knowledge on their designs and conventions through research online and deconstructing contents pages and articles of magazines such as Vogue and Elle. This enabled me to produce a professional-looking product that adhered to most conventions of fashion, beauty and lifestyle genre magazines in the media industry, and challenged some conventions to create a USP and brand image.
In addition to these production skills, I used the Weebly website to create my blog, where I uploaded all my research, final products and my entire process and developments that led me up to producing them. I did not have any past experience with this website, however I figured out how to use it quickly due to its easy-to-use interactive and graphic layout. My blog helped me track my progress as I entered a monthly update to my diary on my blog on my progress. The contact form on the website allowed my teacher to give me feedback on my progress and work. I also used Weebly to upload my CCR questions online.
Before starting this course, I had pre-existing knowledge of Photoshop as I had used it extensively during my GCSE Media Studies course and Film Studies. However, through this course I was able to evolve my technical skills by learning how to use new tools and functions in the software, such as the Liquify filter to manipulate my model’s facial features in order to have her conform to western gender beauty norms such as bigger lips, thinner nose, smaller forehead, etc. This would appeal to my western female target audience, who would identify with the model and aspire to look like her, according to the Blumler and Katz theory. I also developed my skill to edit the background successfully using the clone stamp tool, spot healing brush and masks to edit out blemishes, flyaway hair, or any other imperfections from my images, making them look professional. I also learned how to properly utilize Hue/saturation, levels, curves and brightness/contrast which I used to adjust the high key lighting in my images of my model, and low key lighting for my perfume bottle. Hue/Saturation enabled me to enhance the colours of image in order to make it look more appealing to my audience. I gained this knowledge through tutorials online, experimentation and lesson with my Media teacher who helped me understand the software in more depth in terms of what tools are best used for what. These sessions with my teacher were quite helpful as I was able to explore Photoshop and practice skin retouching on another model before I conducted a photoshoot for my magazine. I used Photoshop tutorials on YouTube and CreativeLive.com, teaching me how to achieve clean, airbrushed, unblemished skin. My practice on a test model at first took me nearly 2 hours as I had to follow the tutorials carefully. However after having done it a couple of times, I was confident enough to retouch my model’s skin, hair and background all in under 30 minutes. This allowed me to have my model adhere to the western beauty convention of clear skin, appealing to my target audience. I used experimentation when it came to laying out conventions of my magazine such as text and image placement. Here you can see me experimenting with where to place the text and images on my contents page and which font to use where on my cover page. I also experimenting with different layout styles for my article page, before settling on my final one. All this research and practice enabled me to harbour several technical skills in Photoshop that made my end product look professional and polished.
Professional product photography was another important skill I learned through this process. I had never edited an inanimate object in Photoshop professionally; but, because at this stage I had a large bank of Photoshop, I found it easy to edit the image, making it look airbrushed, clear, and professional. Although I did experiment with different filters to see which suited the image the best. This furthered my abilities in Photoshop, as I learned to how to professionally edit images of people and objects.
I had some experience with photography before this project, which I earned during my Media Studies course and Film Studies. At first, I was not confident with the camera, as I was unsure of how to correctly adjust the settings, and didn’t understand what parts the shutter speed, ISO and aperture played in photography and how they worked together to produce the desire image. Nonetheless, through weekly sessions with my media teacher and attending a photography workshop I was able to quickly figure out how to correctly use my camera to produce professional-looking photos.
I also developed my production skills by taking photos of the perfume bottle. However, I conducted some research on how to photograph products for advertising, looking at perfume adverts in Vogue and Elle magazines. For the shoot I used low-key lighting, with high key lighting in the centre of the image to make the perfume bottle look mysterious, allocating an inanimate object a human trait that would attract my target audience. This would raise enigma codes for the perfume, making my target audience desire the product being advertised in a magazine. I also used three-point lighting, using diffusion sheets to soften the background light and create an effective backdrop setup. Due to my use of new studio equipment, my images came out looking professional and high quality, improving my skills in technical media production equipment.
Before my photoshoot with my main model, I did extensive research, planning in detail which model I wanted to cast, what she would wear, and what venue to choose and at what time. I also had a small catalogue of poses to direct my model with, along with 3 different outfits for the shoot, each with their own hair and makeup styles. I also went to my chosen venue, the Opera Galleria 2 days before the photoshoot was scheduled, to scout the most ideal locations for my model to be photographed in. This was immensely helpful as on the day of the shoot, I knew exactly what I wanted my model to do, where and how. This helped me face the challenge of photographing my model in natural light on a small time budget. I used natural light and a gold reflector to give my model a natural golden glow, which was another new photography skill I learned; this photoshoot helped me improve my time management and organisational skills. My photoshoot was a success and progressed smoothly and professionally, in part due to my extensive planning, and due to my large cache of photography skills that I developed over time.
This project also helped me develop my communication and collaborative skills as I had to talk to the Opera Galleria about being allowed to shoot at the location. This required me to get in contact with the authorities of the property and schedule the photoshoot with Crea Butlin. Getting their permission required me to improve my communication skills as well as my collaborative habits. Hence, this project allowed me to develop my directorial, time management and organisational skills; enabling me to become a more confident photographer and director, as I also had to direct my models during the photoshoot.
I also believe that my creative abilities have grown exponentially throughout this project, as this course allowed me an abundance of creative artistic freedom. This project enabled me to develop my researching skills as well, as my knowledge and understanding of magazines and their design was limited. And while I was able to identify conventions of magazines, I had trouble articulating my design as I didn’t fully understand magazines and their codes and conventions. Hence, through my extensive research on magazines, I gained knowledge on how magazines subvert and adhere to their stereotypical conventions in order to appeal to their target audience. I also had a lack of knowledge and understanding of the codes and conventions of contents and article pages of magazines of this genre; and so I secured my knowledge on their designs and conventions through research online and deconstructing contents pages and articles of magazines such as Vogue and Elle. This enabled me to produce a professional-looking product that adhered to most conventions of fashion, beauty and lifestyle genre magazines in the media industry, and challenged some conventions to create a USP and brand image.
In addition to these production skills, I used the Weebly website to create my blog, where I uploaded all my research, final products and my entire process and developments that led me up to producing them. I did not have any past experience with this website, however I figured out how to use it quickly due to its easy-to-use interactive and graphic layout. My blog helped me track my progress as I entered a monthly update to my diary on my blog on my progress. The contact form on the website allowed my teacher to give me feedback on my progress and work. I also used Weebly to upload my CCR questions online.