Draft For My Double Page Spread - Text Styles

As part of the construction of my draft double page spread that I previously created on photoshop I thought it would be a valuable experience for me to gain a direction of the way I wanted the main headline to be presented across to the audience. Essentially it had to be bold, dramatic and instantly grasp their immediate attention,in essence the text had to present the same serious overtone that ran through not only the main documentary but all the elements in correspondence with it such as the colour scheme and layout in the accompanying auxiliary tasks. I began experimenting with different style of text in hopes that give me an insight into the style of font I desired for the completed double page spread article. All of the chosen texts were downloaded from the website 'Dafont' and tested out onto the photoshop document.

The first font I tested was named 'Big noodle titling', already from my first initial impressions of it I am pleased with how it is presented on the page and how it conventionally works with the neutral colours on the remainder of the presentation, most obviously when it is highlighted in the dark burgundy red colour I will be using in the final piece. The font itself is already incorporated in a bold colouring which is something I didn't have to add after installing it - the boldness really aids in emphasising it on the page and ultimately I don't think it will be overlooked by the audience on a quick glance.

For the next stage I re- highlighted and changed to the text to a font called 'Biko'. Almost instantaneously after altering it I disregarded the style, it is far to thin to be a main headline and looks virtually insignificant when presented alongside the image, in fact its literally unnoticeable as the photo completely dominates. Even if I made the font more bold it would not improve the skinniness and overall quality of the letters. It may reflect the thinness of the girls but 'Biko'  is certainly not the font I intend to use as it is not dramatic and interesting enough to entice the audience, they would simply not acknowledge it because of its insignificance.

In my third attempt for the appropriate text I trialled out 'Ever After'. Upon first inspection I do like how it looks on the page alongside the other elements, its not too small to be overlooked and reflects the burgundy red effectively. However I am discouraged with how 'light' the tones appear on it - I don't believe it stands out enough. Sure I believe it looks nice like a conventional headline should I just don't think it has that dramatic edge on gaining interest from the audience.  I'm not going to discard the idea of using 'Ever After' as I do think it has an appeal on the page, I think it would be important to see how it will be viewed in the bold tool to see if this will allow it be stand out better alongside the image.

My fourth text of choice was the 'Empire' font. I had an identical reaction to this as I did to the 'Biko' style, I was instantly repulsed by the skinniness the letters were presented in, in due aspects this one was even thinner and therefore more unnoticeable then 'Biko' which I didn't think was possible. No amount of enlarging and bold colouring will enhance the quality of this text, it is too 'thin' to be incorporated as a main headline alongside a kicker and the image dwarfs it in superiority. 'Empire' will not be considered for the final double page spread production.

The penultimate font I used on trial was 'Monofonto', overall this is the one which stands out most significantly to me. If all the letters were in capitals (like how a mainstream headline would be viewed) it would stand out incredibly well against the image and neutral backdrop, the burgundy red allows it to be highlighted against the black and white tones, on my initial viewing of this text I can clearly distinguish it against the other conventions, which is a good sign to me  as I know the audience will notice it as well.

Finally I tried out 'Strokin' as a last attempt to see what a different font be presented like. This corresponds equally with my dislike for 'Biko' and 'Empire', it may not be in the skinny style they were in but this font i would deconstruct as resenting like 'graffiti' - something you would see in a more urban hip hop magazine/production. For that reason only this will not be considered for the final headline.

Out of all the individual font styles I most prefer 'Monofonto',  'Ever After' and 'Bignoodle thing'. To solve which one I will use I am going to retest them all again in the construction stages of my spread, to identify which one I most peter as I believe I won't get my final impression of them unless I recreate them on the authentic double page headline.

Developing My Documentary Poster - Part 1

After I successfully required some excellent images from the duration of my planned photo shoot it was now necessary for me at this stage to begin work on the final production of my documentary poster now that I had essentially gained the relevant materials to make it an authentic complete piece. Listed below are the initial stages I went through whilst constructing my auxillary task one 

Firstly I opened up the photoshop programme installed on the Mac computer drive and inserted my desired image I had saved onto the desktop into the photoshop system. Once it had been placed it was required of me to enlarge the size so that it fitted the A4 international paper exactly, I performed this action by clicking onto the image and enlarging it via the directional arrows that appeared in the far corners of the paper, this method of creating a larger picture prevented it becoming pixillated in any manner.

Although the image was captured in a full colour palette, I personally stated it should be displayed in a black and white design as this is how I wish it to be presented to my target audience to emphasise the mature aspect of my brief. To alter the style of the image I clicked on the toolbox that is located on the right hand side of the photoshop screen and selected the colour box which brought out a variety of options for me to consider. The category I chose was 'maximum black' which turned the entire image (including the backdrop) black and white. Next was me to phase the most important attraction of the image which is the dress, I concluded I wanted it to be in colour, this would allow me to entice the maximum attention from the audience as the subtle girly colours were dramatically identifiable above the neutral shades that surrounded them.

In order to change revert the dress back to its original colour comprised of an number of individual steps. The first stage was to select the brush tool found in the main toolbox section of photoshop on the left hand side. Following its selection I had the option of changing the brush size (this can be seen in the above screenshot) I began with a larger circumferance as this easily allowed me to quickly reverse the black and white off the dress to its original colour. I chose the smaller size in the penultimate steps which granted me access to the finer points to erase - using the enlarged brush would not have been effective as potentially I could have erased over the boundaries of the dress, this would have also reverted the surrounding areas (like the flesh and background tones) back to their initial format.

Here is the final stage presented above of the finished edit of the image, the dress has been reverted back to the pink and blue hues which contrast greatly against the bleak overtones, creating a point of interest for the viewer to observe and be intrigued by as visually it looks tempting and interesting to engage with.

Time Management - Update 4

Technical Elements - Shots

As one of my many preliminary tasks created by my lecturer, to help aid me gain understanding of how to use a video editing software we composed a 'practise' film of the class displaying the many different shot types that would be conventional to witness in an actual movie/ tv programme/ documentary etc. In each of the separate takes one individual or a group of the course members would engage in a still to represent their chosen shot type - a large number of takes were constructed as thus allowed us to get the most effective recreation of that particular shot as humanely possible. After the stills had been throughly composed we uploaded them to the mac software via the video camera and opened them into an adobe film editing system. From there it was my task to essentially explore how the programme operated and to familiarise myself with the tools, most importantly as this would be where my documentary video would be perfected for my final prodject. Some of the tasks I was instructed to do included adding text to the stills, which was always inserted amongst the timeline of the video so it would effectively appear alongside the shot and adding transitions/cuts to follow in how a mainstream movie enterprise would cut from scene to scene ( the transitions was something I wasn't able to include as I ran out of time) Most importantly it gave me the valuable opportunity of learning how to incorporate a soundtrack on top of the video so they would run co-inside to one another, this was an important technique for me to learn as it allowed me to gain knowledge that would benefit me for when it came to adding music over my own documentary (something I am thoroughly planning to include) Once I was satisfied with the video I had produced I uploaded it to Youtube - the film can be viewed above via the hyperlink I inserted.

Practise images for my double page spread - Set 2

Before I actually commenced in the task of collecting the final images I intended for both my double page spread and documentary poster I commissioned the model I was primarly going to use in these shots to enagage in a few 'practise' takes of how I desired the photograph to come across - such as the posture, clothing and environment and how essentially they were to be incorporated into the final product. Listed below in ascending order are the original images  captured and their edited versions as I attempted to recreate the appropriate lighting, tone and theme in the body of the photograph that I want to use, as referenced to via my rationale.

For the first photoshoot I asked the model if she could lean towards the lense of the camera - this way it obstructed her face from full view of the final image, leaving her body remaining and the main aspect to be focused on, this is the conventional intention I desperately wanted to be recognised tot the viewing public as it allows me to emphasise how anorexia can ravage an individuals body. In this particular take it brought immediate attention to her skeletal frame and legs - it can clearly be deconstructed from the image that this girl either has an eating disorder or is severely ill just by how her body comes across to the audeince. Out of all the photos I captured this was my favourite as it truly highlighted how emaciated and powerless someone can become once deply mmersed in the severiy of anorexia. The 'costume' she was wearing aided in drawing even more focus to her frame and made her look childlike or innocent in a sense. I took the photographs in an empty room so the backdrop was a whitewashed wall - I think in my final images it would be essential to have a similar background as if there is nothing else as a focal point for the audience to observe then all attention will certaintly be on the model. It sort of a disapointment to me gaining such a powerfull image in a test shoot, if this was took in a professional studio environment in an identical pose with advanced equipment it would potentially have been the shot I would have incorporated into my final product,  however due to the grainiess of the quality and shadowing prompted on the backdrop this certainitly wouldn't be considered as a finished prodcution.

In the secondary take I ordered her to change her body posture and position, which she did,  and adopted an almost thoughful pose. I feel as if her body is still thorughly emphasised through the shot, unfortunately i dont believe this is as effective as the previous image I captured - in that one she looked almost pained in expression even though her face was absent you could tell she was in a form of mental pain, and as an observer looking at it from a distance I did feel sorry for her, however in this particular image I feel as if it doesnt elict the necessary sympathetic response I crave, for the final photoshoot I would not be happy with this specific posture/pose in the finished creation. Another clear disadvantage to this photo is, like the previous above, is the quality after it has been took by the camera - pixillated productions connotate a sense of unprofessionalism as if the operator is naive to the technical points and overall operating style of the equipment which is something I don't want the audience to perceive whilst viewing my finished product.

For our final take I requested again for her to display a new pose, I dislike this one equally as much as the second photo as although the fragility of her body is emphasised throughly through the stance she has adopted, it appears to be sort of a happy, though provoking posture as if she is in some way elated about her condition which is deffinitely not the impression I want the audience to have as in essence I am trying to prompt a empathetic response from them through the fragility of the model.

Below are all of the images I took on this test shoot,  yet the next stage for me was to load them up onto photoshop and effectively alter the hue,saturation and contrast tones in an attempt to replicate the black and white look I was desiring for the final product as explained within my rationale. For these tones I adapted a more darker, gritty black and white shade - I lowered the contrast which allowed me to emphasise the black elements of the shot, most importantly the legs of the model as this essentially was one of her more noticable 'anorexic traits'

For the final experientation of these images I transfered all of the original copies into the photo sharing application 'Instagram' and used some of their editing software to attempt to create a different black and white tone. For this i used a lighting tool that allowed me to distort the neutral colours, unlike the previous set of photographs both the white an black brought out the aspects of the girls body and highlighted them significantly. Despite this I was quick to notice that this effect had added to the overall graininess of the image (this may be due to the reduced quality device I captured them on) however I was not prepared to risk duplicating the same style onto my final images when they were took as if it was a universal theme and this software did reduce the quality of the image then i wouldn't want my audience to interpret the shots as 'unprofessional' or 'amaetur' which would decompose the serious theme I am intending to portray as if they can't take the images seriously then they will deffintely not engage the mature content of the documentary/article

Costumes for the double page spread and poster shoot

Before I participated in the photo shoot for the two auxillary tasks it was essential I had an understanding and clear picture in my mind about the article of clothing the model would be wearing, this would allow me to be prepared in knowing what postures/poses to conduct them in and to ensure the costumes would correspond correctly with the effect and overall look I would be attempting to present to the audience in the products. Since I already had a vague idea of what I desired the model to be clothed in anyways this was not a particularly difficult task in my court and was solved very rapidly. Below is a set of images of what was required for the model to wear during the photo shoot to conventionally follow the theme I was going for.

For the double page spread image I wanted to highlight the emaciation anorexia causes physically to the sufferer, therefore all attention would be directed away from the face and focused upon the body. To achieve the maximum amount of shock i could elicit from the audience I wanted the model to be portrayed in baggy clothes as essentially this emphasises the detrimental effects on the body. I asked for as loose fitting clothes as possible - here I was indulged with a large knit sweater and a pair of leggings which would perfectly illiterate the overall starvation on the models frame, this would hopefully go un noticed by the viewing public.

The final costume I required was an airy, floaty kind of article that would justify an 'innocent' persona to the model, the idea behind this is the anorexic is 'innocent' to the devastation that is occurring around them because of their mental illness. Moreover it emphasises the childlike frame that they are bestowed upon as their physical starvation his critical levels, therefore they are reduced to a 'child's body' in essence. This was the first image I looked at for the ideas for the models costume and I instantly recognised this was the piece to be used in the final photoshoot. It is visually presented as a dress a young infant girl would wear and I believe would perfectly back up the childlike meaning I am distributing through the image itself.

Booking my studio shoot

After suffering quality issues with the images I intended to use as the finished photographs for the double page spread, I consulted with my lecturer and she agreed it would be in my best interests to book a studio shoot at another near by college (Shiney Row campus) to make use of their photography facilities which my college aren't fortunate to have. This would allow me to take professional styled images, making full advantage of the lighting, cameras and back drops that would be included there to achieve the maximum potential from my takes. To ensure I wpuld be granted a period to participtae in this shoot I emailed one of my lecturers to obtain the necessary details and availability times that would benefit me in getting my images complete.

This was the reply I received from her confirming I had been successful in booking a studio shoot

Article for my Double Page Spread

This is the original document for the article to be included in my double page spread detailing the content of my documentary. Presented below is the unedited version, before I sought advice from my lecturer.

‘Why won’t it let me eat?’

Food. We are a nation liberated by food. We are positively tantalised and transfixed by the abundance on offer, whether that it is served to us ala carte’ at a swanky upbeat restaurant or a quick grab and go through a McDonalds chain drive through to satisfy our unhealthy but appetising fast food cravings. We embrace food in all its glory, as a society we are subjected to be nurtured and to appreciate it in all our setting’s as it is essentially a building block to how our environment as a whole is perceived today. Moreover it is a part of us, something to crave, to function upon, to enjoy as it is beneficial for our survival. What happens though when that satisfaction is eliminated, when our survival instinct is reversed, when every living thought becomes fixated on avoiding the next possible meal, when the cold shaky words are uttered from your lips ‘I don’t want to eat’

Sadly this is not such an unconventional sentence to be expressed in the modern 21^st century. When a society is obsessed with food, that pre-occupance is quickly directed to an unhealthy obsession with weight – for most it’s when that dreaded moment comes, the classic ‘my jeans don’t fit anymore’ and you undeniably admit ‘I need to lose a few pounds’. But for some shape, weight and food becomes EVERYTHING as demonstrated in BBC ones series of new cutting edge documentaries – the first of which focuses on the issue of a weight obsessed nation and the lives of several girls afflicted with the mental illness anorexia nervosa.

As our government pessively targets ‘fashion and the tyranny of thinness’ in the media industry for stripping away many young adolescents confidence, it has been revealed in shocking new statistics that the number of eating disorders are on the rise with a devastating 1 in 10 women from the onset ages of 15-25 are diagnosed with anorexia in the United Kingdom alone each year.  Moreover it has recently come to attention that the media itself may not be the controversial main starting block for an eating disorder to develop – that potentially there are some unavoidable factors involved that can dramatically warp an individuals self perception of themselves in our stable society. In the one hour special that airs 9pm on Monday night we delve deep into the harsh reality of the daily struggles chronic anorexia sufferers endure from the rigid routines, rituals and relapses they face. In a dramatic scene we witness the dispute between mother and daughter as age refuses to clear her plate, a raging battle that shocks parents and families alike. Witnessed also is the view point from an recovered anorexics mindset – indefinitely shedding some hope into beating the disorder.

Left untreated, one in 5 will die from the complications of starvation caused by the illness, a fate one young woman knows only too ell. In a brief discussion during the programme the eighteen year old reveal s documentation from her second inpatient hospital admission ‘I nearly died, the doctors warned me if I had been left to lose anymore weight my body would have gave up and fallen into a systematic cardiac arrest. I was so weak, tired and constantly cold all the time, my pulse dropped to 35, to be honest with you I didn’t think I would make it through the night’.

A horrifying thought how a manipulative and frankly cunning condition can ravage a person so physically and mentally they are incapable of saving themselves from the desolation that has been unleashed. Anorexia as investigated in ‘The Girls Who Wouldn’t Eat’ is a complex illness and recently discovered not to be just solely caused by one significant factor, with genetics undoubtly argued as a considerable reference to developing the disorder. As explained by a seventeen year old girl in the documentary ‘my mother had it, then my older sister, then me and now my youngest sister has juts been diagnosed and admitted into treatment, I guess its just something that runs in the family’ A disturbing prospect to consider that we are incapable of preventing this from arising if we ourselves hold the key to purgatory for our offspring. However most of the girls followed throughout the length of the shop were categorised as ‘anorexic’ through some other factors. Many were subjected to bullying at a young age ,which effected their mental health and self perception of themselves in a devastating manner. The same eighteen year old describes how her school years were ‘a living hell’ in a harsh but brutal statement she tells a heart - wrenching story of how her illness came to be

‘Bullying was not an uncommon feature in my life at the time of my early teenage years and the only way I could escape the pain was through anorexia, which became my friend. Every time I lost weight it brought a feeling of elation to me and the thought of ‘just one more pound’ was always there as I thought it would lead me to become a better person. Anorexia si not a lifestyle, nor is it a choice, it just happens, then once you have it there is little to prevent the battle that is set on the horizon’

Young up and coming director Melody Graydon has took an insightful yet brutal approach to the controversial topic of eating disorders – an issue that has never been ‘properly addressed’ in the past she comments.

‘ I wanted to surface the harsh reality of what a person has to endure every single day, every moment, every second of every year consumed in the grips of anorexia. A good friend of mine who was diagnosed with the condition four years ago inspired me to make this piece of footage. Many of us lack understanding of what an eating disorder actually is, it is a topic that is easily brushed off because we don’t realise the full severity of it – I hope to enlighten all those who have buried their heads in the sand and tried to ignore this dilemma this exists in society. It needs to be addressed, now.’

Graydon has took a unique novel approach to the construction of the documentary highlighting the severe physical and mental consequences of the illness that has previously been disregarded on similar programmes before which have adopted a more sympathetic but wary approach to the disorder.

For some the stories witnessed may be shocking, for others it may be a source of comfort – a relief to relate to others who are battling the disorder themselves or are observing it first hand from a carers perspective. This bleak yet insightful documentary is not for the faint hearted, yet it effectively demonstrates how materialistic and obsessed we have become as a nation with such trivial issues such as weight to define us as human beings. Really we should ask ourselves, are we to blame for eating disorders? Whatever happened to old fashioned views of ‘its what is on the inside that counts’, truly this is an insight into ourselves and our judgements, the comments we make about shape, weight and food because of the sensitivity we have towards consumption. A must watch.




After I consulted my lecturer upon their opinion of the article, we decided it would probablies best to include a few additional changes. Some of which consist of adding the date and time for the broadcasting of the documentary so the audience can identify exactly when it will be screened, this ensures the maximum amount of viewers will tune in to it. I also corrected a few minor spelling mistakes and grammatical errors to clean up the article.

‘Why won’t it let me eat?’

Food. We are a nation liberated by food. We are positively tantalised and transfixed by the abundance on offer, whether that it is served to us ala carte’ at a swanky upbeat restaurant or a quick grab and go in a McDonalds chain to satisfy our unhealthy but appetising fast food cravings. We embrace food in all its glory, as a society we are subjected to be nurtured and to appreciate it in all our setting’s as it is essentially a building block to how our environment as a whole is perceived today. Moreover it is a part of us, something to crave, to function upon, to enjoy as it is beneficial for our survival. What happens though when that satisfaction is eliminated, when our survival instinct is reversed, when every living thought becomes fixated on avoiding the next possible meal, when the cold shaky words are uttered from your lips ‘I don’t want to eat’

Sadly this is not such an unconventional sentence to be expressed in the modern 21^st century. When a society is obsessed with food, that pre-occupance is quickly directed to an unhealthy obsession with weight – for most it’s when that dreaded moment comes, the classic ‘my jeans don’t fit anymore’ and you undeniably admit ‘I need to lose a few pounds’. But for some shape, weight and food becomes EVERYTHING as demonstrated in a series of new cutting edge documentaries – the first of which focuses on the issue of a weight obsessed nation and the lives of several girls afflicted with the mental illness anorexia nervosa. As our government pessively targets ‘fashion and the tyranny of thinness’ in the media industry for stripping away many young adolescents confidence, it has been revealed in shocking new statistics that the number of eating disorders are on the rise with a devastating 1 in 10 women from the onset ages of 15-25 are diagnosed with anorexia in the United Kingdom alone each year.  Moreover it has recently come to attention that the media itself may not be the controversial main starting block for an eating disorder to develop – that potentially there are some unavoidable factors involved that can dramatically warp an individuals self perception of themselves in our stable society.

In the one hour special that airs 9pm on Monday night we delve deep into the harsh reality of the daily struggles chronic anorexia sufferers endure from the rigid routines, rituals and relapses they face. In a dramatic scene we witness the dispute between mother and daughter as age refuses to clear her plate, a raging battle that shocks parents and families alike. Witnessed also is the view point from an recovered anorexics mindset – indefinitely shedding some hope into beating the disorder.

Left untreated, 1 in 5 will die from the complications of starvation caused by the illness, a fate one young woman knows only too ell. In a brief discussion during the programme the eighteen year old reveal s documentation from her second inpatient hospital admission ‘I nearly died, the doctors warned me if I had been left to lose anymore weight my body would have gave up and fallen into a systematic cardiac arrest. I was so weak, tired and constantly cold all the time, my pulse dropped to 35, to be honest with you I didn’t think I would make it through the night’.

A horrifying thought how a manipulative and frankly cunning condition can ravage a person so physically and mentally they are incapable of saving themselves from the desolation that has been unleashed. Anorexia as investigated in ‘The Girls Who Wouldn’t Eat’ is a complex illness and recently discovered not to be just solely caused by one significant factor, with genetics undoubtly argued as a considerable reference to developing the disorder. As explained by a seventeen year old girl in the documentary ‘my mother had it, then my older sister, then me and now my youngest sister has juts been diagnosed and admitted into treatment, I guess its just something that runs in the family’ A disturbing prospect to consider that we are incapable of preventing this from arising if we ourselves hold the key to purgatory for our offspring. However most of the girls followed throughout the length of the shop were categorised as ‘anorexic’ through some other factors. Many were subjected to bullying at a young age ,which effected their mental health and self perception of themselves in a devastating manner. The same eighteen year old in the documentary describes how her school years were ‘a living hell’ in a harsh but brutal statement she tells a heart - wrenching story of how her illness came to be

‘Bullying was not an uncommon feature in my life at the time of my early teenage years and the only way I could escape the pain was through anorexia, which became my friend. Every time I lost weight it brought a feeling of elation to me and the thought of ‘just one more pound’ was always there as I thought it would lead me to become a better person. Anorexia si not a lifestyle, nor is it a choice, it just happens, then once you have it there is little to prevent the battle that is set on the horizon’

Young up and coming director Melody Graydon has took an insightful yet brutal approach to the controversial topic of eating disorders – an issue that has never been ‘properly addressed’ in the past she comments.

‘ I wanted to surface the harsh reality of what a person has to endure every single day, every moment, every second of every year consumed in the grips of anorexia. A good friend of mine who was diagnosed with the condition four years ago inspired me to make this piece of footage. Many of us lack understanding of what an eating disorder actually is, it is a topic that is easily brushed off because we don’t realise the full severity of it – I hope to enlighten all those who have buried their heads in the sand and tried to ignore this dilemma this exists in society. It needs to be addressed, now.’

Graydon has took a unique novel approach to the construction of the documentary highlighting the severe physical and mental consequences of the illness that has previously been disregarded on similar programmes before which have adopted a more sympathetic but wary approach to the disorder.

For some the stories witnessed may be shocking, for others it may be a source of comfort – a relief to relate to others who are battling the disorder themselves or are observing it first hand from a carers perspective. This bleak yet insightful documentary is not for the faint hearted, yet it effectively demonstrates how materialistic and obsessed we have become as a nation with such trivial issues such as weight to define us as human beings. Really we should ask ourselves, are we to blame for eating disorders? Whatever happened to old fashioned views of ‘its what is on the inside that counts’, truly this is an insight into ourselves and our judgements, the comments we make about shape, weight and food because of the sensitivity we have towards consumption. A must watch for the 9pm slot on BBC One, prepare to be enllightened Thursday 6^th December.

Time Management - Update 3

Planning my Double Page Spread - Draft

To begin with I created a blank adobe photoshop document and presented it in a horizontal fashion so to allow my double page spread to be consturcted. The fist initial stage was to locate the middle of the page, this would help ensure the dimensions for the right and left page were an identical width and height, as it would be unconventional to have one of the pages significantly larger than the previous. I employed the use of the ruler tool and measured the full length of the document, then marked with a line where the centre of the page was. Finally I drew two rectangle shaped boxes on either side so to give two symmetrically sized objects which would represent the two pages of the spread upon its creation.

The secondary step was to insert the main image of interest onto the document, I recovered it from a USB device and dragged it into the photoshop programme. The blue rectangle box which had previously represented the left page of the double page spread was removed and the photograph replaced it in the correct position as to align with the right hand page.

Because I desire the image to be the central attraction and an important focal point for the audience I believed it would be necessity to extend the length of its dimensions so it overlapped with the right hand page - this would emphasise overall its major importance to the viewers of this magazine. To complete this manouver I selected the image and then used the enlargement tool which can be found in the corners of the photograph. I extended it right lengthways and then deleted the black rectangle shape as it was of no further use now that I had established where the text was to be inserted.

To gain an understanding of how the text would appear on the finished product I decided to include the title of the article in an attempt to see how it would be displayed visually to the audience one the product was finally created. Although this isn't the image I wish to incorporate in my final production, i thought it would be good experience to meddle with the colour and positioning of the text now as I will be operating with an identical colour scheme on the main photograph for the finished piece. I manouvered the text at the top of the document and filled it with a deep burgundy red, in correspondance with the shade I am preparing to use in my finished piece.

I filled in the text side of the document with a neutral grey tone as I wanted to view what the spread would look like with an additional colour as a background (disregarding the tones used on the image) After many attempts this was the shade that looked the most acceptable, however it still gives a very childish amateur look to the piece so I'm not sure I want a background colour for the finished product.

Because I was disgusted with how the grey hue appeared on the text side of the spread i removed it and thought it would be better to incorporate white as a primary method before I established whether I wanted a colour background or not. I moved the masthead back into its original central position and inserted a text box tool so i could create some typing to see how the text would be displayed on the page.

A slight adjustment was employed in this stage - the only noticable difference is that I lowered the masthead so it was directly above the text rather than being in the top within the crease line of the magazine alongside the image.

The penultimate stage consisted of me adding a byline to the article, a quote one of the girls mutters in the documentary footage. I included this as an addition to make the double page spread more conventional and professional as t is a common element used by editors within mainstream products. I highlighted it in the same burgundy red as the masthead to provide consistency and so it would be easily identified amongst the greys and black of the image. I positioned it between the photograph and text so it would not be overlooked by the audience reading the document.

The final necessity was to add the channel name and watershed time the documentary would be broadcasted on as this critical piece of information would allow me to achieve the largest potential number of viewers as possible. These vital word were added above the paragraphs for the article, essentially making it one of the primary focal points the reader would notice on first inspection of the spread. I adjusted the byline  as I wasn't satisfied with its placement so I moved it slightly lower on the page from its original position.

Inspiration for my Documentary Poster (Grace Bowman - Thin)

As what was documented in one of my previous blog posts as part of the requirements for my brief I deconstructed several TV programme/documentary posters that advertised the show to the public. The idea of this was to recognise the different elements that are used in these productions (specific text styles, colour scheme etc) to make it a conventional product. I took inspiration from the ones I liked best and I plan to incorporate them into my final finished poster. However I gained a massive insight into my idea through the viewing of a novel I read to draw a personal understanding about the memoir of a young woman who suffered and fully recovered from anorexia nervosa.

The image itself that is displayed on the cover is mysterious yet alluring and it attracts the attention quite dramatically from the audience its targeting (young adults upwards). The photo of the girl excludes her face, I feel this emphasises the seclusion anorexia causes the sufferer to endure as their obsession with food regularly isolates them from reality making them mere fragments of our society. To me it also personifies the disorientation they face when fully under the influence of the condition as it causes so many physical complications like heart flutters and severe migraines, the blurriness henceforth reinforces this significantly. I like the way the woman is posing on the image as it allows the audience to gain a full understanding of her physical deterioration, her bones are clearly visible in her arms and her bodily frame is so petite and fragile it immediately elicits a score of sympathy. This is an element that overall will be the main focus on my poster as I want the photography to provoke an empathetic shocked response from the audience as they can clearly see the malnourishment anorexia has caused to the model. 

The layout of the text is fairly consistent with the positioning I would want for my ow poster, I may use this cover as a big influence to construct the position of the text on my final product. The style 'Thin' is written in is a very delicate spiral shape, I feel this relates to the fragility of the body of one plagued with the illness and would be a good concept to include in the text on my poster. 

The colour scheme remarkably fits with what I desire as the background is neutral which essentially is what I wish to replicate and most of the writing (neglecting the authors name and reviews) are in a white hue. I would discard the colour element for in my own text and instead convey with the neutral white, grey and black tones. I'm intrigued with the costume design for the model on the cover as a dress is a very simplistic but effective method of attracting the viewers attention to her frame as you could easily mistake her to be a child (yet she is a mature woman) In my photo shoot I intend on dressing my own model in an outfit like a dress as I believe it will illustrate more the fragility of her body now that she has succumbed to anorexia.

Time Management - Update 2

Inspiration for my documentary poster

Displayed above is the TV constructed poster for the popular American drama show 'The Vampire Diaries' . The main centrefold piece focused upon on this layout is the heavily enlargened face of one of the major characters, Damon, which occupies a large majority of the poster. It can be easily recognised that he is a critical foundation to the programme, hence why the editors have relyed upon him to attract audience attention, they are emphasising his importance to the storyline as he himself is a major element, therefore a hugely major component to the running of the storyline in the show, his appearance will make it easy for regular viewers to identify with whilst also creating a source of interest for new audiences as they may be intrigued to find out more about who this mysterious character is and what relevance he has to the plot. Damon is also an attractive male which would attract the interest of female viewers as they may want to view the show for the 'sex appeal'. This poster minuses any use of a background environment instead incorporating a jet black backdrop instead - this further focuses the attention on Damon as the editors desire all focus to be trained on him so lacking a scene behind him ensures the audience will not be distracted by anything else. I feel this element in particular relates directly to my own poster publication as I am intending on using an enlarged image of one of the anorexic girls of the documentary as the main focus point in gaining the audience's attention, therefore my idea is reinforced significantly by identifying with this specific television advertisement. The title for the programme 'The Vampire Diaries' is included in large font besides Damon to indicate the name of the show but also referencing that the character beside it will be witnessed within the content of the drama itself, reassuring the audience that they will be making an appearance. The font of the text is white illuminating it against the black of the background, this enables it to be extremely noticable to the target audience and not easily overlooked - it is essentially one of the major components their eyeline will be drawn to on first glance of this poster so they will be immeditelly be informed of the name of the programme.  This conventional element of this production reinforces the assumption it would be in my own best interests to make my documentary title as visually intriguing and appealing to my target audience as possible - hence I will obtain greater generated interest and the potential rise in viewing numbers. It seems to be a conventional theme of red and white linking all the text together, this literates the message that all the words are related to the same topic conveying coninuity throughout the product giving it a professional edge. Red bloodstains are included under 'The Vampire Diaries' masthead, suggesting there is a condition of horror in this drama and that it is guaranteed to be focused upon the supernatural vampire side of existence. When constructing my own poster for my documentary I feel it is essential I must choose an appropriate colour for the text style, it would be unecessary for the background palette and lettering to clash in colours, so using one as a vantage point (e.g the background in white) to illuminate the title of the show (e.g which is encased in black) would aid me heavily as it is effective in this 'Vampire Diaries' advert. Also included is the name of the television broadcasting network allowing the viewers to be informed of which channel station they must tune into to see the show and the date the premiere episode is about to be screened to alert the audience when it is due to be transmitted therfore the likelhood of them missing out on the episode is slim. Moreover I think it would be beneficial to me to include the distributor of my documentary (The multi award winning BBC station) as this will provide extra information to my viewers about which channel they can engage with the programme on, reducing the chances of them forgetting to view it as they could not remember the network it was on, this significant amount of reinforcement of the BBC logo will prevent this from happening

After deconstructing this particular poster I believe the use of a black backdrop would be most effective in emphasisng the importance of one particular section on the layout - this would be useful to highlight one individual over the rest of the page, moreover I want people to recognise the severities of eating disorders so if i included someone in remission for one against nothing in their immediate surroundings then this will convey the seriousness of the illness more severely to the viewer, that way it cannot be overlooked easily. The red in this piece is excellent in re- affirming the programme is detailing the lives of vampires connotating this message well, therfore the idea of including red in the title on my own poster will help distirbute my idea that anorexia is a life threatening illness that destroys and removes lives - red suggests the danger of the consequences of the illness.

I deconstructed the poster for the most reknowned wild life documentary of this century 'Planet Earth' as it fitted the criteria for my brief - it may not have been of the medical/health genre I am focusing upon yet fitted the style of filming as a 'professional' documentary. The critical aspect that is overall the most noticable foundation is the overwhelming brightness of the sun as it appear in view whilst it is orbiting the earth, the contrast of the illuminous orange and yellow tones works extremely well with the darkness used to represent space - it isntantly draws the eyeline towards the colours as it is virtually unmissible, understandbly it is the first element the audience will be drawn to on intial observation of the product. Through this technique it ensure the secondary convention that will be noticed by the viewer is the title of the documentary itself (i.e Th 'Planet Earth' masthead), the use of bright colours aids in attracting the intentional audience to the more vital components of the poster (such as the title) which will prevent them from being easily overlooked, as essentially these are the elements the creator is desiring their viewers to focus upon the most as a way of remembering the name of the documentary so they are not not miss viewing it.. The creator of the poster has included the broadcasting network (Discovery Channel) pretty much centrefold upon the document, this is essentially a marketing strategy which is used to inform the audience which station the programme can be found within, therefore there is a reduced chance of them missing it if they have been informed as to where to watch it. This critical aspect is vital in brining numbers of viewing audiences up for the profit of the network company and also the distributors of the film themselves. The use of the sun rising over the horizon brings the attention to a number of wildlife that are scattered on the ground of the Earth itself, essentially it is acting as a primary base to draw the audience into more interesting sections of the poster. By noticing the animals (wildebeast and birds) they can assume this documentary will revolve around the nature on Earth (if they had no already deciphered that from the title), however this brings undued emphasis upon the types of organisms that will be focused on within the content. Wildebeast are not an average encountered animal in our every day lives so this gives a preview to the viewers that they will be observing fascinating and interesting creatures they may normally get the opportunity to witness, it emits a nostalgic effect, almost dreamlike, in the sense that yes it is probable that most members of the audience will never have the privledge of seeing these beasts up close in the wild yet it personifies a imaginary world where they can emerse with these creatures as if they were actually there in the wild with them, brining an almost child like fantasy to light. Through the images of the wildlife it can be presumed the target audience will orientate around individuals who are highly interested in nature, possibly children or others who work in this field (for example biologists, ecologists etc). The main background is almost entirely black, with exception of the sun which illuminates the centre image of the Earth to us, not only does this dark shade help highlight the more important features of this poster (the title, animals) but it represents the universe and how Earth is situated in space. In a sense it creates the illusion as if the audience is looking down at the planet from a distance, maybe a satellite or space station and allows them the Earth to appear more glorious and spectacular to what we would normally expect. This illustrates the beauty of our planet and can be used to entice the viewers, the use of these sharp bright colours brings about the concept this programme will be visually appealing to delve into.

I complied with the running theme of deconstructing TV programmes in my final deconstruction which was of an advertisement for 'The Walking Dead'. The most primary noticeable aspect of this production is how simple it has been constructed, there is no major detail displayed with the editor relying solely on using the main character (Rick) to generate the widest amount of audience interest. Noticeably this is due to him being the central character of the show so even if an individual has not viewed the  programme personally it is most likely they will be able to connect with this poster as ultimately he is employed as the major source of marketing strategy for the distributors so they may have seen him in various forms of other media. The main dominancy factor in this is of Rick himself who occupies nearly all of the space on the poster, this is to emphasise his importance within the plot and how central he is to the storyline, not only that but he is in direct eye-line with the audience. I feel as if this is a reference to the show as if we were looking at him through the eyes of an enemy (a zombie or another human being) and he is about to end their life as they are seen as a threat. Moreover it could indicate that there will be a new threat in the programme when it returns to television in the fall so its preparing the audience for more action and excitement, which can be generated further by the notion he is holding a gun implying his life may be at risk. The further use of a single character to advertise the show (which can be seen above in my 'Vampire Diaries' deconstruction) greatly convinces me that it would be extremely beneficial to me if I incorporate just one of the anorexic girls into the main image of the poster, this will prevent the audiences attention being diverted to some other aspect of the production but will greatly emphasise the relevance of her to my documentary, signifying a strong link between the girls relevance to the content of the programme itself. The title of the show 'The Walking Dead' is in the largest sizing of font as it is the name and therefore emphasises what is being advertised here, the size imprints on the viewers mind so they will remember it as it is not easily forgotten about or discarded as significantly smaller words might. Noticeably it is encased further in a bold font allowing it to dramatisise its importance on the page so its significance stands out amongst the other wording besides it. I am further convinced by this concept to display the title for my documentary in exceedingly large eye- catching font, this will greatly allow me to capture the immediate interest of my target audience and will reduce the factor of them simply dismissing my product as 'simple' or 'boring'. The date and time of when the programme will be broadcasted is included as a further element to ensure the audience does not miss viewing it and aids in reminding them the specific day to tune in, this is a clever strategy in allowing the maximum number of audience members to view the programme, who will be able to publisize it further by hearsay to other individuals after they have watched it. The use of colour is very specific in this product with the artist relying on dismal dark tones such as black,brown and green to create a sombre yet serious effect in the finished production. This reflects the target audience - it can be clearly identified from the actual image in regards to the weapon the character is holding that this is a show that requires a mature mindset, therefore an adult audience as there will be a possibility of violence and mature themes, which can be identified through the use of the colour scheme. It could also reference to danger as the name of the show suggests 'The Walking Dead' where zombies will be witnessed on many occasions, it contrasts with the brightness on the poster creating a false sense of perception that matters in this show can be addressed and sorted as in reality there is no hope, with the dark colours identifying the death and destruction faced in a apocolyptic world. I get a sense of juxtaposition here with the use of dark and light colours to emphasise the constant struggle of good and evil forces in the plot of the show (the humans and zombies respectively) This colour palette relates well to the mature mindset I am attempting to create in both my documentary poster as I would like the audience to identify through the use of black and white tones that the chosen topic being discussed is one that is not required for the faint hearted and that a serious issue will be dealt with. The use of different font styles is extremely beneficial for this poster in particular, the title of the show 'The Walking Dead'