Research: Magazine Codes and Conventions.

The above is the cover from an NME magazine of Florence from Florence and the Machines. I like this extreme close up of the artist, direct address to the audience creates a welcoming relationship with the audience/the buyer of the magazine. This direct address is almost always used. This shot is also lighted well, high lighting possibly, as the main focus of the photo used here is on the artist's hair and eyes. The mast head, NME, is bold and white, contrasting with the red of the artists hair. This mast head is repeatedly throughout the magazine, at the bottom of the pages with page numbers or placed on the contents page. Tag lines are placed around the edge of the page, again coloured white to contrast with the artists hair and to catch the audiences hair. These tag lines advertise other articles within the magazine to attract the audience. The strap line, however, is coloured black but remains eye catching - "Florence" this tag lines alerts the audience that this artist is a main feature in this magazine.



The above is the front cover from a copy of Rolling Stones magazine, featuring musician Taylor Swift. Little obvious make-up and a simple wind fan has been used in order to create an innocent look that is associated with the artist but also the prop of an acoustic guitar reminds the audience that she is a "proper" musicians who plays her own guitar and writes her own songs. The studio shot is edited over the mast head, implying that she is the main focus, however the tag lines are placed over the image as well as the strap line which is placed, unusually, to the side of the image and not the bottom or top. This breaks conventions of magazines however this front cover proves that breaking conventions can allow your product to look good.



The above image is thed front cover from Q magazine, with the singer Adele on the front cover. Again a wind fan has been used, allowing the artists hair to become most of the picture, giving it almost a diva-atyle look to it. There is also dirent address to the camera, creating a connection and relationship with the audience.  The white background of the magazine enhances the artists pale skin which connotes innocence and a glamorous life style. The tag lines that feature do not fit with the colour scheme that the artist is sporting (purple) it is following the house style's colour palette. This house style allows the audience to instantly recognise the company colours of the magazine; red, black and white are used by Q magazine because the colours stand out and will catch the audience's eye.

My chosen artist is going to be a female solo artist, though I have not decided on the genre of music that she will produce, I am thinking that, when I create my own front cover, I will be using close up shots like the above images, in order to grab the audience's attention.