Evaluation: Technologies

From doing this media project I have learnt about new technologies that are used to create media such as a magazine, also I have learnt about enhancing appearances (done by technology) to make media products look more eye-catching and successful. I have developed an understanding of how to use Photoshop, and how it can be used to manipulate images, alter them, and make things that are there disappear.

While I took photographs for my magazine I learnt the importance of good lighting, space and plain backgrounds for a more professional look and also involving different clothes and colours/make-up as the picture could connote different things. For example having dark lighting and dark make-up creates a dull, cold, horror sort of look whereas bright colours, white backgrounds and good lighting create a happy looking photo. Backgrounds are really important when taking a photo, although you can usually rub things out on Photoshop having the right background is important as it gives the audience imagery and backgrounds are used to create the mise-en-scene.

On my images I chose to put a sheet up to have a plain, white background as this connotes glamour and wealth and creates this glossy impression which is what I wanted to achieve, also I used Photoshop to edit my photos and add layers to improve my models skin texture to make it look more of a professional photograph, also on some of my images a digitally hand coloured to change eye or lip colours. I thought that my front cover needed a little brightening to make it stand out and look bolder so I decided to slightly increase the brightness and the contrast just to make it a little more eye-catching for the audience.