Evaluation: Working in Media Production Contexts-Proffessional Practice

The way in which I approached both tasks (being my student magazine and music magazine) differed to a slight extent. The very fact that both projects required different numbers of pieces (Student magazine required only a front cover and a content page, where as the music magazine required four pieces, being a front page, content page and double page spread.) This significant increase in required work led me to planning for consistency to great extent, preparing through set dates to complete work on and by, with it well in mind that a timetable of sorts would greatly set a level of organization and reduce the risk to some degree of falling behind (although this clearly did not guarantee me doing so). My music magazine due to this required a significantly increased amount of research to allow an equal amount of professionalism to each and every page. It was vital that I would capture my target audience through this due to the fact that I would be instantly displaying a knowledge of both existing forms and they’re audiences and key-features in relation to how one indefinitely sell a targeted magazine to a wide demographic audience.

Regarding the school magazine task, I found that I was of more benefit due to the fact that I already had extensive experience as a student and in a school environment. I therefore approached this task in a highly more casual manner, implicating both my interest in media related formats (film), and a placement in an educational background. It would also be noted that this task was largely carried out in a school environment (mostly of course due to the entire piece demanding photos in such a pace). This led me to plan extensively for photo shoots in order to not clash with lessons and other activities, and at the same time make use to great extent the IT equipment present in the building. I also was benefited by this very presence in technology not just because it allowed me to instantly begin working on newly taken images, but because I could implicate rows of computers, keyboards and other equipment in the actual images I would insert into both my front cover and content page. When confronting such a task however, I knew that a sole image of a student making use of a computer (of which would be my editing suite), would be vital, meaning if I were to sell the concept of an availability of professional editing programs at the college I would have to duplicate an actual image of the editing program I use myself upon the school computer. This was settled however through use of Adobe Photoshop and print-screen capabilities.

I found my approach to my music magazine was a strong contrast to what perspective I took in the College Magazine piece, now being a degree of naivety towards how I would put together such an intensive piece of music-related production. I managed to settle my apprehension toward this through my research to gain a throughout understanding as to how an industry standard music magazine would be produced. This more importantly allowed me to extend my capabilities within core-production in regards to both my graphical awareness and knowledge towards the media industry (in this case, more towards critical analysis of music), positively challenging me in more ways then one.

Due to the now much more liberal approach to the way in which I conducted my new task, I felt strongly that I was dramatically less restricted in regards to how I would produce my images, graphics, and basic layout. Although I was now following The way in which I approached both tasks (being my student magazine and music magazine) differed to a slight extent. The very fact that both projects required different numbers of pieces (Student magazine required only a front cover and a content page, where as the music magazine required four pieces, being a front page, content page and double page spread.) This significant increase in required work led me to planning for consistency to great extent, preparing through set dates to complete work on and by, with it well in mind that a timetable of sorts would greatly set a level of organization and reduce the risk to some degree of falling behind (although this clearly did not guarantee me doing so). My music magazine due to this required a significantly increased amount of research to allow an equal amount of professionalism to each and every page. It was vital that I would capture my target audience through this due to the fact that I would be instantly displaying a knowledge of both existing forms and they’re audiences and key-features in relation to how one indefinitely sell a targeted magazine to a wide demographic audience. I found that I could in fact produce these images regardless of me being in school or at home, as long as I had the relevant subjects to carry out my photographic process. Costuming relied heavily on both the input of myself and my model, being that I would suggest numerous colours or patterns in accordance to what my ideal reader would relate to. This could be described as a slight disadvantage, as numerous factors would restrict what my model would eventually be able to bring upon the day of the shoot. The actual availability of my model on the day of the shoot proved to be more then generous; allowing me with great flexibility to take the images required and at the time review such work in real time (due to myself being in close reach of IT technology within the sixth form area).

I attempted to manage my time through simple estimates via a timetable available through my blog, significantly prioritising certain days and the work required to establish further my magazine. This I found greatly helped to organize my priorities and objectives throughout particularly hectic weeks in which the scale of my task became ever clearer.

Although convenient, such a time table unfortunately did not to great lengths impact upon my main work, as I found that a more in-depth timetable or organization would have been required when in relation to a task such as one concerning four pieces, rather then two. This was evidently of truth due to me finding use of a timetable successful upon my preliminary task, an objective of smaller scale to what I would confront when concerning my official main task. By using such a timetable identical in scale, the realisation that a router of less vagueness and more detail would have been of more pivotal eventuality.