Billboard Recreation

What Went Well...
This was quite an easy product to reproduce as there is so few elements to it but I do very much like the product I have made. The text I have used is very similar to that of the Wildfox advert (top), and I think the headdress the model in my work (bottom) is wearing gives it a certain mystical look that really reflects the 'paradise'.

What Could Be Better...
It is relatively obvious here that I couldn't get an image that was similar to the one on the Wildfox advert and that is the thing I found most frustrating while making this piece, that said I think I worked well with the picture I did find from my artist source.

Overall I am pleased with the product I created, despite not being able to get an image similar to that of the real Wildfox advert I really do like the one I made.

Photography by Charlie Pallett.

Magazine Recreation

What Went Well...
I feel like in general I managed to accurately recreate the Cheryl Cole Q Magazine cover. Personally I think the text down both sides of the page were the best features, especially the John Lennon circle.

What Could Be Better...
There are areas that could be improved I think, I didn't have an image that was hugely like the one of Cheryl Cole on the cover so I had to improvise with the one that I used, also because in the image it wasn't raining I had to place that over the top which darkened the image a little too much for my liking, also because of this it removed shine from the models face which is present on Cheryl's because of the rain. Also elements of the text that I did aren't exactly right and could be done better.

Overall I am quite happy with this recreation and I think it displays my Photoshop skills relatively well, however, there are still areas upon which I could improve but all in all I'm very happy with it.

Photography of model Florrie Parsons by Charlie Pallett. 

Deconstruction of Billboard

Billboards are often in places where they only have a very short period of time to make an impact on the audience and so I think it is important to note some of the elements that are used in a majority of billboards already present so as I can potentially incorporate them into my own work to make my own piece as authentic as possible.

Deconstruction of Magazine

This Cosmopolitan front cover is not dissimilar to many other lifestyle magazines; using flattering words and phrases such as "sex goddess" to entice the audience and the cover being dominated by one character - usually a celebrity. Often lifestyle magazines are aimed at women, focusing on areas such as true-life stories, fashion and beauty and celebrity issues and these features being present on the front cover make it obvious of it's genre. In addition to this being aimed at women, it specifically targets a type of woman, one who is interested in the way she looks and how she is presented to men, as well as being able to connote this from what is actually written on the page we are also able to denote this. Ways in which we can denote this includes the way in which Isla Fisher is standing and her physical appearance; assuming the audience is drawn to the magazine because she is on the cover it could be assumed that women aspire to look like her. Isla is dressed particularly feminine and is positioned in a way that makes her look 'girly' and 'innocent' almost, which is a trait women are told is appealing to men. Such theorists as Butler believed that gender was merely created, and by looking at such media texts as Cosmopolitan magazine this theory become quite apparent. 
Other ways in which we can denote that this is aimed at feminine women is the fonts used, especially on 'Men Talk' and on the number '7', it is cursive and has an overall girly appearance, the quote "you're beautiful" actually appears as if another woman has written it. 
Every aspect, from the light colours to the text used to the physical stance that Isla is taking is used to appeal to their target audience and this is something that I'll need to keep in mind when producing my own front cover. 

Recce

Survey Results

From this I have learnt an array of things which I think will help me when I produce my products as it will help me decide on exactly what sorts of contents to put in and who I should aim it at. 

All of my TA are between 15 and 20 years old, though I expect people up to the age of 25 to be interested in my product as up until then I think my audience still dress and act relatively the same. 

At this age most of my target audience are students, however there are a couple that work alongside study and some who just have jobs. At this age as well it is likely that they are still living at home or live in halls and so although some may have a lot expendable income others may not have so much so I should mix between higher priced products and lower.

Most of my target audience is female and at least slightly interested in fashion and buy fashion magazines sometimes. However, they tend to read magazines which incorporate elements other than fashion (such as Cosmo and Glamour), although fashion was one key feature they like to see in magazines, on par with beauty, they also looked for articles on relationships and sex. As they don't tend to read fashion magazines often the majority agreed that a monthly magazine is best, and would pay between £2 and £3.

Most of my target audience are also interested mainly in high street clothing, although do like higher end beauty products and accessories. Most of them are interested in alternative dress (i.e. not high fashion) and look more for practicality in how they dress rather than appearance, although this is also an important factor. 

Survey!

I have produced a survey that will help me gather quantitative data on my target audience. The results of this will also help me produce my magazine in certain ways so as to appeal to my audience.
Here I have asked a group of my friends to complete it for me.