Reconnaissance

Conventional Locations

 

The first step to creating ‘Frank’ magazines’ front cover, contents page and double page spread, involves research in locations that will be used. I have studied the pages of Alternative music publications ‘NME’ and ‘Q’ to develop a thorough knowledge of commonly used locations in images. I chose to look at these magazines because they are music magazines that can relate to ‘Frank’ because they are all based on Alternative music; ‘Frank’ can be seen as a female version of these magazines, which includes the same content but portrays it through a classier and more feminine perspective.

In ‘NME’ and ‘Q’ magazine, bands and artists are often photographed:

- On stage/ backstage at gigs, festivals, concert stadiums

- ‘jamming’/ relaxing in recording studios

- Against neutral coloured backgrounds e.g. mostly white, black, grey and beige walls

- Against material walls e.g. pine wood walls, leather walls, brick walls

- In vehicles e.g. cars, vans, tour buses

- In and outside homes e.g. bedrooms, living rooms, gardens, sheds, garages

- In natural areas e.g. in fields, forests, on benches in parks

- In industrial areas e.g. behind warehouses, against cityscape, near roads, near car-parks, high streets.

- In communal areas e.g. pubs, cafes, coffee shops, bus stops, train stations

Fans are often photographed:

- At gigs e.g. meeting bands/ artists, in the crowd, backstage

- At festivals e.g. meeting bands/ artists in the crowd, near the tents, fighting in the mud

- With artists and bands in communal places e.g. randomly meeting them in pubs, both on stage at gigs/ festivals/ concerts

- At album signings

Magazines use images of artists and bands at gigs, festivals and concerts to visually express the magazines involvement in live music and the target audience’s passion for it. Images of musicians in recording studio’s give the readers an insight into where exactly the music is born; it is a personal attribute which shows a different kind of performance from the artists, one that the target audience can only see through the pages of a magazine. The locations used for front covers are often against neutral backgrounds, such as plain white walls; backgrounds are simple because the attention is diverted towards the artist and the text on a front cover. Materialised walls are often used in images depending on the artist, their style of music and the type emotion or opinion the article is trying to reflect. Bands and Artists are pictured in vehicles because the TA are male and as well as music, they may also be interested in cars and so the two are combined. Domestic areas are used for article images, musicians are photographed in their homes, perhaps on their beds in their bedrooms, having tea in their living room or kitchen or ‘jamming’ in their garden shed. These type of locations connect with the concept of the interview, which is to portray an insight into their personal lives, and this is further depicted through photographs. Bands and artists are pictured in natural scenery such as hanging out in fields, forests or on benches in parks, these type of areas appear very green and murky, yet authentically British . It’s a sincere expression of the style of music and culture. The same can be said for images of artists that have been taken in industrial areas, for example against cityscapes. It shows a more contemporary style of the musician being photographed. Communal areas are used, such as pubs, cafes or coffee shops for article images to express a sense of intimacy to the readers. The artists are seen having a pint of beer or a cup of coffee and they’re seen as relaxed. The TA are interested in seeing their favourite musicians in and out of their performance zones.

Potential Locations for FRANK magazine

Front Cover Background
-White brick wall
-Plain white wall
-White Fence
-Neutral wall paper
-Neutral coloured curtains
-Pine wooden wall

Double Page Spread
-Plain white background

If the front cover included an outdoor background:
-Garden
-Field


If the front cover included an indoor background
-Living room
-Bedroom
-Kitchen
-Inside a cafe