Draft: Midterm Submission

This is the first draft of my magazine excerpt that I am posting for my midterm assessment in class. I created all of these pages using Microsoft Word because that is the program that I am most comfortable using. Microsoft Word has all of the necessary digital elements to create my excerpt, such as photo editing options, text boxes, and elegant fonts.

Planning: Interview Questions for Locals

I plan to ask my local friends and family about their opinions of Sarasota to publish in 1 of the magazine articles.

Interview Questions:
1. What makes Sarasota great?
2. What is your favorite thing to do in Sarasota?
3. What is a place in Sarasota you think deserves more attention?
4. Are there any thrilling experiences you have experienced in Sarasota that you would like to share?
5. How does Sarasota compare to other travel spots in Florida?

Planning: First Flat Plan

I created this approximately 90-page flat plan using the online website, Blinkplan.

Planning: Table of Contents Template

I created this table of contents page using Microsoft Word.

Planning: Cover Design Template

I created this cover page using Microsoft Word. I chose this photo of Siesta Key Beach for the front cover because of its vibrant colors and appearance of public support with the crowd of people surrounding the shore. The red lifeguard tower on the right side of the photo and the afternoon sun fading out from the left side of the photo are eye-catching because I utilized the rule-of-thirds camera technique.

Planning: Marina Jack Photo Shoot

Today, I went to Marina Jack/Bayfront Park around 3:00 PM for a photo shoot. I took about 50 photos of the park right when the sun was still shining high in the sky. I used a Canon PowerShot SX150 IS with 14.1 megapixels. These are the 5 best photos I took, which are unedited. I have decided to use these photos and the Siesta Key photos for the magazine without editing because they are already aesthetically-pleasing to my eyes.

Planning: Siesta Key Photo Shoot

Today, I went to Siesta Key Beach around 5:00 PM for a photo shoot. I took about 50 photos of the beach right before the sun began to set. I used a Canon PowerShot SX150 IS with 14.1 megapixels. These are the 5 best photos I took, which are unedited. I am considering using these photos for the magazine without editing because they are already high quality, and no editing will make the photos appear more authentic.

Planning: Scouting Locations

As a resident of Sarasota for over a decade, I have been to almost all the main tourist attractions in this city at least once. I have decided the most visually-appealing locations to take photos of are Siesta Key Beach and Marina Jack/Bayfront Park. Since these places are the prettiest in the afternoon, I plan to go capture photos of them after school around 4-6 PM before the sun sets. For Siesta Key, I plan to capture photos of the ocean, surrounding buildings, and sunset. For Marina Jack, I plan to capture photos of the dock, park, and surrounding downtown area. I will go to Siesta Key tomorrow, and Marina Jack on Wednesday. 

Research: Travel + Leisure Travel Magazine - October 2017 Cover

The October 2017 cover of Travel + Leisure is dominated by a singular photo of a model in front of a mountain backdrop. The Travel + Leisure logo is in the top edge of the magazine, large and uncovered. The top half of the cover contains short textual previews of the article topics as well as the "Sky High in the Middle East" title of the issue. The cover has a natural background of a marvelous, aesthetically-pleasing mountain expanse with trees and a body of water. The text is layered on top of the background photo in bold colors - primarily red, black, and yellow.

Research: Glamour Magazine - December 2017 Issue

The December 2017 issue of Glamour is informative on women's lifestyle choices, particularly the most recent fashion trends and popular culture news. The cover is dominated by a singular photo of American singer-songwriter and actress, Solange Knowles, front and center. Solange Knowles' face covers part of the Glamour logo, while the rest of her figure takes up nearly the entire cover. Only slim spaces on the left, top, and right edges of the magazine are left uncovered by her large photo. The cover has a plain, light blue background layered with short textual previews of the stories inside the magazine. The magazine utilizes solid, feminine colors – primarily white, pink, and nude. As it essentially focuses on women's empowerment, the magazine includes articles concerning all aspects of fashion, beauty, and entertainment news, such as “The Real Deal on Shopping for Your Size”, “20 Reasons It's Damn Good to Be a Woman in 2017”, and “A Better Abs Routine”. The articles appear on nearly every other page due to the frequent inserts of advertisements. Usually placed on the odd-numbered pages, the magazine includes various ads for brands such as H&M, Aveeno, and Versace. The table of contents contains several miniature photos pertaining to the titles of each magazine article. The articles also contain photos ranging in size. From miniature photos to large ones that take up entire pages, the number of photos average about 3 per article containing relevant people and products. The distribution number for Glamour in the Unites States is approximately 2,300,854. Glamour has not been reported to win any awards for its publications. Uniquely, Glamour hosts the annual Glamour Awards in order to honor "extraordinary and inspirational" women from a variety of fields, including entertainment, music, science, and politics.

Research: InStyle Magazine - December 2017 Issue

The December 2017 issue of InStyle is informative on women's fashion and popular culture, particularly the most recent fashion trends, beauty tips, and important figures in the entertainment industry. The cover is dominated by a singular photo of American actress and producer, Julia Roberts, front and center. Julia Roberts' face covers part of the InStyle logo, while the rest of her figure takes up nearly the entire cover. Only slim spaces on the left and right edges of the magazine are left uncovered by her large photo. The cover has a plain, sepia-toned background layered with short textual previews of the stories inside the magazine. The magazine utilizes solid, bold colors – primarily black, blue, and yellow. As it primarily focuses on women's fashion, the magazine includes articles concerning all aspects of personal style and relevant celebrity news, such as “Style 100: What's Now, What's Next!”, “Style Crush”, and “The Woman Behind the Wheels”. The articles appear on nearly every other page due to the frequent inserts of advertisements. Usually placed on the odd-numbered pages, the magazine includes various ads for products such as Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water, PANDORA Rose jewelry, and Fossil smartwatches. The table of contents contains several miniature photos pertaining to the titles of each magazine article. The articles also contain photos ranging in size. From miniature photos to large ones that take up entire pages, the number of photos average about 3 per article containing relevant people and products. The distribution number for InStyle in the Unites States is approximately 1,810,539. InStyle has not been reported to win any awards for its publications. Fortunately, the magazine has expanded since 2012 and now distributes international editions in about 16 countries.

Research: GQ Magazine - December 2017/January 2018 Issue

The December 2017/January 2018 issue of GQ is informative on a variety of subjects, including food, travel, and sports pertaining to men. The cover is dominated by a singular photo of champion basketball player, Kevin Durant, front and centered towards the right. Kevin Durant’s face covers the right-side ending of the GQ logo, while the rest of his figure takes up nearly the entire cover. Only slim spaces on the left, top, and right edges of the magazine are left uncovered by his large photo. The cover has a plain, white background layered with short textual previews of the stories inside the magazine. The magazine utilizes solid, bold colors – primarily white, black, and red. As it has shifted its focus towards personal lifestyle choices for men, the magazine includes articles concerning all aspects of culture and current events, such as “Gifts We Love”, “Gorge Yourself on the New Nostalgia”, and “Men of the Year: Stephen Colbert Makes America Great”. The articles appear in sections towards the middle and end of the magazine due to the frequent inserts of advertisements. Placed one after the other all throughout the magazine, various ads appear for products and brands such as Rolex watches, Bloomingdale’s, and Patron tequila. The table of contents is spread out over multiple pages in between ads and contains the titles and brief summaries of each magazine article. Pertinent large photos serve as the background of each table of contents page. For example, Colin Kaepernick is the background for the table of contents page containing page numbers of articles for “Men of the Year”. The articles also contain photos ranging in size. From miniature photos to large ones that take up entire pages, the number of photos average about 4 per article containing relevant people and events. The distribution number for GQ in the Unites States is approximately 946,726. GQ has not been reported to win any awards for its publications. Unfortunately, this men’s magazine is frequently criticized for various tendencies, such as its sexism in its portrayal of women.

Research: Arizona Highways Travel Magazine - November 2017 Cover

The November 2017 cover of Arizona Highways is dominated by a singular artistic photo of an Arizona desert. The Arizona Highways logo is in the top edge of the magazine, large and uncovered. The top half of the cover contains a short textual preview of the article topics as well as the "Explore Sedona" title of the issue. The cover has a natural background of a soothing, animated desert with trees and a body of water. The text is layered on top of the background photo in neutral colors - light blue and white.

Research: Wanderlust Travel Magazine - November 2017 Cover

The November 2017 cover of Wanderlust is dominated by a singular photo of 2 boats on a beach, most likely in Thailand. The Wanderlust logo is in the top left-hand corner of the magazine, large and uncovered. The top half of the cover contains short textual previews of the stories inside the magazine as well as the "Alternative Thailand" title of the issue. The cover has a natural background of a bright, beautiful beach. The textual previews are layered on top of the background photo in bold colors - primarily white, black, and red.

Research: Vogue Magazine - October 2017 Issue

The October 2017 issue of Vogue is informative on fashion and lifestyle choices, particularly the most recent fashion trends and beauty tips. The cover is dominated by a singular photo of American actress, Rooney Mara, front and center with a nature background. Rooney Mara’s face covers the bottom part of the letter 'G' of the Vogue logo, while the rest of her figure takes up nearly the entire cover. Only slim spaces on the left, top, right, and bottom edges of the magazine are left uncovered by her figure. The cover has a natural setting of a small river surrounded by grass layered with short textual previews of the stories inside the magazine. The magazine utilizes solid, soothing colors – primarily white, pink, and green. As it has shifted its focus towards beauty advice for women, the magazine includes articles concerning all aspects of personal style and current trends, such as “Putting on a Show”, “Gloss Castle”, and “Into the Mild”. The articles appear in sections towards the middle and end of the magazine due to the frequent inserts of advertisements. Placed one after the other all throughout the magazine, various ads appear for high-end brands such as Gucci, Ralph Lauren, and COACH. The table of contents is spread out over multiple pages in between ads and contains the titles and brief summaries of each magazine article. Pertinent large photos appear in the corner of each table of contents page. For example, a model dressed in trendy clothing is in the left-hand corner for the table of contents page containing page numbers of articles for “Talking Fashion”. The brief articles also contain photos ranging in size. From miniature photos to large ones that take up entire pages, the number of photos average about 3 per article containing relevant products and events. The distribution number for Vogue in the Unites States is approximately 1,231,931. In February of 2015, Vogue won the "Magazine of the Year" award at the annual National Magazine Awards. Unfortunately, the magazine is frequently criticized for various tendencies, such as its prejudicial depictions of men and minorities.

Research: Rolling Stone Magazine - November 16, 2017 Issue

The November 16, 2017 issue of Rolling Stone is informative on popular culture, particularly the rising stars in the music industry. The cover is dominated by a singular photo of rap artist, Cardi B, front and center. Cardi B’s face covers part of the Rolling Stone logo, while the rest of her figure takes up nearly the entire cover. Only slim spaces on the left, top, and right edges of the magazine are left uncovered by her large photo. The cover has a plain, white background layered with short textual previews of the stories inside the magazine. The magazine utilizes solid, bold colors – primarily white, black, and red. As it has shifted its focus towards a younger readership, the magazine includes articles concerning all aspects of the entertainment industry and current events, such as “21 Savage’s ‘Plain-Jane’ Swagger”, “The Brilliant Return of ‘Stranger Things’”, and “Hot Revolution: Socialism”. The articles appear on nearly every other page due to the frequent inserts of advertisements. Usually placed on the odd-numbered pages, the magazine includes various ads for products such as the Sonos One speaker, Newport Platinum cigarettes, and the Gillette Fusion 5 razor. The table of contents contains several miniature photos pertaining to the titles of each magazine article. The articles also contain larger photos, averaging about 3 photos per article, of relevant people and events. The distribution number for Rolling Stone in the Unites States is approximately 1,467,971. Rolling Stone has not been reported to win any awards for its publications. Unfortunately, the magazine is frequently criticized for various tendencies, such as its generational bias toward the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Planning: Post Selection - My Decision

I choose to do the magazine project because the digital editing and technical writing aspects of print journalism appeal to me more than the filming and directing aspects necessary for the film project. As I explained in my first blog post, I have developed skills in making aesthetically-pleasing and informative content through using digital applications such as PowerPoint and Instagram. I have also learned a great deal on how to capture quality camera shots and angles from class discussions and developed my technical writing skills throughout my high school career from taking writing-intensive AICE courses. I plan to produce a travel magazine for my home state of Florida. Each issue of the magazine will focus on a different city or town in Florida. For this particular issue of the magazine, I plan to focus on the city of Sarasota. This will be convenient for me when taking photos for the issue because I reside in Sarasota. The cost of travel for me as the photographer will be minimal as I will be able to drive to major Sarasota destinations in mere minutes. I will work alone because I am more comfortable having full creative control for my own project. I plan to create a Florida travel magazine targeted towards a primarily millennial audience, or people in the 16-25 age range because these are the years in which teenagers and young adults are granted more independence and freedoms that allow them to travel on their own without supervision from other adults. I plan to make this magazine a must-read guide to Florida traveling for teenagers and young adults who have a sense of wanderlust. I will incorporate all aspects of traveling, including travel music, travel fashion, and travel locations.

Planning: Post Selection - Film

The aspects of film production that interest me are the filming, editing, and writing. Based on my life experiences, I have always been drawn to digital editing. Whether that be editing unofficial music videos with my friends to post on YouTube or editing my own Facebook account photos, I have developed skills in making aesthetically-pleasing and entertaining content using technology. Based on what I have learned in class, particularly from analyzing the Inside Story: Ferris Bueller's Day Off documentary, filming and writing are both intellectually-demanding aspects of film production. As mentioned in my last blog post, I have learned a great deal on how to film using quality camera shots and angles from class discussions of the vocabulary involved with filming/capturing content, including terms such as mid shot and wide shot. I have also developed my creative writing skills throughout my high school career through taking courses, such as AICE English Language AS Level, that have taught me how to write entertaining and compelling short stories. The challenging part of this film project for me will be the planning. Deciding on what type of film to produce, gathering actors for the film, scouting film locations, and planning all the other details involved with creating a film will be hard for me because of the limited time I have to produce this brief film opening. It will be hard for me to plan out all the details of production in a timely manner if I choose to do the film project.

Planning: Post Selection - Magazine

The aspects of print journalism that interest me are the photography, design, and writing. Based on my life experiences, I have always been drawn to digital design. Whether that be editing informative PowerPoint Presentations for my school projects or editing my own Instagram account photos, I have developed skills in making aesthetically-pleasing and informative content using technology. Based on what I have learned in class, particularly from analyzing episodes of The Newsroom show and the All the President's Men film, photography and writing are both time-consuming aspects of journalism. I have learned a great deal on how to capture quality camera shots and angles from class discussions of the vocabulary involved with filming/capturing content, including terms such as mid shot and wide shot. I have also developed my technical writing skills throughout my high school career through taking courses, such as AICE Global Perspectives AS Level, that have taught me how to research and produce informative, unbiased content. The challenging part of this magazine project for me will be the planning. Deciding on what type of magazine to produce, what type of photos to take, what type of audience to market my magazine towards, and all the other major details involved with creating the first several pages of a magazine will be hard for me because of all the broad options I have to choose from. It will be hard for me to choose a specific concept to commit to in a timely manner if I choose to do the magazine project.