Previous work

 

Previously in January 2023 we were given the task to create our own front cover for the big issue magazine. I chose to use Halle Berry not only for her recent work in the popular Little Mermaid live action film, but her beliefs and views also align with the Big Issues brand ideologies. Halle is a big advocate for mental health among young adults, and she joined a campaign to do with this at the height of the pandemic. Her ethnicity also adds to the big issues ideologies about equality and representation in the media. 

I will be using this piece of work as inspiration for my magazine front cover, particularly a glamorous look with a close up shot. 

Initial ideas (generic research)

Initial ideas:

My first initial ideas for my NEA were to do a magazine, where I was specifically interested in the genre of r&b. I chose this genre of music because I am particularly interested in the style of music and fashion in the 2000s period, using artists such as Destiny's Child as my inspiration. I then began to research pictures and look more into the genre itself, as well as the codes and conventions of R&B music. 

Females in R&B: 

Females are renowned for wearing minimal clothing during the period of R&B music and advertisement, to increase their appeal to their male audience, as well as hair and make up always appearing flawless. This represents the females appearance as consistently perfect and desirable to the viewer, which provides them with a 'goddess aura'. In order to enhance this, they will often have long hair and have the "ideal" body type of this time period, as it would be desirable to the majority of their target audiences. 

With this in mind, I began to think of suitable models and locations to take my pictures which would fit this aesthetic. 

                             

(Nelly furtado 2002)

This is an example of what I had in mind when first picturing my magazine, particularly a close shot of my chosen model(s). This is because after researching R&B camerawork, I found it tends to consist of medium shots of the artist to promote them. Women in the genre tend to use mid shots to allow a clear view of their often provocative clothing; female artists tend to express their sexuality, presenting them as desirable. 

The lighting used in R&B videos is also mainly high key, and often features a grey scale, black and white or sepia tone/filter which often reflects the sensuality or sadness of the lyrics. 

For my second magazine, I decided to stick within the same genre of R and B and take inspiration from artists such as Loyle Carner, who has the desired look I want to achieve.