This is one of our first projects is based on Vice Magazine. The magazine focuses on lifestyle, arts, culture, news and politics. The first issue in October 1994 was titled 'The Voice of Montreal' and later in 1996 was renamed 'Vice magazine'. Suroosh Alvi, Gavin Mclnnes and Shane Smith are the founders of Vice magazine.
The first British edition of Vice was in 2002. Andy copper was the first editor. Copper explained the remit of this magazine was to cover 'The things we're meant to be ashamed of'. Bodily functions were some of the slightly 'risque' topics published.
By 2007, the Vice magazine was published in 13 foreign editions. There was a vice independent record label and an online video channel VBS.com which had reached 184,000 unique viewers from the US during the month of August.
In 2013, Vice magazine had a 1,170,000 worldwide circulation producing 24 global editions.
View had 800 worldwide employees and around 3,500 freelance journalists that produced articles for the magazine.
Radical change-
Vision beauty artists-
These images inspired me to how they created different styles of colours, such as portrait and fashion. After exploring these images, I would love to use similar colour, shadow and detailed of fashion for the front cover and double spread page inside the magazine.
After researching commercial photographers and vision beauty artists,
The main idea is that I have decided to stick my project on “Gender identify”. The creativity of the difference between a man’s natural portrait then became the vision of women that wear make-up, described as “Drag king beauty” that show the impact on the man’s version of personality. Not only just women.
STYLING MOODBOARD
I plan to use the eyeshadow palette and lipstick that I have some at home. I will order a t-shirt of drag king beauty that shows the character of this model and tells a story behind this portrait. I also considering book a studio room at University and use a yellow background for my double spread page inside the magazine.
A MODEL-
I asked my brother to be a model for the cover and double spread inside the magazine that match the subject of this character because he is gay and interested in make-up and fashion. He has confidence in his poses model on social media that I would want to see a model being confident and know how to pose differently. I find it easy to communicate with him using sign language, which would be useful for me.
Here are some images of him-
The change of plan-
I decided not to use a male model that they don’t have the match availability I got, and I made an effect of doing my best to find ones since few weeks, but it didn’t go well.
The radical change-
I will be using a female model that shows how to deal with the pressure to be perfect for showing off their selfie on social media. For example, Instagram is a toxic app for everyone to see their photos when they edit photoshop to make their selfie “Perfectionism” and destroy their lack of confidence and start to think that they are ugly, fat, chubby and have scars on the face.
“Toxic perfectionism” is the main idea of my project.
The model-
I asked my friend to be my model for Vice shoots. She has the confidence of showing off her natural selfie and don’t care about the perfection of looks on Instagram.
RESEARCH/INSPIRATION-
Some drawings of my ideas of possible shoots-
I created some drawing of my ideas of shoots so I can play out with two different styles of these images and decide which one I prefer. I will take photos as possibly many.
The first idea for cover front-
I am planning to do outdoor shoots. The background I will use is bush included green leaves, and my model will do makeup by herself that I have shown her the image I want it to be for the make up style.
Double spread page-
A model will be posing as lay down on the grass and cover herself with a white sheet. The model will show her face as no makeup, compare to the first cover.
I might add leaves or flowers on a white sheet which would look surrealism on my model, but I will go along to see how to play it out with the model poses.
The second idea-
I am planning to do indoor shoots. I will play out with selfie shoots using the mirror and do model’s make up face, same as the first idea. I also will be using my ring lighting to reflect her right-side and play it out to test, which is the best position to use lighting.
Double spread page-
A model might be posing to show off the difference between the left face using makeup and non-makeup on the right. I am not sure about the idea of adding toxic perfection using paper on her chest, but I will play it out and see if they look good or not.
Third idea-
I am planning to buy flowers from the supermarket and pick different colours of flower to play it out in the bubble bath. A model will be posing as natural beauty in the bubble bath with flowers.
Double spread page-
I might do the same style of shooting a model posing in the bath, apart from doing makeup face. Could be that she shows off her natural look without makeup on.
What will be happening next time? –
I will be editing all my shots using Capture One or Photoshop and see which selection I prefer to use. I will see what lighting and position I need to improve and change better after test shoots to prepare for my final vice shoots.
Here are some images of my vice shoots-
Equipment list-
Nikon Camera D300
50mm to 100mm led
The lighting diagram-
I have done shoots in the different set up to see which selection I prefer to choose for my final vice magazine. Since using my digital Nikon camera, I have tried different position of lighting to capture these images, which is quite challenging to take photo indoor without lighting equipment. Still, it has been difficult to use different shutter speed and aperture to shoot these images.
Next time, I should have time to book the kit equipment and borrow them for a few days to prepare for my shoots that would help massively. I learnt my lesson that I need to take effect to find the right time to do shoots in the future.
Here is my favourite selection of shoots-
The final outcome of front cover and double spread image page using InDesign template-
What went well?
I selected two images for the front cover and double spread inside the magazine that compare the difference between a non-makeup and makeup of the same model in a different background. I like how these two images are related to my idea that fit in well with the magazine.
So far, I learnt a lot about what and how to use speed shutter and aperture that exposure the brightness of these images, which helps the quality of image come out better.
What didn’t go well?
However, I forget to use a grey card that could of having helped me to adjust the exposure of white balance so I know what shutter speed and aperture I would need to capture an image using a camera.
I did the photoshoot very last mins before the deadline come up, and it quite didn’t go well with the background I had chosen for each image. I need to take my time and not rushing photoshoots that make these images look not that fantastic.
What can I work on next time?
I need a better plan on the drawing diagram, which would be more helpful for me to set the photoshoot, background, location and book a model that organise correctly.
To use a piece of equipment that used for the set background that improves the position of a model posing. I will need to take more photos than less risk in case I forget to save my images or lose on a digital camera.
I need to explore more to show the subject of the model’s story with the sense of her personality and outfit, related to my ideas. I also should build my confidence to tell her what to posing, move in different position etc.
