Further Sample images

These are further sample images that I have take for the front cover, double page spread and to go alongside the article. From these images I will choose the most appropriate ones to feature in my final production piece. Through the use of natural light plus artificial light, I have created a studio-like background, which would be typical for a Harper’s Bazaar beauty shoot, as the focus should be the model rather than the extravagant props in the background.  Through the use of a variety of angles and shots, I think I have created a diverse range of images suitable for a Harper’s Bazaar replica piece. 

Article Plan

My article will be an interview with the actress, where she talks about her newest TV show and it's links to feminism, relating back to my critical investigation piece. In addition to this, all the typical codes and conventions of Harper's Bazaar will be carried out through the article, with the actress divulging the details of her personal life and the fashion and beauty brands she can't live without. There will also be a quote of the actress central to the article for readers skimming over the text, it should summarise the page concisely and entice people to read more.

The first draft of my article is as follows

My first sighting of Maisie Bass is across Gauchos in London, her choice of restaurant for lunch. I arrive on time on what is already a surprisingly swelteringly hot day. So when the 19-year-old actress tumbles through the door 15 minutes later, she looks flushed and flustered in the way that anyone might who was running behind schedule and had been pounding the pavement in the midday sun. She is dressed nicely: a white Isabel Marant blazer over a pink Zac Posen top, with skinny Paige jeans, gladiator sandals and a white Narciso Rodriguez bag in the crook of her arm. All of this I take in later; I am more distracted now by the animated dumb show that ensues when

The waitress greets her. Confusion first, then distress rattle across her face as she fishes out her phone and starts jabbing at the screen, presumably to bring up the name of our reservation. It’s a sort of manic behaviour I have seen before, albeit in heightened form, from her character on Chase, though of course Daniella Mathews only manifests it when she has been blindsided by a terrorist bomb or a Met police betrayal, or simply slipped off her meds and spiralled into one of her episodes. I hurry over to introduce myself and a minute later we are about to sit down when Maisie spins around and apologetically disappears off to the bathroom. When she re-emerges – you’d think having cooled off – she is just as charged up as before. Before I’ve even turned on the tape recorder she’s already off on a feminist rant, so my transcript catches her in medias res: “It just doesn’t make sense? How can any self-respecting woman possibly wish to be represented in this way?” she questions as she reflects on last night’s episode of ‘The Royals.’ But, before a feminist rant entails, I discourage the subject topic and begin with a question. When I ask her what she most likes about her new life, she doesn't miss a beat. ‘The money,’ she says, in her husky, Bacall-esque voice.

Pause.

‘I’m joking. The work, the work…’

‘…In fact, I love the new platform I have to enforce feminist views and display to all women that you can succeed in a man’s world without being likened to a sexual object…’ and I couldn’t agree more. Maisie’s character Daniella is consistently empowering herself; she is in a high powered job, dictates the men around her and has a great deal of sex with various people. Her role as director also allows her to get her message across, she continues ‘…I wanted the public to understand that a show like this can exist, powerful female leads are entertaining, female characters are beyond more than just a male leads’ sidekick…’ and by switching those typical ideologies, the women are protecting the men of the country. As a take another bite into my sirloin steak, she shows me picture of her five year old brother Mason, who finds it difficult when she’s away filming. She continues ‘ … He’s adorable, definitely a potential heartthrob, hopefully a little bit of feminism will rub off on him, I’m hopeful he’ll treat girls right” At one point, having wandered off topic, I ask if I may jump back to a subject many readers are longing to know more about, namely the next season of Chase. ‘Of course, of course. You may, you may,’ she says with a flourish, the spirit of gallant silliness creeping in. I see what she means, when comparing herself to Daniella Mathews. She cites a common obsessiveness and restlessness, but also notes a key difference: ‘She’s earnest, I’m earnest. But I’m goofy too.’

So what about Chase, the television series that earned her two NTA awards and worldwide acclaim? To be fair, there have been moments, particularly in the last season, which tested the patience of even the most diehard fan. But at its best the show quickens the pulse and jangles the nerves like no other.

www.harpersbazaar.co.uk                                                                          >>>>> Read more on the next page

Model and image planning

First draft images

I originally took these photos with the intention of using them for my final design piece. However, on reflection I found that the images were too similar to one another as they were all medium shot images with the model wearing the same top in each one, which doesn’t follow the codes and conventions of the images in Harper’s Bazaar. Therefore, I have used these images as first draft images, as they did give me a sense of what poses to use, lighting, colours and how to edit them.  In order to improve the images for my final production piece, I will retake the pictures with the model in various different poses, taken from different angles and distances. In addition to this, I’m going to vary the outfits that the model wears, along with hairstyles and make up to show variety and represent the spectrum of beauty products.

Front Cover Title Draft

Now that I have gained a clear understanding and idea of the images I intend to use and the layout/format of the front page I have begun to experiment with fonts and colours in creating the Harper’s Bazzar logo for the cover. Through my research I have noticed that typically, with a coloured image, black or white transparent text for the magazine title is used, and for black and white covers, bold complementary colours are used to bring style and entice the reader. A few of my initial ideas are below, depending on what colour I decide to make my image.