CCR

This is my creative critical reflection.

http://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cbf63qXc0D

My final project

So this is the end...

Hope you enjoy my magazine as much as I do!

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1hoTxKqses4K-Ar5nSXX6w4Ckoji4Mjbu7kh2D2XDlPk/edit?usp=sharing

 

                                                 

All done!

    After what seems like a never ending journey I have finally pulled together my project. I think the most difficult part was just getting started. I had all my ideas laid out and ready to execute but I just didn't want to put it on the paper because I was scared I wouldn't be able to fulfill my vision to its fullest potential. It was after I finally took my photos, when I had no choice but to begin creating. It forced me to find the right website for me. Even though I originally said I was going to use Madmagz to make my magazine again it didn't have the features I needed to make what I was envisioning. After hours, no lie, hours and this absolute saint of a YouTube video I finally figured out that Google docs, yes google docs, is the best way to make a magazine. It's actually not google docs its the presentation feature but regardless finally I found a website that allowed me to create the way I wanted to. The writing was a breeze for me, it was the design that took me forever. Although I changed some things, I for the most part stuck to sketches. However, I am an absolute perfectionist and if even one little thing was visually off I would literally stare at it until I could figure out what was wrong with it. All and all I am so happy how my magazine turned out and I hope you can see how much effort, time, and passion I put into creating it. I hope I can use that same will power to make an awesome CCR.

Until next time!



Sources cited:
Gonzscience. "HOW TO MAKE A MAGAZINE COVER ON GOOGLE DOCS." YouTube. YouTube, 11 Nov. 2015. Web. 07 Apr. 2017.

Home stretch

SO,
after two hours of waiting the game finally ended and I finally got to take my pictures! I was so worried in my last posts that it would be pitch dark out and I would need flash and all those features but I totally forgot that of course they have park lights (how would the boys be able to see the small baseball if they had to play in the dark)! The park lights were so bright it was actually a little too much light but we worked around it. So I had started with my model, Tyler, on home plate. My partner and I thought it would be cool if we could have the same cover but with two different sports. So on hers she had her model for water polo hold the ball in front of half his face, so I had Tyler hold the bat in front of half his face to try to recreate the same effect. It turned out cute, however there were better photos I took afterwards.

   After we took those photos we went out to the outfield to take the much anticipated fly ball candid. At first I tried to toss the ball and take the pictures at the same time but they kept coming out very shaky because obviously I was moving. Another boy from the team came over to help, and although I was holding the camera straight the photos did not come out as planned. They were blurry and lacked the professionalism I was going for.

           

Finally we went back to the infield where we took some pictures on first base. These came out perfect. As you can see Tyler looks focused and ready to play. The shot is clear, and you can see his features unlike the candid above. I am making this photo my cover.

Game time

What a night!

   I purposely left my house around 7:15 thinking that because the game started at 6:30  it would be mostly over by the time I finally got there because I really just needed individual photos of one of the players. When I got there and saw on the scoreboard they were only in the bottom of the third I knew I was in for a long night of waiting. 

    On the flip side all that extra time I had gave me a perfect opportunity to talk to Mr. Liotti, the Cypress Bay coach, about his daughter's foundation which as I said in earlier posts I am doing my double page spread on. Although he was busy, he graciously answered all my questions. Not only is he passionate about the foundation and all it has to offer but he sees the value of incorporating sports into it.Emphasizing that through the joint effort of the community, we can do more. Highlighting my whole purpose for choosing to do a sports magazine in the first place, it builds the foundation of our country.

Progress

Me again!

    FINALLY I am going to take my photos. The team has a game tomorrow at six on their home field. So it's an easy drive for me and of course home field advantage. Before I go to the game I am going to go to Regional park to take my photos of the baseball field for my table of contents while it's still light out. Tomorrow will also be a perfect opportunity to interview Mr. Liotti, the Cypress coach, for my double page spread.

Some questions I would like to ask him are:

1. Whose idea was the foundation?

2. What is the best part of the foundation?

3. What upcoming things do you have planned for it?

4. Why did you decide to incorporate your baseball team with it?


I'll keep you guys updated how the pictures turn out tomorrow!

Mild confusion

So I've been thinking.

   When I do actually take my photos, if I ever do, because every time I plan a day to take them something comes up, I really don't know how I want them to look anymore. I had this initial vision of it being mid day bright and sunny yet I neglect to acknowledge that most of the baseball games are played later into the day, usually at night, to escape the blistering heat of good old Florida. So I was originally going to take it with my partner's Canon but since I know nothing about cameras I questioned to myself if there is even flash on those types of cameras since apparently it is going to be dark out when I take the photos and I don't want them to come out blurry. So yes, I did research on whether canons have flash or not and of course most if not all do. However clearly I don't use those types of cameras and therefore I have been leaning more towards just using my Iphone camera instead. I just got the Iphone 6s a few months ago so it is relativity new and according to Apple it has many upgraded features especially in the photo department. The rear facing camera now has a twelve megapixel Isight camera which enables many attributes. It comprises features such as burst mode (for the perfect action shot), set focus and exposure, and more listed here. Thus I have concluded that I will bring the canon just to see how it works, but most likely use my Iphone.

Sources cited:
Pakarklis, Emil. "10 IPhone Camera Features Every Photographer Should Use." IPhone Photography School. N.p., 10 Mar. 2017. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.

Typical Monday

So I'm in all time stress mode.

   The due date is quickly approaching and I have a bunch of ideas I have yet to execute. I have finally logged on to and signed up for the magazine template website which I have been putting off for weeks because I have been so busy.
    The first website I viewed was Joomag because my teacher recommend it. However I started looking through it and it is so complicated. I tried to start a new magazine from scratch, just to test it out, and I could't even figure out how to import a photo onto the cover correctly. I don't know if it's me or just maybe the website is made for more experienced magazine creators, but I went on the search for a new website to create my magazine on. I came across a website called Madmagz and it seemed more user friendly then the one before. On this website I successfully imported the photo and cropped it with ease. So I'm not sure if its because I'm stressed and not being patient enough to learn how to use Joomag or it is just too complex of a website for me to utilize but I think I'm just going to stick with Madmagz for now.


Sources cited:
Joomag. "Digital Publishing Platform for Everyone." Joomag. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
"Create Your Mag for Free: Madmagz." Create Your Mag for Free: Madmagz. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.

Quick summary

Happy Sunday!!

   I can't believe I am only a couple weeks into my project and have done so much already. Here's a quick summary of all the crazy thoughts I have had so far so everything is neat and ready for me to execute. My partner and I have established our masthead, Halftime. As I said before we know it will bring a fun and sporty ambiance to our magazine enticing consumers to read it. My front cover will have a candid shot of one of the Cypress Bay baseball players most likely jumping up and catching a ball. My table of contents (I changed my mind once again) will consist of three columns and a background photo. Lastly my double page spread will be a story on the Cypress Bay baseball coach's daughters foundation and how the baseball team is involved and spends their time off the field. Giving readers an even further look into the world of sports and what it is really all about, giving back. I did some quick sketches of how I generally want the magazine to look.

Above is going to be my cover. Although I didn't sketch it like this, the image is going to be in the back and the writing is going to be on top of it. My masthead will be thick and bold similar to many of the sports magazines I have looked at throughout my project.

I have changed my mind what I want to do with my table of contents a hundred times but I think this is what I'm finally deciding on. Before I was saying I was going to make the page numbers different items but that would be way to messy. So now I am going to divide my table of contents into three neat sections, and put the picture of the baseball field in the back.

             

   Lastly this will be my double page spread. 

Double coverage

I have my double page spread idea but what should it actually look like!?

   I started researching examples of double page spreads for inspiration but they were all so over the top, it didn't really fit with the story I'm going to cover. I did however find these basic sketches of ways I could lay it out that I do like.

After I take the photos and write the story I will see which layout will showcase it the best and chose from one of these!

Sources cited:

"Double Page Spreads." Pinterest. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2017.

Double spread

Me again!

   So let's talk about my double page spread. There are an array of options I have to pick from. The most obvious and most common would be to just to do a story on one of the baseball team's games. As there are an ample amount of games they still have to play and districts quickly approaching it would easily make a good story. However I'm never one to follow the crowd, so I started thinking of other stories I could do.

    In ninth grade I took philosophy and the teacher who taught it also happens to be the Cypress Bay baseball coach. In class one day, Mr.Liotti shared with us his young daughter had been recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. That she had begun chemotherapy, and in honor of her they have started a foundation in her name. The foundation not only raises awareness for her rare form, but its mission is to give back. During especially the Christmas season, Mr. Liotti and his baseball team would collect all the donated gifts, and surprise the children at the hospital with them.

     I have decided to do my double page spread on the foundation and the baseball teams involvement with it. Emphasizing my main purpose for selecting to do a sports magazine in the first place. With community and connectivity we can all come together and make a difference.

Table of contents

   After doing some research it has become apparent that the table of contents is presumed to be the most boring part of a magazine. That the "traditional design solutions for the table of contents is to play it safe." However the table of contents is the first thing you see when you open your magazine. I want to make my table of contents creative and draw the reader even more into my magazine. As displayed here there are a number of different ways you can create a visually engaging and functional table of contents.

   I have a number of ideas I can do. My first idea was to just put a single item, like a baseball, for every different page number but I thought it would look too repetitive. So then I was thinking of doing different types of baseball equipment for each page number, but again unoriginal. But then it hit me why not make the whole table of contents the baseball diamond and have every page number and summary connect just as it does on the field. I am already going to be at the baseball field taking photos for my cover page so why not while I'm at it take one for my table of contents as well!



Sources cited:
"Designing the Perfect Table of Contents: 50 Examples to Show You How." Design School. N.p., 06 Jan. 2016. Web. 19 Mar. 2017.

Full speed (mast)ahead

Me again!

   My partner and I have finally decided on our masthead name. We are going to call our magazine Halftime. The word halftime has so many alternate meanings it is the perfect title.
   It could be used in regards to the most obvious use the intermission in the game. Giving our magazine a sporty and fun ambiance before the consumer even looks at it. It can also be employed to suggest the high quality efficiency of our product. That we can get you the latest news, drama, and facts of the sport's world in "half the time" than everyone else does. So you are always up to date and informed. Along with those propitious attributes the world halftime can be made aesthetically pleasing. We intend to cut the word "half" in actual half and then finish with the "time" in bold.

   Giving our magazine what I feel is a huge advantage over the other magazines. As just in something as small as our masthead our creativity and wit radiates through creating a sense of uniqueness around our magazine.

Location, location!

Okay so bad news or good news first?

   I'll go with the bad news first. Although I really wanted to put a girl on the cover for a little woman empowerment I don't know anyone on the softball team so I'm just going to leave a boy on the cover.

  Aside from that everything is moving along. I now have to choose a location to shoot my cover photo. There are a few baseball fields I can utilize that are in Weston. Making it easy to commute to and bring the equipment I need. I can either do the shoot at Regional Park or the Cypress Bay fields. The Cypress Bay fields are nice as they were just renovated. However although freshly refurbished there are only two fields available for use. Also the fields have the Cypress Bay logo all over it, understandably. So I don't want it to be too overbearing considering the boy is already going to be wearing his Cypress Bay uniform. Thus I have decided to do the shoot at the Regional Park fields. With many fields to take advanatge of it will gave me ample space and neutrality to create my vision.


                                        





Sources cited:

"Renovation of Cypress Bay Park." Cypress Bay Lightning. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2017.

"Weston Florida / City of Weston FL - Vista Park." Weston Florida / City of Weston FL - Vista Park. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2017.

Quick update

Alright I'm going to keep this post short and sweet!

   So in my recent posts I have been contemplating on what features and design paths I want to go with for my magazine cover but I have been neglecting the most obvious aspect. Who really is my target audience?
   At first thought many will be quick to conclude that it is only males. However in modern times, sports magazines are read by a vast majority of people ranging from all ages and all genders. So now with this new outlook I am thinking about maybe doing a feature on softball instead. In light of the times and the fresh empowerment of women why not give us a spotlight on a usually male dominated cover?

  That's all for tonight, I will for sure do a long post tomorrow morning as I have many other new ideas to share and try to sort out.

Continuing on

   Well that sense of enthusiasm and direction lasted for all of five seconds. I know I want to do a sports magazine with baseball as my feature but I have no idea what I want to put on the cover. I want to put more of a candid shot rather then a posed one. I think it will be more interesting and speak more to the audience. I have started looking up sports magazines for inspiration.


I really like the look of this one as it is an action shot of him throwing the ball, and even has a creative feature with the "broken glass." I have a few friends on the Cypress baseball team, so i'm going to have to see which one would be the best to put on my cover.







    I think one of the hardest parts is going to be taking the picture. Because I want it to be candid I know it's going to take many times to get the picture exactly right but I think with patience I can get it. I have been thinking of a few different options for what the shot can be. I can either have the player sliding into base, catching a fly ball, or hitting a ball. I'm leaning more towards catching a fly ball because those types of plays are always on Sportcenter's top ten.
These are my biggest inspirations for the cover photo:

                           

  I am still very unclear of what my masthead will look like. As shown in the photo on the top left, sports illustrated chose to go with just a simple bold one. I have to talk to my partner and get her input, but i want to do something similar.

I'll keep you guys updated!





Sources cited:
"David Price for the Cover of Sports Illustrated Baseball Preview." Houston Tx Advertising Photographer Robert Seale. N.p., 07 Apr. 2013. Web. 14 Mar. 2017./

"If Standing out of Play, Say Falling over the Outfield Fence, and You Reach over the Fence to Grab the Ball, Is That Considered a Homerun? Ground Rule Double? or Live Ball?"Baseball Coaching and Participation, Youth and Amateur, at The Ole Ballgame. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2017.

Press, Associated. "Kiermaier’s Catch Headlines Rays Win Over Orioles." WANE. N.p., 31 Aug. 2015. Web. 16 Mar. 2017.

"Washington Nationals v Philadelphia Phillies." Getty Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2017.

The Start Of Something Great

Hi!

My name is Shaina Biggerman and this is where I will share my journey.

   For my Aice media studies project, I had the option to pick either a film opening or a magazine layout. My partner, Emily Fine, and I have decided to do a magazine layout as we both agree we can best showcase our skills from what we learned in class through the magazine!

  The lingering thought of having to express all my feelings and thoughts down in a blog is not something I have been looking forward to, as I am not that type of person. However, it is with change and going outside your comfort zone which evokes a new sense of individualism and growth that can only better my final product. 

   I have been going back and fourth for weeks on what my magazine topic should be and truly want to do something I am passionate about. My initial idea was to do a humanity magazine as I am very concerned and into what's going on in society. I take to heart the ideal we are stronger together. With that said I then looked to sports. Fostered around the American dream, sports has been the symbol of prosperity and connectivity for centuries. I have chosen to do a sports magazine because it is one of the many underlying bricks that build the foundation for our country. I have picked to cover baseball as I have loved it ever since I was little, and as research conveys it has been America's pastime since the 1900's.

   I could not be more excited to do this project, and I hope I can relay that through this blog. I have finally figured out what direction I want to go in, and it's all up from here.


Sources cited:
Chen, Micah. "America's Pastime: 20 Reasons Why Baseball Will Always Hail over Football."Bleacher Report. Bleacher Report, 26 Jan. 2017. Web. 16 Mar. 2017.