RESEARCH...

Billboard Photography:
Having taken a broad range of photographs at the group photography session a few days ago, I was very pleased with the photos as I sifted through them to find the perfect one for my ancillary task. I tried to cover as many different shots as I possibly could, just in case I had to change any of my draftwork at the last minute for any reason. Therefore, I went back over the research I had completed previously for the task and found a commonality among the photographs. Due to the fact that the majority of most billboard designs are actually displaying rather important information about something, the positioning of the subject within the photograph is essential for an effective message. Typically, the subject is positioned to the side. Fortunately, I had highlighted this convention within my research so a fair few of my photographs were taken with this sort of positioning in mind, yet I still conducted further research in to the matter to (if nothing else) gain more creative inspiration for my design:

Taylor Swift- key image taken from her billboard advertisement for her single 'Mine':

This is the original image from the design with Swift positioned towards the right. This provides enough 'dead space' to be filled with copy, displaying relevant information. I also really like the woodland background, coupled with her white (representing purity) dress it conveys a really natural feel.

After some heavy editing, this is the completed billboard design:

The copy now fills the majority of the space and I really like the way the background has been blurred. I think this was so that the copy could easily be read, but also I think it sharpens the image of Taylor Swift and makes her more prominent. If possible, I would like to transfer this technique to my own product.

Fortunately, this style of photograph has always been one of my favourites as I feel that sometimes the subject's locations is just as important as the object themselves. For my Foundation Portfolio in Media, I used this technique for my key image:  

It turned out to be one of my favourite images and I really like the use mise-en-scene to portray Mia's rockstar persona. Therefore, having had practice, I hope to take and use an image I like just as much!

Similarly in this design, the same subject positioning technique has been used. With this being Vanessa Carlton herself, I can see that this could potentially be a common convention of her photographs, finally cementing my decision to use an image of my own with Melissa situated towards one side.

This is the original image, with Vanessa Carlton leaning towards the left. This logo is already inserted, filling the 'dead space' well within the photograph. I hope to do the same.

After adding copy, the final product looks like this:

Here is the finish billboard display. It uses several of the common codes and conventions that I have analysed previously whilst still incorporating her Gothic theme. I hope to do this also through the use of colour-scheme, house style and mise-en-scene.



Happy with my decision, I shall upload the photographs I have chosen to use as soon as possible.

Lily-May Smythe