Front & back cover
For the front cover I wanted something that would capture the themes inside the magazine. I started by trying to find images that would fit on just the front page, I didn't really like how a lot of these shots looked. It made the front page look cramped and stagnant. I started looking at some skate magazines and different books that I had and noticed that some were using a one image to wrap around the whole magazine. I loved the flow this gave and especially as I was folding each end inside the magazine. I chose this image as I feel it really gives you a glimpse of what is inside, the huge impressive trick, the shabby buildings, the cloudy sky and graffiti covering almost everything in sight. It also accommodated the logo really well with the small area above the skater being quite calm it meant that the logo didn't get lost or overpowered.
Inside cover
For my inside cover I wanted to keep things simple. I had seen many book/zines where the information was situated on the first blank page and I was going to do this but then while I was looking at the book I noticed a perfect 5 cm gap between where the front cover was folded in and the first page. I organized all of my information. Placing the logo at the top. The zine name and Vol number. Then below that I added 'Inside this issue' I did this as I really like the idea of this zine and I am thinking about carrying it on after this assignment but I don't just want it to be a skate zine. I would focus on a different issue/subculture/festival each time e.g. 'Inside this issue - Bristol night life'
I then credited myself for the creation of the zine and producing the images but also credited Cal for the production of the logo.
Page 1
I left this page blank to stick with the minimalism of the inside cover.
Page 2 & 3
Once I had chosen the logo I was left with 11 other amazing tags and didn't really know what to do with them. I didn't want to waste Cal's hard work so I thought 'what could I do' and then I thought about all of the skanky toilets I been in that have been used as a canvas for taggers and decided to create my own. I did this to mix things up, to make the zine a more interesting and engaging viewing experience by involving different artistic mediums.
Page 4 & 5
I used these images together for a number of reasons. I firstly didnt want to go staright into the magazine just showing huge tricks with no context, I know this contradicts the front cover but that was used to catch people's attention and to get them to look inside the magazine, once they're in I wanted to capture them, to use the images to draw them in, I wanted to make them feel as if they are there in the moment, shining a torch on the image to the left while he fixes his grip tape or jumping out the way as the lad on the right pops up the step. Both images also follow similar leading lines, starting in the top right and leading to the bottom left. The Both also have the same style of writing on their tops.
Page 6 & 7
I chose to use this image as it sets the scene and once again makes the viewer as if they are there. It puts the viewer in the position of the skater, whether they are just about to drop in or just admiring the view. I wanted to keep building this level of inclusion and the zine progressed. This is the reason I made this a double page spread, you can fully absorb the moment and look at every detail without being distracted by another image or border.
Page 8 & 9
This shot continues to follow the theme of inclusion, the candid way in which it had been shot looks realistic and raw. I love the harsh stark contrast between the skaters light trouser and dark background and top. I chose to make this a double page spread as I like the fact the main focus is on the left and the left only with a small amount of detail on the right, I really enjoy these types of compositions.
Pages 10 & 11
I think this duo of images work perfectly together and although they aren't taken one after another they do look that way. Everything abou the shots compositions work, the ramp directly in the middle, the tower leading straight up with the tower block doing the same thing. The many different leading lines produced by the scaffolding. The bold graffiti popping against the dark/flat stone and finally the skater who somehow isn't among all of that. I chose to layer each shot next to each other but after looking at it I decided to make the image on the left larger as it was more interesting. I turned the background black to compliment the deep black tones.
Pages 12 & 13
I really thought it was important to try and employ different ways of presenting the images in the zine as in the past I have stuck to one page portrait images and double page spreads and I do admit it can get boring so I tried experimenting with different ways of setting up the images. When I do this I try to draw likenesses between different images such as the two skaters doing the same trick and the leading lines in the images on the right both pulling the viewer's eye upward.
Pages 14 & 15
I continued to experiment on the double page. These image were originally on two separate pages but I thought I would try something new and personally I think it worked. It may go against what some people would do and other may say it looks messy but to me it looks modern, it looks different, it intentionally makes the viewer look twice and spend that little bit longer looking at the image.
Pages 16 & 17
This is personally one of my favourite image I took for this project. Everything about it works and like I said when I spoke about it earlier it is everything I am trying to put across in this zine. This is BS. It would have been a travasty to not have it as a double page spread wouldn't it.
Pages 18 & 19
As the zine starts to come to an end I wanted to revert back to what I was doing at the start, adding a more personal level to the images. Not just showing the skaters on the streets but showing examples of other things they do. I mainly added this image as I thought it looked amazing, the light bleed couldn't have been in a better place and although the shot is a little battered and bruised it works so well. It adds character. This is also a good example of a different way I have positioned an image, I don't normally like this positioning but it just worked so well for this shot.
Pages 21 & 22
When I was positioning these two images together I was trying to show the contrasting areas and styles people around Bristol use. You've got the purpose built, quite clean Bedminster park with people popping huge tricks on the left and then on the right you've got the dark, skater built park with people doing a lot more flatland & technical tricks. I made the background black so it would blend in with the dark ceiling.
Pages 23 & 24
I also wanted to include another landscape, this time of the M32 skate park. I did this for a similar reason I put the images on 21 and 22. I wanted to show the contrast and variation throughout the city. I also did it to bring the viewer back to being involved in the zine, I wanted them to leave as the entered intrigued and excited to be involved with such a brilliant community.
Page 25
I chose this as my final image as I think it works perfectly. The backdrop of the Lloyds building is the calmest of the spots I looked at and the skater that is in the shot is skating away as if now that you have done viewing he is off to do something else as if he has been with you on the journey.
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