First Draft of Album Back Cover

This back cover correlates with the front cover which both feature the lights as the background. This is a simple back cover which is effective because the lights are the main focus point and the black capitalised text which show the track list stand out from the background of the lights.

This back cover was inspired by a researched back cover. I particularly like the idea of the bands across the page in white and grey and the black background all knit together in a perfect colour scheme. The bands across the page are the main focus of the back cover and the fact that the track list in within these bands also makes the track list the main focus along with it.

This back cover was created by using an image that I had taken and adding a semi-translucent white square in front of it so you can see the track list but also see the faded image behind it. The bonus tracks are in a different colour to break away from the black and white colour scheme.

All the back covers have this at the bottom to make it professional:

"All Rights reserved. All copyright censorship belongs to Lola Mae. All songs written and recorded by Lola Mae for Universal Records. Published by Universal Publishing Company 2013"

First Drafts of Album Cover

 

To achieve this front cover design, I used an image of lights for the background to coincide with the album title. The image itself I took myself. To achieve the see through look I changed the various levels, contrasts and exposure to create a see through look.

This front cover was achieved by using website 'www.befunky.com' to doctor the image used on this cover. I used the effect 'instant #2' and then using Photoshop to change various levels and contrasts. The background colour along with the image creates a warm feel.

This album cover was created by also using 'www.befunky.com'. I used the effect 'old photo 17' on the image to create a black and white, old style image which relates to the genre. 

With this front cover I took a raw image from the images I had taken of my artist and filled the whole CD cover with the image. This seems effective as it is taken at a different angle with the intention of being a main image.

All the text was created using the website 'www.dafont.com'

Photos for Ancillary Texts

Medium Close Up of the artist with head tilt shows vulnerability

Medium shot of artist looking up with hands in the air shows looking up to heaven. She is heaven blessed with this album.

Having the artists with the guitar shows the musical side of her music.

Long shot of artist with guitar, looking away from camera, shy and vulnerable.

Long shot of artist with the guitar looking at the camera shows an artist who knows what she wants in music.

Long shot of artist with guitar looking at the camera just like shot before. Hand on hip signifies confidence.

Medium close up of artist from a high angle. The smile shows her confidence and friendliness. She likes to have fun.

Photo of artist's t-shirt to show the message that she is portraying through her music.

Medium shot of artist looking up to the sky with hands on hips shows confidence and thankfulness to the heavens for what shes achieved.

Medium shot of artist in a laid back manner with a huge grin shows the friendliness and shows the artist to be down to earth and easy going.

Taylor Swift's Change in Genre and Style

As I am using one of Taylor Swift's songs for my music video, I wanted to see what style of album covers she has and what I could take inspiration from. However, as you can see from the images below, her genre and style has changed as she has become more mainstream and to appeal for a mass audience. This is because she wants to become more popular and undoubtedly wants to make more money, spurred on by her record label. 

These album covers show her change in genre by her change in appearance and style. From her curly hair to show innocence and childlike qualities to her red lips to pursue passion and her lustrous loose waves of her hair on the album cover on the right.

For my album cover, as this song was written and performed before she changed her genre to become a mainstream and chart artist, I am going to focus my attention on the album cover on the left and use this as inspiration for my own album cover, using the curly hair and the natural, flawless pose and creating a simple, innocent look. 

Ancillary Texts: Examples of Album Covers

This is the layout for the Digipak which will include the front cover, back cover, and various inside panels which will include images of the artist who's album it is. 

These are some front covers from existing album covers that I may use for inspiration fro my album front cover:

Taylor Swift: I like the idea of the swinging of the hair in motion to create a simple but effective image

Norah Jones: The almost camera angel makes her seem innocent and vulnerable and her dress goes with the colour scheme of the album cover

Celine Dion: I like the closeness of the face with only part of it in view

Alicia Keys: The straight on look captures the audience like she is looking at them and the simple writing above it makes the album quite really effective

Carrie Underwood: The use of the filed in the background gives a country feel to it, and as my song is country, this might be a good idea to use

Along with the front cover, you will need to have a back cover with the artists songs on it. The following back covers will act as inspiration fro my own back cover:

Back Cover number 1: The image looking out to the audience gives it a personal feel to it and creates a connection with the audience  

Back Cover number 2: The blurred lights shows a simple but really effective back cover to an album

Back Cover number 3: The rustic nature of this back cover could correlate with the 'country' feel I am looking to recreate

Back Cover number 4: The uneven stripes across this back cover makes it stand out from the rest and creates a 'quirky' style

Back Cover number 5: This back cover creates a childlike image with the hand-drawn stars and handwritten songs

January Filming

In the first week of January I will be filming more shots for my music video and be re shooting some shots that I feel do not work with the song as I would have hoped they would. These shots include:

• Shots in the bedroom are now being shot outside
• Extreme close up of lips is being re shot as was blurry before

This will then improve what I have already

Partial first draft of my music video

This is my first draft for my music video with gaps as I haven't finished filming as yet. I plan to change some things as it doesn't quite work with the music. These include:

• re-shooting the scenes in the bedroom to a different location
• re-shooting the extreme close up of the lips as they are blurry

Along with this I now need to shoot the rest of my footage and edit it to create a second draft before completing my final draft. This will have to be shot in January. If it snows then I could use this weather change to film some shots outside.