Research on i-D magazine- Front covers and inside pages

Background info

i-D magazine is known for its fresh, unusual photography and typography. Over the years, the magazine has established a reputation as a training ground for fresh new artists. 
i-D celebrated its 250th edition at the end of 2004 and its 25th anniversary in 2005. The 2009 July issue was the magazines 300th publication. It boasted numerous, interesting articles and iconic photography, true to the magazines notion. The content focused mainly on ideas from past issues and bringing these ideas into 2009 to remind and re-create. Raquel Zimmerman was the covergirl for this issue. The magazine introduced the hybrid style of documentary/fashion photography, called 'The Straight Up'. 
At first, these were of punks and New Wave youth found on English streets and who were simply asked to stand against any blank wall nearby. The resulting images, the subjects facing the camera and seen from head to toe, are a vivid historical documentary photography archive, and have established the pose "straight up" as a valid style of documentary picture-making. Tipped on its side, the "i-D" typographic logo is a winking smiley face. Most issues of i-D magazine have featured a winking cover model. i-D has also held numerous exhibitions worldwide and published several books.

Here are some examples of some of the magazine covers

I love these images the colours of the text goes well with the colours on the image.  The tones go well together and that's what i'm going to try and focus on doing. The patterns are great and the way the photographers have experimented with the objects in some of the images are great and well thought of. 

My images are going to be location images, so because of this, I have looked at some location front covers, as well as studio front covers. My front cover will be a location image outside in the park.

The location used here is quite effective, the image looks like it was shot infront of a large tree and it goes well because of the leaves used on her face and the theme of it all works greatly. It does enhance the over all image because the colours all match and don't contrast with each other. I think that the photographer is trying to communicate the idea of youth and having fun and being relaxed. as youth are outdoors and enjoying nature. 

This image was clearly not shot in a studio but the photographer has not made it very clear of where the models are, so I think that they may have dont that on purpose. Since the text on the cover says 'together', it is showing that those two models are 'together' no matter where they are, so the location doesn't really matter. So in this case, it isn't strictly focusing on the location, just the models, as well as this, to take it further, the background has been blurred so the models are even more focused on, which does enhance the over all image. 

I love the colour front covers because I believe that they stand out more than the black and white images do. I will make my front cover in colour because it will be bolder and brighter and have more of an effect.

Here are examples of double-pages spread from i-D magazine

My first double page spread will be one image across two pages and writing on the left hand side page about the items in the image and the clothes they are wearing, as it is a fashion magazine.

Some different magazine Research

Here are some of 'SPIN's front covers. From the research that I have done, most of their front covers are extremely loud and bold and they have a 'Rock' feel to them.

This image is colourful, bold, loud, but simple. 

This image is simple, yet again, but in a different way. It's been thought about well. The background's tone goes with his skin tone and the colour of his clothes.

This is really loud, with many bold neon colours and also with the clothes they wear and also the location they are in.

These are duller colours but they are still bold and her hair colour matches her clothes and it contrasts with the background because its a completely different colour to what she's wearing but it just works.

Although this image is in black and white, it is still distinct and vivid. It has that affect that if you were to imagine it in colour, it would be really bright.

I want my front cover to be bold and loud but not in this way. My image has to look soft as well. These powerful images are extreme and ferocious, mine will be bold but calm at the same time. 

Here are a few double page spreads of NYLON magazine

NYLON's inside pages are well set out and plain but busy and has a nice tone to it.

I want my first double page spread to be kind of like this, a large image covering all of or most of the two pages and then a long paragraph at the side that has information about the image.

Talk about the locations used in the work - does it enhance the overall image? how? why do you think the photographer has chosen the location? are they trying to communicate anything?