Magazine Spread - Vans
The goal of this project was to develop a two-page 11x17 magazine spread that shows off our studio photography skills and advertises a product or service. Prior to designing the shot compositions, we had to come up with what message we wanted to advertise and how were going to layout the spread. Once that was done, sketches could be made of how the photos would fit into the layout and support the message we were going for. After all of those steps were complete, we had a total of two and a half hours in the studio to recreate our sketches and then finally place them into the magazine spread. Throughout this process, we used a number of tools including Adobe Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, and InDesign to choose the final photos, edit them, and put them all together. Light diagrams were also created using Set.A.Light 3D v2.5 so that we could show exactly where the lights and camera were placed and what settings were used for each shot. We kept in mind the fold in the magazine and took inspiration from that and designed the shots so that they would take advantage of the fold. The following photos will show the final version of our magazine spread and the different shots that it includes along with the thought process behind each one.
Final Layout
Overall, the message we were going for was that Vans aren't made for just one group of people and that they can be enjoyed and worn by people with all sorts of interests. We also wanted to touch on the point of how the style is passed down from generations to future ones and continues to spread the popularity and familiarity of Vans.
Shot 1 - Vans Logo
The thought process behind these first two photos was that we didn't want to use just a simple Vans logo and instead wanted have the logo be made up of two shoes. They were put together in Photoshop and the Vans logo was used as a mask so that you would see the purple and yellow show lined up and alternating between the logo and the background. A simple one light setup was used with some seamless white paper to get an all white background. We wanted simple pictures that had the same lighting and background so that they could easily be put together afterwards. The finished logo was placed in the top left of the magazine spread in the musician section and purple and yellow shoes were chosen so that they would stand out more against the maroon background.
Sketches and Diagrams
Shot 2 - Musician
The thought process behind this photo was that we wanted to show another passion where Vans are worn. We used the idea of a musician in a room surrounded by instruments and shoes to give off a more laid back vibe where the shoes don't have to be used for extreme purposes, like some people might think. This was achieved by using a couple backgrounds, surfaces, and materials that helped contribute to the feeling of a room along with two lights that added soft light to mimic the lighting that could be found in a slightly dim room. Some room was left open near the left so that the logo could be placed there when designing the spread and a guitar was placed leaning to the right which when placed to the next photo, would seem like a mirror of a different passion but with the same shoes.
Sketches and Diagrams
Shot 3 - Skater
The thought process behind this photo was that we wanted to show what Vans are probably best known for so that we could also cater our advertisement to people who are existing customers. Our goal was to was to create a scene that resembled an indoor skate park with multiple pairs of Vans in a variety of conditions. We used different types of skateboards along with some other props that could be found in this scenario to help make it feel a little more realistic. A skateboard was leaned to the left so that it would line up and mirror the musician photo when put together in the final spread. We used soft light as the main source and then added a reflector that was aimed towards the green shoes in the middle to make them light up a little more and cast a slightly brighter reflection in the polished concrete.
Sketches and Diagrams
Shot 4 - Generational
The thought process behind this photo was to show an older generation (the left shoe) along side a younger generation (the right shoe). This was done to support our message of the influence that past generations have on the popularity of Vans. Our goal was to show this message by placing a large, cleaner shoe next to a smaller, dirtier shoe as to symbolize that one is a parent's and the other is their child's. We set up this shot with the idea that the fold in the magazine would be where the shoes are vertical and each side would be a different generation. We wanted simple lighting for this photo, similar to the logo, so the same light modifiers and camera setting were used with the only difference being the light was placed right beside the camera facing the shoes straight on in order to cast the shadows backward instead of to the side.
Sketches and Diagrams
Group members: Leilani Tran and Ryan Pallas
