Magazine Image Analysis

During one of our seminars, we were asked to do a detailed image analysis of two magazine photographs; one from a magazine we know of and read regularly, and one from a magazine we have never bought before. I chose to look at Company magazine, a favourite of mine, and I-D magazine, a very popular fashion read, which although I knew about, had never actually bought myself before.

This image was taken from Company magazine October 2014, from page 127 - an article entitled 'Bad Skin Day?'. This image is selling an idea of how to react when you have a bad skin day and has very emotional connotations. 

Denotation

This image, which covers and entire double page spread, shows a female model against a plain, grey, studio background. This female model has very long dark hair and looks to be wearing nothing but her underwear. Using her hands to cover her face, she is hiding from the camera with facial features hand drawn over the top of her palms. These features show sad emotions, with a frowned mouth and tears steaming from the eyes. The subject of this article image (the model), is to the right hand side, with the article text overlaid on the left hand page. 

Connotation

Looking deeper into the image, I believe that the hands hiding the face link to the article about the young models bad skin, expressing the female to feel very embarrassed or upset about her skin, and not wanting anybody else to see it. She has the hand-drawn face on her hands to further highlight her distress about her bad skin, using roughly drawn features to link to the idea that she believes herself to imperfect. The subject of the image has been place to the right hand side of the image as a practical aspect to allow room for the text of the article. However, this may also be to symbolise that the girl feels pushed away and looked over due to feeling like an outcast because of her skin. She doesn't want to be centre of attention due to the embarrassment she feels, explaining why she may not be a central focal point of the image. This image may have also been placed this way to grab the attention of readers flicking through the magazine, as this is the side that they would see when doing this. It would also leave a lasting impression for the reader about the emotions and distress that this lack of self confidence can have to a person as they turn to the next page. I think that the female is wearing little clothing in this image to suggest her being at her most vulnerable time, with a dark, grey, gloomy background to further express her mood. 

I think that this image does link well to the overall impression of this magazine, and would appeal to this particular magazines target audience. The image has a hand-drawn, scrap book style to it, which is very similar to the rest of the magazine, and the face on image immediately addresses the reader, making the article quite personal, another aspect which the rest of the magazine tried to do by getting readers involved with social media to produce user generated content. 

 This image is an advertising photograph used in the first few pages of I-D magazine winter 2014 issue. This is an advertising photograph for the luxury clothing brand, Chanel.

Denotation

This advertising image shows a boxing and exercise gym environment with a red and blue theme. The room is quite dark and gloomy, but these bright colours pop in the background. There are men working out in the boxing ring, and another on a bench, all wearing sports kit. Two female models wearing high fashion from head to toe, with many different textures. These clothing items are mainly dark colours, with hints of red or blue in them too. They are leaning against some gym weights, face on and making eye contact to the camera. This image also uses a shallow depth of field in order to create a blurred background and a focused foreground.

Connotation

I think that this image uses quite dark backgrounds and environment to create quite the impression that this is a serious and almost dangerous environment. However, this also works well against the models darker clothing items, making the different textures such as leather and lurex stand out more against this otherwise plain background. However, the pop of colour adds fun and energy to the image, suggesting these are still Chanel brand values, whilst also emphasising the accent colours on the Chanel bag and creating a recognisable colour scheme which many often associate with boxing. The men in the background as blurred due to this shallow depth of field technique used, and I think that this suggests that they are no longer the dominant humans. The female models in the foreground of this image are therefore in focus, looking strong, determined and stern as they lean against the heavy workout weights, as if they are ready to take control. I believe that this sends a message to consumers that women are independent and strong, but still beautiful and very glamorous at the same time.

I think that the message behind this Chanel advertisement will really connect with the consumers of this magazine, as they are likely to be young female adults, who are also very interested in fashion. It sends a strong message about women's importance and suggests us to be more superior than men, fighting the stereotypes which are normally played upon in other advertisements which normally over sexualise women. I think that this will really hit the target audience of I-D magazine, as this magazine is attractive to quirky fashionistas who like to see themselves as being unique and individual to others, therefore this apposing stereotype will definitely leave a lasting impression in their minds.

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