Photography

Photography is defined by 'The art or process of producing images of objects on photosensitive surfaces' or 'The art, practice, or occupation of taking and printing photographs' ( http://www.thefreedictionary.com/photography)

I think that many, previously (myself included) have undervalued the importance of photography in magazines, and what effect they have on us the reader without us even knowing.

What I love about magazines is that they are entirely visual. They revolve around pictures and words and colours that attract their readers. If you think about it, if a magazine wasn’t attractive or appealing  to the reader then it would not get read and there would be no use for it. Despite what others say, I think that when a person reads a magazine they buy it for the pictures and the writing comes second. I think this is due to the fact that we as people desire a way to receive information easily and effortlessly. For me personally, I judge the article by the pictures it is presented with. It begins the interest of the reader. If they are attractive and interesting, I would then go on to read the article further. The layout and design on a magazine is crucial, and the photography is a major element. The photography help the reader connect in what the article is talking about. Particularly in magazines, photography tends to tell the story, and it is pretty easy to get the main ideas of the article from the pictures. After all a picture is worth a 1000 words. The picture summarises the article, saying who or what event is mentioned in the article. Often, the photography conveys strong emotional connection or metaphorical morale within them that sum up the opinion or the ideas of the article, engaging the reader’s interest.  I think that capturing a visual familiarity can encourage readers and create a deeper connection with the writers words and the message heard, enforcing interpretations and giving the readers their own ideas and opinions on what is being said.

Most publications place their most expensive adverts and most interesting features on the left side of the magazine within the first half and on the right hand side on the other half to encourage page turning and show the progression of the magazine.