Thanks Chapstick. I have an excellent web designer from up North and he always does a fine job. I have only been shooting for a year so I have a long way to go.
I personally hate flash sites. I can't stand the "loading loading loading" it pains me honestly. Same thing with simple viewer... on some peoples servers it's just as bad as flash.
I feel like people have gotten lazy... I perfer galleries that are created page by page and don't have to sit and wait for the thing to load. Does it take longer? Absolutely! Is it worth it? I think so.
I hate flash sites too. They're often nice-looking, but too damn slooooow. The same sites could usually be done with plain ol' HTML/CSS/PHP, for example. And, the site would work 20x as fast. If one has a good PHP script for the job, adding images to such a site is very easy too. Although for that matter, I don't think portfolio sites are even updated that often in general, so adding stuff "by hand" shouldn't be much of a pain either.
For now I need to generate the galleries on my website at my computer, then upload via FTP. Maybe at some point I'll try to learn how to make a PHP script for easy image adding
have recently begun work. offered only as example of minimalist front-end. using simpleviewer for galleries (assorted gallery non-functional as of this moment).
at any rate, it's what I am up to - some very nice links in this thread thus far.
Good start, but i bet it wouldnt be too hard to get your simpleviewer galleries to fit underneath the main portion of your website. Im pretty sure you can edit the index.html file right in simpleviewer to add other things. It would only mean that you might have to make your images a bit smaller. If you try this out let us know, id like to see the results!
As for flash in general, i understand peoples frustrations. But a simple flash program such as simpleviewer really isnt going to take any longer to load than just putting the images into a normal html type file. In fact, it might even load faster, because simpleviewer is preloading the images as you look at them, so you can go right to the next image without having to wait for it to load every time. Thats what i like about it most.
I like some flashy... uh.. flash stuff, but i agree that it often detracts from the real subject for me. The photos. Then again, i have a very minimalist design brain, i like things very simple, visually. My opinion still stands, though, that a combination of flash and html is a good way to go, if your going to use flash. Just dont go overboard!
Teppo wrote:
For now I need to generate the galleries on my website at my computer, then upload via FTP. Maybe at some point I'll try to learn how to make a PHP script for easy image adding
you'll need a database on the back-end too. i have a MySQL DB that stores the image info (date, camera info, catergory, comments), then i built a web form where i can enter the info for an image. My PHP script then automatically frames, sizes and sorts all my images by catergory and date, and displays them as clickable thumbnails. I can define how many thumbnails to display per page. It literally takes me about 10 seconds to add a new image to my site.
As for Flash sites, the web has matured enough that certain standards for navigation and control have become expected (e.g. - nav links on the left or right, context next to it, little or no horizontal scrolling, no annoying audio, etc..). What many Flash designers don't realize is that when you come up with some fancy new rules for navigation ("mystery buttons", auto-scrolling, nav buttons in odd places, disabled back button, etc.) you end up forcing users to have to figure out the rules of your site before they can use it, I'm sorry, but unless your content is extremely compelling, not many people are going to be bothered to learn your site rules.
My site is based on quick loading and super easy updating. I create a folder on the server and drop images into it and the images are automatically sized and served up (both thumbnails and full sized images). I can add photos to my site in a matter of minutes (or seconds). Sometimes I go for function over fancy design. When I'm viewing sites, the faster the page comes up, the more likely I am to view the work.
I've always thought mine to be very straightforward and easy to navigate. Love to hear if others think the same: http://www.mikenymanphotography.com . Most of the pages are purely laid out with CSS instead of tables.
One of the things to think about when picking a "best" is wether the site serves it's purpose.
After looking thought the sites listed, i see some good photography, but the sites are not easy to navigate, others are vice versa.
Since my site deals with a link to the 49,000 photos that are available to buy, (follow the "ALBUMS" link) I need a site that is easy to navigate, but also explains what I do.
There a many "Fine Art" sites listed that are very nice. BUT I still vote for my own.
I work for an Interactive software development/design shop. I'm not a front end guy (I'm a Software Architect), but I work with a lost of our front end guys.
Most of the sites in this thread would make them slit their wrists. Most of you are breaking the most very basic web design and usability rules. I don't want to come off harsh... Just callin' it like I see it.
It's funny that the people who come out and say "my site is the best because..." have the worst of them all!
In any case, I don't have a site yet for that very reason (i'm buggin one of the designers at work to do it for me ).
That being said I really like http://www.4-optic.com/ (it was posted earlier). It's simple, elegant, and has everything you need on it.
Yes it's flash.. some like it , some don't... If it's simple and not overdone it's great. Background music is a no-no .... I repeat a no-no. However, in this case I feel it adds to the feeling of the pictures... Done wrong, however it's cheesy and annoying.
Wow! I found that image from google images without the copyright. I will be sure to credit the image on my site. Is it ok to use that image even with the copyright on the image?
I just tried to keep it simple in both design and technology and work in most resolutions. I'm still working on that part though (getting some things resized).
Please help me. I know I don't have a good web site however am lost for ideas for a rewrite - even after viewing most of this sites mentioned in this thread. Nobody seems to "do what I want for my site".
Tips for web stuff, KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid. You don't need a lot of fancy graphics and such, just keep it simple and slick, and let your work speak for itself.
_Kerpal_ wrote:
Ok.. here goes: (puts on flame resistant suit)...
I work for an Interactive software development/design shop. I'm not a front end guy (I'm a Software Architect), but I work with a lost of our front end guys.
Most of the sites in this thread would make them slit their wrists. Most of you are breaking the most very basic web design and usability rules. I don't want to come off harsh... Just callin' it like I see it.
It's funny that the people who come out and say "my site is the best because..." have the worst of them all!
In any case, I don't have a site yet for that very reason (i'm buggin one of the designers at work to do it for me ).
That being said I really like http://www.4-optic.com/ (it was posted earlier). It's simple, elegant, and has everything you need on it.
Yes it's flash.. some like it , some don't... If it's simple and not overdone it's great. Background music is a no-no .... I repeat a no-no. However, in this case I feel it adds to the feeling of the pictures... Done wrong, however it's cheesy and annoying.
Too bad that site freezes up on all of my computers, I would have liked to have seen it. But, it's not my job to make a website work. I think a prerequisite for all sites should be that it has to load.
Here is my website which I built, I have no experience in webpage building, just palyed around with dreamweaver and tutorials. It not prefect and its always improving slowly but surely. My images are not bad for the small space i use but it does the trick. Hope you all like it but you can't please everyone.
If you got comments/Questions please PM me or email.
