Critique my new photo site!

[shocksyde]

I bought a template from qesign.com and spent the weekend both learning flash and editing. Hasn't been too hard to pick up yet, but there are some things I'm gonna have to get a book for (any book recommendations?)

Let me know what you think!

http://www.seannaber.com

 

[robertk2012]

Well I can't see anything since I'm on a mobile device.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

jeebus... it's freaking nice. it's one thing to make a nice HTML-ized site, but a whole nother to make a GOOD flash site without it being too annoying. Great work. I need to get back into web design.

 

[skulkingghost]

It looks good, but I am not a fan of the block in effect cause it takes awhile to see each picture, when I view a portfolio I just want to click through photo to photo to check it out quickly.

 

[qbfx]

I agree that the block transition thing is a bit slow. Can you make it faster? Other than that the site is great

 

[shocksyde]

Good points on the block transition. I agree. I'll def look into making it faster. I'm a flash newb, so it may take me a while to figure it out. Learning flash on the fly is FUN!

How were the load times for you guys? I cut the flash file size down a bunch to try and make it faster. Also removed the music file b/c music on websites annoys the bejesus out of me.

Thanks for the comments.

 

[Fardringle]

I'm not a fan of flash sites for photo galleries since most focus on the flash programming and ignore the photography. Yours does have a few of these issues, but as others have said, it isn't terribly painful and can be easily fixed.

There is one thing I would definitely change other than the block transition (for this, you really should just have the photo display immediately and remove the transition completely). Right now, the pictures load so that the bottom half of the photo is covered by the thumbnail strip and the viewer has to click three times (one on the thumbnail, again on the "minimize" arrow to see the photo, and a third time to restore the thumbnails to switch to another photo) in order to actually see the photos. Either resize the photo frame so that all pictures show up above the thumbnails and not behind them, or move the thumbnails so that the current photo frame can be viewed without extra mouse clicks.

 

[shocksyde]

I'm not a fan of flash sites for photo galleries since most focus on the flash programming and ignore the photography. Yours does have a few of these issues, but as others have said, it isn't terribly painful and can be easily fixed.

There is one thing I would definitely change other than the block transition (for this, you really should just have the photo display immediately and remove the transition completely). Right now, the pictures load so that the bottom half of the photo is covered by the thumbnail strip and the viewer has to click three times (one on the thumbnail, again on the "minimize" arrow to see the photo, and a third time to restore the thumbnails to switch to another photo) in order to actually see the photos. Either resize the photo frame so that all pictures show up above the thumbnails and not behind them, or move the thumbnails so that the current photo frame can be viewed without extra mouse clicks.

Yeah, I agree with your point about part of the picture being blocked. Maybe I can change the thumbnails to one row so that the pic isn't blocked as much? This will prove to be an interesting task since I know basically nothing about working with Flash, haha.

 

[Hyperblaze]

Loads too slow.

Also you have a really weak <title> tag

Interesting looking interface though.

 

[littleprince]

Not sure what your intent of the site was.
But since you have a "services" link I would suggest taking out photos of smoke and your cat.

I dont think anyone is going to pay you take photos of your cat.

 

[shocksyde]

Not sure what your intent of the site was.
But since you have a "services" link I would suggest taking out photos of smoke and your cat.

I dont think anyone is going to pay you take photos of your cat.

You don't think people pay to have pics of their pets taken? What world do you live in?

 

[Washoe]

Good looking site. You gotta fix up that title tag though!

 

[akugami]

Look into an alternative load for non-Flash users or those with limited bandwidth. You can make it similar and without all those long loading Flash transitions. I'm not a fan of Flash because it "slows" down a web site and people tend to throw in the kitchen sink when doing Flash but yours was on the whole tastefully done.

Pretty easy to navigate. Again, aside from the Flash transitions, you should be able to do most of what you want in HTML so you might want to have a non-Flash version of your web site. Good move on keeping sounds off by default. I hate the damn blaring of music when I load a web site, especially if it's my first visit.

On navigation, consider moving the picture navigation controls to the top with the site navigation controls.

Make the main background picture something photography related. Perhaps of some photography equipment.

In the "About Me" and "Services" sections, make the "More Info" popups overlay the general area where you are reading text and not pop up in a completely different spot. Maybe make it about the same size as the text in the sections themselves. Think about perhaps changing the coloring of the popup window so it is easier to differentiate with the background and know where to click to close or slide the popup window.

Your site logo is probably a little too utilitarian and lacks a bit of creative flare (please don't add Photoshop flare effects). You want the logo to be easily readable but with enough artistic flare to stick in peoples minds without being too busy or flashy.

 

[SAWYER]

beautiful, how much was that template? Did you have any coding experience before learning flash over the weekend?

 

[edro]

Very nice site and very nice photography.

What lenses do you mostly use for your Canon?

 

[shocksyde]

Just wanted to say thanks for all of the tips! Although I haven't gotten to fixing the things I want to, I'm taking all of your advice seriously.

I'm def going to minimize the transitions. I'm a little perplexed at people saying it takes too long to load. I get max 300kb/s with my connection (Sprint CLEAR) and it takes only a few seconds to load (yes, even if I clear my cache).

To answer a few of the questions:

1. Template was $80 from qesign.com. I had never worked with Flash before this, but I'm a graphic designer, so I pick up on programs like this pretty quick. Huge learning curve with Flash, though. Baby steps.

2. I used the Sigma 30mm 1.4 and Tokina 11-16 1.8 for most of the shots you see on my site. However, for the people pictures, those were shot with a Nikon D40 and 35mm 1.8. I'm in the process of switching completely to Nikon and will probably end up with a D300. I've discovered the awesomeness of using older manual focus Nikon lenses. 35-70mm 2.8 for $150? Sign me up! 105mm 2.5 for $150? Sign me up AGAIN!

 

[akugami]

The problem with the Flash load times and transitions is that you have to think of those with lower end systems. The Dells and HP's that make up a majority of the systems that people use. There's also the fact that a lot of people have dial up or low end broadband. You have to make sure those people can access your site relatively quickly as well. Wish we all had broadband and powerful computers but that's not the case in the real world.

 

[yhelothar]

Picture quality looks a bit bad. Maybe you should up the JPG quality in flash?
Very nice template. I think I should've gotten one.

 

[shocksyde]

The problem with the Flash load times and transitions is that you have to think of those with lower end systems. The Dells and HP's that make up a majority of the systems that people use. There's also the fact that a lot of people have dial up or low end broadband. You have to make sure those people can access your site relatively quickly as well. Wish we all had broadband and powerful computers but that's not the case in the real world.

That's a good point. I'll keep that in mind as I change things around.

 

[shocksyde]

Picture quality looks a bit bad. Maybe you should up the JPG quality in flash?
Very nice template. I think I should've gotten one.

Yeah I did have to sacrifice some picture quality to try and speed up the load times. I'll re-up the quality when I get rid of some of the fluff. Kinda dumb to have the picture quality suffer when the pics are the heroes, eh? I think I got too excited about have a COOL FLASH SITE OMGZZZZZZZZZ!!!!111!!!

Edit: I just checked out your site. You're a photoshop master!!! If I ever need services like that, I'll def get in touch with you.

 

[przero]

Nice.