My website! - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/26/2006 08:17:50 PM · #1

Just put it up! I dont plan to sell anything on it, but more to use it as an webfolio. What do you all think? Im changing the top banner from text to an image soon, just haven't designed anyhting I like yet. Thanks ahead of time for any feedback!

www.RyanCoolesPhotography.com

dpdave

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

04/26/2006 08:32:48 PM · #2

Originally posted by Ryencool:

A bump to parse the url for us lazy buggers...

ericwoo

Nikon D800

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

04/26/2006 08:33:44 PM · #3

Nice work, and I look forward to seeing more.

tmhalling

Nikon D200

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

04/26/2006 08:48:13 PM · #4

Is it is easy to update? I would like to use Flash for my website but have had a hard time updating photos easily. Is there a work around for this? I admit I don't know much about web design.

Message edited by author 2006-04-27 00:48:26.

Rooster

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8-4.0 Aspherical for Canon

04/26/2006 08:56:20 PM · #5

Originally posted by tmhalling:

Is it is easy to update? I would like to use Flash for my website but have had a hard time updating photos easily. Is there a work around for this? I admit I don't know much about web design.

simple viewer is freeware & you don;t need flash to use it. Just need a text editor. It comes with instructions & all on how to upload & edit the text to run the flash movie with your pix. Try it out!

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/26/2006 09:05:01 PM · #6

Thanks for the compliments. I just found this freeware (I do know flash but why code it when theres somthing already written for what I want) All you have to do is upload your images to a image directory, it will automaticlly create the thumbnails. Then you have the ability to change the layout a bit etc...Its great!

PhilipDyer

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

04/26/2006 09:17:58 PM · #7

FYI, your Complementary Colors challenge entry is up on your site right now. I personally don't care, but some people create a fuss when they find out who submitted a current challenge entry.

petrakka

04/26/2006 09:18:21 PM · #8

well since part of my job is to be critical of photos here i go:

first off, simple viewer isnt a good way to display a portfolio in my opinion, it may be good when u have to upload a quick gallery for clients etc to make a website out of, just is kinda icky to me, its slow, too much nonsense flash stuff...i wanna look at pictures now see stuff fade around.

what are the connection between any of these photos? none of them really seem related. some of them look to gaussian blurred or processed otherwise.

there are photos there I don't understand what you are trying to get across with them, ie the fire hydrant, the street. Why are these important photos? What makes them stand apart? I can't tell by looking at them. Some of the portraits are nice but could maybe use more dramatic lighting.

04/27/2006 08:06:22 AM · #9

Simpleviewer is not a good way to display photo's? you didnt suggest anything else though. Personally I think it's matter of opinion and works in my case. I was going for somthing VERY simple. As far as the connection between the photographs, there isn't one and I don't feel a need for one. In a portolio of work wether it be photography or another medium very rarely is everything relative to the other. I picked photographs that show my style of art, the angles I use, the colors I like, and what I can do with a camera.

Does my rebuttle work for you or no? I just wanted a simple simple site. My cousin ( www.bryandavisimages.com ) has been blowing up in san fransisco making enough money for him to live really well. If you look at his site, its more dmbed down than mine. I know his pics are better but thats what happens when you have the oppourtunities and equipment to take advantage of it.

I do appreciate your opinion though and will be slowly changing out hte photos on a regular basis, so if you dont like me now check back next week.

ignite

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

04/27/2006 08:20:45 AM · #10

Nice site. Just a few things that bothered me. The title says "Middle Frame scales".. that looks odd... and the Contact button is too close to your name. Move it right and make it smaller if you can.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

04/27/2006 08:22:10 AM · #11

Ah, easy fixxer uppers, again I just got it up last night, thanks for pointing those out though!

JayWalk

Canon EOS-6D

04/27/2006 08:24:42 AM · #12

I feel your pain when it comes to website design. I have absolutely no experience at all, but decided two days ago it was time for me to learn. I decided to do the whole thing from scratch and not use a template, which I'm not so sure is a good thing. I am still trying to figure out what I want to use as a picture album without having to do too much coding. Simple viewer looks like a good option so I may try it.

As for the site, my only suggestion would be to make it a bit more personal. Right now it looks very bland (for lack of a better term). Maybe put in a bio section, change the background a bit or add a favorites section... something that shows a bit of who you are as a photographer.

Message edited by author 2006-04-27 12:25:47.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

04/27/2006 08:25:31 AM · #13

Originally posted by petrakka:

I just looked at your site and see where your comming from. Your going a diffrent way than me, I dont want to display EVERYTHING I have done. Not to be rude or take a shot at you but I dont like the clutterness of your site. Theres to much info for somone to take in. I want people to see the pics, say wow thats neat I wonder if he can do this, and contact me.

petrakka

04/27/2006 10:36:17 AM · #14

Originally posted by Ryencool:

Originally posted by petrakka:
well since part of my job is to be critical of photos here i go:

first off, simple viewer isnt a good way to display a portfolio in my opinion, it may be good when u have to upload a quick gallery for clients etc to make a website out of, just is kinda icky to me, its slow, too much nonsense flash stuff...i wanna look at pictures now see stuff fade around.

what are the connection between any of these photos? none of them really seem related. some of them look to gaussian blurred or processed otherwise.

there are photos there I don't understand what you are trying to get across with them, ie the fire hydrant, the street. Why are these important photos? What makes them stand apart? I can't tell by looking at them. Some of the portraits are nice but could maybe use more dramatic lighting.

I just looked at your site and see where your comming from. Your going a diffrent way than me, I dont want to display EVERYTHING I have done. Not to be rude or take a shot at you but I dont like the clutterness of your site. Theres to much info for somone to take in. I want people to see the pics, say wow thats neat I wonder if he can do this, and contact me.

yeah my site is nothing to go by, its being redone, its a little too messy right now, though I don't see where it looks cluttered. It does lack consistencies in text etc which is gonna get fixed. Nor is my site even close to 'EVERYTHING I have done'

I have nothing against simplicity, and I didn't mean to attack you so you needn't feel a rebuttal is necessary. I was giving you my opinion. I don't get any collective message from your site at all. Nothing on it makes me want to contact you cuz I don't have an idea of what you would provide for me...that's what I mean with a body of images saying something.

When I see a simple viewer site it looks unprofessional to me simply because it's seen everywhere and it's a common template. Simplicity is good though. As someone who hires photographers and looking at a prospective photographer's website, seeing a site made in simpleviewer doesn't help their cause. Of course in the end it is all about the images, but sometimes they way you present an image can maybe, possibly just make it look that much more appealing. I hhope this is helpful and I did not say I did not like your photography, I said I didn't get a message from it.

It's all about communicating isn't it?

petrakka

04/27/2006 10:41:34 AM · #15

And to add about your cousin's site, I think it's great. Sure it is simple, but I can deduce that he is an advertising/editorial/commercial photographer for hire that is based out of san franciso and can handle the different demands that this region of photography often deals with such as portraiture/architecture/annual reports etc with an artistic flair seen by his portfolio.

LeeD

Canon EOS-30D

04/27/2006 10:54:10 AM · #16

If I may... the OP stated it was simply an online portfolio for people to browse his work. Simpleviewer I suppose would be OK for that, but if you're trying to sell something (yourself included), I would tend to stay away from obvious freeware applications. It's safe to say that anyone in the business recognizes Simpleviewer and knows that it's freeware. If one was to base a decision on whether or not to spend money on you, they could (possibly inaccurately) deduce that since you take the easy way out on a web layout, you could possibly take the easy way out in your photography. IMHO, you should put just as much consideration into the presentation of your work as you do the work itself. It is, after all, the presentation that grabs the attention of the potential buyer.

I also agree with the comment about the lack of cohesiveness in the images. They don't really speak to me as a group but rather seem a mish-mosh of images. The images themselves are good independent of one another, but as a whole the entire presentation is somewhat lacking. Again, it just depends on what you're going for... For a quick "sample of your work" it will suffice, but I wouldn't try to sign any big contracts with this layout.

As for your cousins site, the images are spectacular but I'm not a fan of the sideways scrolling. Actually it's quickly becoming one of my pet peeves. His saving grace is how truly stunning the images are and that they do "flow" with each other.

My $0.02 USD.

bledford

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

04/27/2006 10:56:23 AM · #17

You need a better logo!