Let ir rip: Done with photo website....did I miss anything?

[thatsright]

What a journey. I asked for opinions on my site before, and took a few of those suggestions. I have sent out invites to 40 people, so that means its really, really done...


http://www.paintbypixels.com


Please let me know what you think.

-How is the navigation? Is it intuitive when you navigate the banners? Going into galleries? Opening pictures, or switching between photo sizes in galleries? Does anything seem out of place/whack?

-What did you not like?

-Changing picture sizes is it intuitive. Change from normal size to XL or the like.

-What do you think of the site design? Would you add/remove anything?

-Do you have a picture or gallery you liked the most?

-If someone is interested in buying a picture, is it intuitive if you wanted to do it. What to click on, where to go etc.



Thanks everyone!

 

[moshquerade]

i think it looks awesome, the site and your photography. Great job. :thumbsup:

 

[thatsright]

Glad you liked it. Any particular favorites?

 

[TruePaige]

Okay, I've commented each time you've asked for opinions, and you seem to have fixed most of the things that sorta bothered me.

So in conclusion, I like it. =)

 

[mcvickj]

Looks nice. I really like After the Storm. Any chance you have a 1280x1024 for a background?

 

[Joony]

Looks good. I noticed that it is 'smugmug' powered. How does that work out for you?

For selling prints, do you have to go through their labs or do you have the option to print it yourself?

Also, have you been selling more photos because of your new site?

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: mcvickj
Looks nice. I really like After the Storm. Any chance you have a 1280x1024 for a background?

Well you can buy the photo if you'd like, or even a personal license digital download. All pics on the site are for sale.

Thanks mate!

 

[Pegun]

Who's the...umm...young lady in the upper right hand corner?

 

[KeithTalent]

Very nice site. I really like Dawn in the Bronx; very cool colours in that one.

KT

 

[n7]

Very clean easy to navigate layout = :thumbsup:

Very good IMO.

 

[xanis]

I like site layout a lot. It's clean and easy to navigate. Very user-friendly. I like Boston gallery... it's interesting.

 

[thatsright]

Thanks guys!

Its kind of funny, as a few pics I was on the fence about including in the site are getting great feedback. Like 'sunrise in the bronx.'

One last question. If your one of the galleries, and want to get to the homepage is it obvious how to do so? And I mean 'obvious-non computer savvy obvious?' Thinking I may need to add a 'home' button somewhere on the secondary banner...

http://www.paintbypixels.com

 

[Injury]

Okay, I really have to nitpick here to give you feedback because it really is a clean, professional site... but if people ask for feedback to simply say "Looks great" doesn't help them improve. No website is truly ever "done" until the author is satisfied. Typically I think that a website trying to sell you on photography shouldn't use up most of their space with white blankness... pure white in an mass of space makes everything appear very... boring.

- I wish there was a little bit more of an indicator of mouse-overs for the menu other than my mouse icon changing. Whether it be a very soft gray highlight behind the text or something, I think it would be more comfortable.

- Your pages are missing headings.

- The main page feels... crowded. Like the text is being overwhelmed by the images. I can't put my finger on it, but it needs either some sort of divider between the text and the gallery links, maybe some text next to the galleries that say "New" or "Featured" or something to give me the impression that: 1. These aren't the only galleries 2. These aren't the only galleries worth viewing 3. There is a reason these were put on the front page.

The nitpick items:

- Each page has a varying content width. Probably a result of the varying image sizes on each page.

- The gallery page, is somewhat boring. Every other page has nice descriptions of everything.

- The gallery page is the ONLY page with different colored links, and the galleries themselves are the ONLY pages with graphical icons, and there are icons in gray 3D buttons, and some without. Inconsistency is disorienting.

- The copyright/legal text is the same size as body content. Take it down a couple of points.

- The navigation changes from the main page to the rest of them. Typically this is a usability issue but I think you do an "okay" job of pulling it off.

- This may be total personal opinion, but I think there is about 40-60 pixels too much white space at the top and the heading on all pages is dominated by the picture of the girl. The balance of the heading is very... weighted by her, probably because on a site that is 99% white she has a few square inches of color. This may be remedied by simply making your site name larger.

- In the logo, center the "by" between the staffs of the two P's. Minor change, I know, but I told you I was nitpicking.

- The photo of the girl just "stops" on the right because of the hard edge. It's awkward looking when you think about it, but maybe I'm just thinking too hard.

 

[ballmode]

Ok the chick on the front page is hot...

what camera do you use?

 

[E equals MC2]

yea what's your gear?

 

[moshquerade]

Anybody think the OP looks more than a bit like Dainbramaged?

http://www.paintbypixels.com/gallery/2747415

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: E equals MC2
yea what's your gear?

Here is the page about my gear....not sure if I will include it on the site so thats why its not out in the open...

http://www.paintbypixels.com/gallery/2747416

Right now I usually use a D200 and occasionally a D50 or D80.

 

[KeithTalent]

It's funny how the OP keeps ignoring the question about the girl on the front page.

KT

 

[teatime0315]

Nice gear! Nice Page too

 

[E equals MC2]

Soon I will receive the new Nikon D300 Professional DSLR camera. Be on the lookout for new techniques in future photographs-possible only with the D300. This camera will be used exclusively going forward.

So what's this new technique and photo that's only possible with the D300, the increased ISO3200? That's just one step-up from your current gear.

I'm curious as an amateur photographer myself.

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: E equals MC2

Soon I will receive the new Nikon D300 Professional DSLR camera. Be on the lookout for new techniques in future photographs-possible only with the D300. This camera will be used exclusively going forward.

So what's this new technique and photo that's only possible with the D300, the increased ISO3200? That's just one step-up from your current gear.

I'm curious as an amateur photographer myself.

One of the main factors pushing me to get the D300 is the fps. With the battery grip, you can crank it up to 8 FPS. I do a bit for fast action shots so this is the bit one for me. Live view and super-crazy high ISO is another. The dust reduction is nice, but I've only had one time in the last two years where I needed to wipe my camera sensor manually. The other big thing is I know it will be big step up in image quality....

Is that worth $1800? I think so.

 

[E equals MC2]

Originally posted by: thatsright

Originally posted by: E equals MC2

Soon I will receive the new Nikon D300 Professional DSLR camera. Be on the lookout for new techniques in future photographs-possible only with the D300. This camera will be used exclusively going forward.

So what's this new technique and photo that's only possible with the D300, the increased ISO3200? That's just one step-up from your current gear.

I'm curious as an amateur photographer myself.

One of the main factors pushing me to get the D300 is the fps. With the battery grip, you can crank it up to 8 FPS. I do a bit for fast action shots so this is the bit one for me. Live view and super-crazy high ISO is another. The dust reduction is nice, but I've only had one time in the last two years where I needed to wipe my camera sensor manually. The other big thing is I know it will be big step up in image quality....

Is that worth $1800? I think so.

I see.

Excuse my ignorance, but doesn't the lens dictate the image quality more than the body at this mid-entry point?

I think spending $1800 on a L-series Canon lens (or Nikon equilvalent) would yield FAR better image quality results than the new body (But of course you're getting it for other reasons like the ISO, burst speed, etc)

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: E equals MC2

Originally posted by: thatsright

Originally posted by: E equals MC2

Soon I will receive the new Nikon D300 Professional DSLR camera. Be on the lookout for new techniques in future photographs-possible only with the D300. This camera will be used exclusively going forward.

So what's this new technique and photo that's only possible with the D300, the increased ISO3200? That's just one step-up from your current gear.

I'm curious as an amateur photographer myself.

One of the main factors pushing me to get the D300 is the fps. With the battery grip, you can crank it up to 8 FPS. I do a bit for fast action shots so this is the bit one for me. Live view and super-crazy high ISO is another. The dust reduction is nice, but I've only had one time in the last two years where I needed to wipe my camera sensor manually. The other big thing is I know it will be big step up in image quality....

Is that worth $1800? I think so.

I see.



Excuse my ignorance, but doesn't the lens dictate the image quality more than the body at this mid-entry point?

I think spending $1800 on a L-series Canon lens (or Nikon equilvalent) would yield FAR better image quality results than the new body (But of course you're getting it for other reasons like the ISO, burst speed, etc)

I agree with you as well....;-) If I have a choice, I always invest more money in a lens than a body.....

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
It's funny how the OP keeps ignoring the question about the girl on the front page.

KT

Inquiring minds want to know.

MotionMan

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: MotionMan

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
It's funny how the OP keeps ignoring the question about the girl on the front page.

KT

Inquiring minds want to know.

MotionMan

BTW, guy's...I'm a guy.

The girl in my banner is my cousins friend. Took the pic on a whim a few months ago. She is awesome babe....