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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> *Fanfare* please critique my new website!
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Showing posts 1 - 25 of 47, (reverse)
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 02/28/2006 08:46:49 PM · #1
After spending the last few days intensively revamping my website, it's now ready for it's first public test.

Please let me know what you think of it: //www.EyesOpen.co.uk

I have a list of concerns about it, but I'll wait to see what people think before I air them.

Edit: It's now live!

Message edited by author 2006-03-01 08:04:11.
 02/28/2006 08:51:10 PM · #2
My thoughts...a little fast at first..but WHAT A GREAT WEBSITE. I think its awesome....
 02/28/2006 08:51:15 PM · #3
very nice. im not a huge fan of the music though
 02/28/2006 08:53:14 PM · #4
I'm going to change the music as soon as I can... there's a jazz trombonist I did a shoot for recently who's going to be on the cover of the main UK jazz magazine (with my photo!), I might use something of his. I was debating not using music at all as I find it quite annoying on other sites, but I basically want my site to be similar to a band website.
 02/28/2006 08:54:12 PM · #5
Oh yeah, the link to my old website isn't valid yet as it's still live!
 02/28/2006 08:54:23 PM · #6
Originally posted by BobsterLobster:
I'm going to change the music as soon as I can... there's a jazz trombonist I did a shoot for recently who's going to be on the cover of the main UK jazz magazine (with my photo!), I might use something of his. I was debating not using music at all as I find it quite annoying on other sites, but I basically want my site to be similar to a band website.


thats understandable. just make sure the music isn't redundant like some annoying elevator music
02/28/2006 08:54:58 PM · #7
What can I say but super cool! Great job it̢۪s captivating and focused. Just right I would say. The image of the pregnant woman and her old man smoking and drinking is crazy and very well captured. Your work is awesome I am quite jealous, as I am sure allot are, of your access.

Rock On!

The Grand Wazoo

Message edited by author 2006-02-28 20:55:44.
 02/28/2006 08:55:28 PM · #8
Originally posted by philup:
My thoughts...a little fast at first..but WHAT A GREAT WEBSITE. I think its awesome....

I agree. The speed at the beginning is pretty eye jarring. I'd say it is preferable to waiting longer for it to load though, so I wouldn't change a thing. Very nicely done Bob!
 02/28/2006 08:59:25 PM · #9
Amazing website - great job!
 02/28/2006 09:01:46 PM · #10
Nice.
Just two things that you may or may not have on that list of yours.
- The intro, if I can skip it what use is it? NO, that doesn't mean remove the skip button, just says to me that YOU don't find it important. That, and after coming to your site the first time it'll just be annoying.
- The grey edging outside the main content body doesn't fit too well in your color scheme. I think I get what you were trying to do there, the grey just doesnt' accomplish it though. Or maybe it's the body background color. They just don't mesh.

Still, nicely done.
 02/28/2006 09:02:47 PM · #11
Very, very well done! Congratulation!
 02/28/2006 09:09:16 PM · #12
BTW, I made this website by stapling together 2 templates. So it wasn't made from scratch, but I did spend quite a while customising them which got quite fiddly and head-scratching at times. Debugging someone else's code can be tough.
I get your point about skipping the intro... I usually hate them. But I like this one so much that I decided to keep it and break the cardinal rule of flash intros (don't have them). The first time you see it, it's over before you have a chance to think and adds a great sense of dynamism.
I'm not sure I know what you mean about the grey edging... is this on every page (apart from the galleries)? Does anyone else feel the same way?
 02/28/2006 09:14:27 PM · #13
I like it. Easy to follow,looks good. Nice job!
How much do you charge!! :)
 02/28/2006 09:14:28 PM · #14
Looking at your original site I notice that you have drastically reduced the amoutn of space available to display your images. Looks like you are optimised for 800x600. Seems a shame to lose that resolution on your images, although very kind to those with low res monitors.
02/28/2006 09:18:22 PM · #15
Thanks guys,
I'm selling the old template for £150, including hosting.

It took me a couple of days just to go through every single photo, resize it to 450 pixels, re-sharpen it to just the right amount, and then choose an effective square area of the photo for the thumbnail, resize it, sharpen it, etc etc. Glad that part of it is over!
The benefit for me is that I'm slightly less bothered now if people try to steal them because the quality isn't as good as on the old site. I still think they are high impact though, and that is what matters to me.
 02/28/2006 09:19:00 PM · #16
Actually I'm in the process of redesigning my site to give it more punch and to fit larger images in. I'm very interested in your reasons for reducign your picture sizes.

Message edited by author 2006-02-28 21:22:31.
 02/28/2006 09:22:06 PM · #17
Originally posted by PaulE:
Actually I'm in the process of resigning my site to give it more punch and to fit larger images in. I'm very interested in your reasons for reducign your picture sizes.


I like your website, very 'now'! I think your photos would have more impact with a dark background though, rather that making them larger! I think they need a bit of sharpening as well.
 02/28/2006 09:25:59 PM · #18
Thanks - much appreciated.

Have a look at this for the first shot at the new format. It's rough, and only in HTML while I work towards my end format. Don't try to click on too many things....

I agree that a darker background is required. My wife is against the new background. Need to chose a way forward.
02/28/2006 09:29:50 PM · #19
I like the menu structure on the left, nice clean design. My resolution is 1024x768, and I would miss the very bottom of each picture though which would bug me.

Ah, just had another look and noticed the thumbnails at the bottom which I'd missed. It would bother me not being able to see all the photo and thumbnails at the same time on my resolution (which is pretty common!).
 02/28/2006 09:29:53 PM · #20
Great site! It's lively and that gets peoples attention.
 03/01/2006 06:32:21 AM · #21
Bump for the UK crowd... if there are no serious bugs, I'll replace the old site today!
 03/01/2006 06:38:45 AM · #22
wow, amazing photography!
03/01/2006 06:57:41 AM · #23
Thanks, and the website?! LOL
 03/01/2006 07:06:47 AM · #24
Hey Bob, I like the site. It seems to be user friendly. Easy to navigate around. Looks good. Didn't notice the music. I'm on a machine without speakers (working).
 03/01/2006 07:13:36 AM · #25
Great website - I studied websites, their construction and critiquing them etc, with the Open University and this ticks all the boxex that I was advised make up a good site. The content is also outstanding - well done.
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