Feedback encouraged.

[blackshadow]

I have just put up a new website at www.blackshadow.com.au and would love to hear what you think of it.

Especially looks, functionality and ease of use, speed and any other general comments.

I think it is appropriate in this forum as most of the work on the site is performing arts based.

TIA Richard

[narlus]

I think it is appropriate in this forum as most of the work on the site is performing arts based.


haha, my thread re: my revamped site got moved too. :lol:


the front page is nice. i like the BSP logo on the top, and the intro w/ the recently shot shows along w/ thumbnails is nice. clean viewer, too, though i would prefer the images be larger.

clicking on the gallery, i assumed it would launch into a gallery...it took me a while to figure out that i had to click 'view gallery.' again, the photos could definitely stand to be larger. i would take this to be your portfolio?

also, if you are advertising as being available to shoot weddings, some examples of your work should be on line. also, the text on 'FAQ' is larger than the other pages.

the look is clean, and easily navigable. just wish things were a bit larger.

[blackshadow]

Thanks Tim.

I have just made the image sizes a bit bigger. I'm mindful about what happens on smaller monitors though. I use a 19" monitor and would love to hear how they look to people with smaller monitors or on laptops.

[René Damkot]

Speedy enough, looks good, images still fit the screen of my 12" PB.

[blackshadow]

Thanks Rene

[johnms88]

Brutally honest --

Loads very slow for me in the states. I believe its more of a DNS problem than a load time problem.

I like it a lot. How do the photos load on the pain page....php?

Also, I do not at all like the gallery page. That skin just sucks..lol (i know you are limited to the select few jalbum skins that allow transactions). I quit looking after a minute because of the repetitive button pushing.

Also, throw a php contact box on the contact page. People are lazy, and wont always care enough to opwn up their e-mail to contact you. pm me if you need help with that.


edit--

looked in your source and found what you are using for the main page

[thelightofsound]

looks pretty good. do you like joomla? i've been thinking of switching, but seem stuck on wordpress. i like your layout and they way you have it set up. i am a fan of the lightbox script and use it in my personal page (http://sabaphoto.com). it did have some speed issues when i first opened it, but then it was fine.

[johnms88]

Where do u go for templates?

[blackshadow]

In answer to the questions above:

I moved from WordPress to Joomla - it takes a bit more organisation and getting your head around but I think it is much more powerful and you can do more with it than you can with WordPress.

The gallery page is more for people to order prints than as a preview - in time I want to tweak the look of it more if I can.

The site is hosted in the US so the speed issue you are having john is a little surprising.

Contact page will be up sometime soon.

I got the template from Joomlashack - link on the bottom of my site.

[bigbaby987]

The only issue I have is that it's a little busy with many windows. Great images and everything. Is there anyway to simplify a little? I do like you site, it just seems a tad bizzy.

Keep doing your thing Shadow.

B

[inthedeck]

I get a bunch of JavaScript errors (but, I'm a QA guy...so, I find those all the time). I'll have to look a little closer, when I have more time, but, I do agree that over on this side of the world (US) the site is really slow to come up. Once in, it's all good.

[DwightMcCann]

Looks more like a Music Industry News website than photography website. It initially loaded very slowly for me, too, here at the University which has unlimited bandwidth but as previously mentioned that may be a DNS issue on this first load. I, too, was surprised when clicking on a homepage image on the right to see just an enlarged image rather than a gallery or slideshow. If I had not read the earlier postings I would not have thought to click on the image (or even read the text.) Once familiar with the site I expect it is much easier to use. Overall impression is that it rather dark/stark with a heavy feeling.

[blackshadow]

Thanks for the feedback - I've made a few tweaks and think it looks much better now.

I'd like to know what others think.

[johnstoy]

I'm checking it out now... Judging from the home page, it looks like there is a lot to it...

The script on the upper left of the front page is a bit wordy...

QUOTE:
The photos displayed online here are presented at the best possible quality for web viewing.

There will be some difference between the the website versions of the images and prints because the online images have been generated from high resolution files that have been optimised for printing.

I underlined what I find might need clarification or rewording. there has to be a shorter way to say this... What do you think...

(Just so you know, I'm not a web site designer, however I am also working on my Smug Mug web pages and this really interests me...)

I'll be interested in check each page out Richard... Will write more later today.

[johnstoy]

I'm just brainstorming some ideas... Not in any specific order of prioroty... so take your pick, and consider any, all or none, as positive suggestions for modification.

Great photo gallery set up... Clicking on the actual pic (upper right) is a real cool way to interact... The images are clearly representative of the shows. Your creative web site will generate interest, compliments, and therefore is more apt to generate clients...

On the other hand:
Some of your sentences are real long and could use some additional punctuation... I'd recommend; simply review and add commas and periods to shorten a few of the sentances...

If you make occasional minor adjustments/tweaks, on a daily basis, soon it will be perfect... For example, can you adjust the width of the scroll for the band names?

Occasionally blend in more colorful pictures with the darker ones to add depth and dimension to the page layout... Maybe a feature picture, or several feature pictures would be better for the front page?

Richard, your's is already a big web site... You have several sections to maintain... good luck... with persistence, it will be head and shoulders above most others out there.