Website review wanted

I wasn't sure where to post this. So I'll put this here. MODs, please feel
free to move this to a better forum if need be. Sorry if its in the wrong spot.

Still uploading pictures to the gallery (mostly 'people') for for now you can
see where I am going. The website is 90% functional. Still need to:
1. Write in the 'About' page with a brief bio, etc.
2. Finish the email form for the 'Contact me' page.
3. More of being a nit-pick, but with the custom built gallery its simple now.
But I really would like to add sub-categories and automate the pages so
they split after 'X' numbers of pictures display.

But considering its all hand coded, I'm not all that disappointed.
Will have the items listed above done by end of this week, probably.
http://JWSquire.com <- Website URL.

Thanks all who view it

Home page looks clean, like the colors nice shots. I would like to see something instead of a '?' as it looks to me like that was supposed to be a place holder and you forgot to add an image, even if that isn't the case, it jsut doesn't fit wiht the rest of the site. Also when you click on a gallery there isn't really any navigation, just the 3 at the bottom. A more obvious nav to the other galleriers and one taht says home (yes I get that clicking on the header takes you home but many won't notice that). I think the site is simple and works well, good job!

looks like someone got a new dslr :P

I like it....especially since you did it yourself. Sub categories is a must. People will get lost in all those images. I'd also open up the opacity on the "non hover" pictures on your home page. Maybe rather than blur them out, highlight them when on hover?

I'm in no means a designer/developer. I've just been doing my own research on getting my website done...so it's just my 2 cents.

Thanks all I've changed the '?' to a picture. Also randomized it now so one of
4 (or 5 in case of 'people') pictures display on the front page when it loads.

I have today off so I want to finish the email/bio pages. I need to get the
Pagination done (I've done that before, so its easy for me) also.
The sub-categories is going to be difficult. I've built blogs, simple forums,
email scripts, RSS feeds, etc. But never a gallery. So it might take awhile to get
it exactly "where" I want it with sub-categories. Might re-do how images are
displayed, so I can also offer/show comments from visitors.

Honestly I need to dig out my old books & files from before. I used to co-run a business
with one of my friends. We did graphics & web design, mostly sub-contracts for my uncle's business.

Txleber, not sure what you mean by that. Like don't use opacity on the front images
but then someone 'highlight' them on rollover? Like use a dull image for when it
loads and then rollover to show the full color version or...?

Nice & clean (btw your "Contact Me" page says "Content Me Here!")

JonathanSQ wrote in post #4764091
Txleber, not sure what you mean by that. Like don't use opacity on the front images
but then someone 'highlight' them on rollover? Like use a dull image for when it
loads and then rollover to show the full color version or...?

I was suggesting *not* to dull the picture at all...but rather highlight the picture when rolled over. This way it gives the visitor something "clear" to look at when they land on your homepage.

Ed

In that case, it's already like that; its at 30% opacity when it loads and goes up to
100% to appear clear when someone rolls over the image. I'm sure its something
so simple your trying to get across I'm just like *huh* - its not been the best day for me.

Looking right now there is one image not loading for me. Its between the 4 categories and then above the nav a the bottom. Maybe its a tile fromt eh background or something.

It's simple and clean, I like that. IMO there could be some more "personality" into the site. Seems kind of stoic, doesn't separate you from the crowd.

Also, check the link below. It's the updated version of the lightbox viewer you are using. I'm setting up a gallery myself using this awesome little script. The new version allows viewers to click through "groups" of photos rather than opening, closing, opening, closing, etc... super simple to install.

http://dynamicdrive.co​m …ndex4/lightbox2​/index.htm

I think you should highlight when you hover over your home page images - you are essentially highlighting them all until someone "un highlights" by hovering. You want to draw someone in to the image not make them work for it.

Also I'm a fan of lightbox but your images vary so much in size I find myself scrolling and re aligning the web browser - consider simple viewer for gallery's and light box for an occasional pop-out image.

Over all I like the tidiness of your site.

rcg wrote in post #4768998
I think you should highlight when you hover over your home page images - you are essentially highlighting them all until someone "un highlights" by hovering. You want to draw someone in to the image not make them work for it.

That's what I was trying to say. When I land on your home page the first thing i see are four blurry pictures. It would be better, IMO, if the pictures were clear and sharp to begin with, and then when rolled over they were highlighted. Maybe consider framing them when on hover. I'm not sure if that's possible, code-wise. Take a look at my website. Click on gallery. That might give you an idea. (I had nothing to do w/ the design...it's a Bludomain template)

I really like it. In fact, I've just done a front page in almost exactly the same style. I got some criticism on the faded images, too, but I'm willing to live with it.

You seem to have a problem with the 1 pixel white divider between the third and fourth images. In Firefox it doesn't show at all and in IE7 it's barely there.

Axton wrote in post #4768271
It's simple and clean, I like that. IMO there could be some more "personality" into the site. Seems kind of stoic, doesn't separate you from the crowd.

Also, check the link below. It's the updated version of the lightbox viewer you are using. I'm setting up a gallery myself using this awesome little script. The new version allows viewers to click through "groups" of photos rather than opening, closing, opening, closing, etc... super simple to install.

http://dynamicdrive.co​m …ndex4/lightbox2​/index.htm

Actually I am using LS2 I just don't want to group the images.
Reason being is I'm still tweaking the PHP/MySQL script I made so it
has sub-categories. Where the script is now was easy as pie, just like
a blog (with categories) that I made for a customer on my last job
before I quit web design. But the sub-categories are still taunting me! Lol.
Hopefully I can figure that out soon so I can just group images that way.

Another reason I don't group them, is I use PHP/MySQL to automatically
generate all the links. So it would automatically group ALL the pictures
instead of just a certain set. Its a trade off, hence why I want sub-categories.

I see what everyone is saying about the divider between 3rd & 4th images.
I appear to have left 1px TOO much (width) on a few of the images that
rotate for the 'Wildlife' section. Also *now* I get what you guys mean
about highlighting. Perhaps change it so that the words '****' below each
each pop out and in full color?

Also how would I go about adding more personality? Usually I tend to design
for either TOO much of a full, colorful design or too LITTLE for a simple design.
Its always been my problem (hence why I never did the graphics for websites).
Also I'm still going through & resizing all the photos to a maximum width X height.
So that way all are *nearly* the same size (either with height or width)