My new website

[DFNDR90]

Hi Everyone,

Started a new website recently, www.willschoutenphotographs.com (http://willschoutenphotographs.com/)

Its a blog style site, so check back often!

Of course, let me know what you think, good or bad.

:)

[VladTepes]

Some good ones there but at top of page some look like they were taken on a mobile phone ?
What's with the war memorial one ? The sky has disappeared in a wave of over-exposure !

[werdan]

Some good ones there but at top of page some look like they were taken on a mobile phone ?
What's with the war memorial one ? The sky has disappeared in a wave of over-exposure !

Heh, I was wondering if it was an issue with my screen calibration. :)

Do people here bother to calibrate their screens? The only method I use is the adobe gamut in the past. I notice that the Windows 7 nvidia drivers now have the same method built in. What does everyone else do?

[dmdigital]

Heh, I was wondering if it was an issue with my screen calibration. :)

Do people here bother to calibrate their screens? The only method I use is the adobe gamut in the past. I notice that the Windows 7 nvidia drivers now have the same method built in. What does everyone else do?
I use a Spyder3 and do calibrate my screens and the the first lot of pictures look like WB is out a bit.

That said interesting site style, but I'm sorry to say it doesn't work for me. To many and too large images all on the main page and the menu system up the top seems a little white on white to be easily used. I'm assuming it's a work in progress so good luck with it, there certainly are some great shots on there.

[300+]

Heh, I was wondering if it was an issue with my screen calibration. :)

Do people here bother to calibrate their screens? The only method I use is the adobe gamut in the past. I notice that the Windows 7 nvidia drivers now have the same method built in. What does everyone else do?

I got a spider 2 on special on Ebay. I thought I'd done a decent job using the free tools on the internet, but the before & after showed that I really had messed it up.

It was back when I had an aging trinitron. I thought that the need for this would be reduced when I switched a LCD later on, but that was just as bad as the CRT.

Cheers, Steve

[Ausfree]

G'Day Mate,
As an old wedding photoghrapher with many weddings under my belt (so to speak) I can honestly say it is easy to be critical of another persons work but just try and operate under the pressure to turn out first class photo's in a limited space of time with untrained models is quite a task.

Well done mate, I particularly like the picture of the Bridesmaids playing hopscotch. Just be a little careful of the underchin photo's of the Bride they tend to make them look awkward and a bit overweight.

Keep going and keep us posted.

Cheers Ausfree .:D:D:D

[chunk]

Well I like your photo's I think most are very good, there are a couple that are a bit washed out in particular the war memorial, but in saying that, that shot taken from that angle on that day was probably the best you were going to get.
What camera are you using.

[DFNDR90]

--the first lot of pictures look like WB is out a bit--menu system up the top seems a little white on white to be easily used.

Thanks dm_td5, the menu colors have been on my 'to do' list, your reply has prompted me to change it. Hopefully the current color scheme is a little easier to use/see! :) -- With regards to the WB on the first few images, you'd be right! The filters i've used add a bit of warmth to the images, which I didnt mind so much, but on second look they are too warm. I'll tone them down soon. :D


G'Day Mate,
As an old wedding photoghrapher with many weddings under my belt (so to speak) I can honestly say it is easy to be critical of another persons work but just try and operate under the pressure to turn out first class photo's in a limited space of time with untrained models is quite a task.

Well done mate, I particularly like the picture of the Bridesmaids playing hopscotch. Just be a little careful of the underchin photo's of the Bride they tend to make them look awkward and a bit overweight.

Keep going and keep us posted.

Cheers Ausfree .:D:D:D

Thanks Ausfree, much appreciated! The bridesmaid's image is one of my favourites, thankfully they didnt mind doing it (was 38 degree's that day) :)


Well I like your photo's I think most are very good, there are a couple that are a bit washed out in particular the war memorial, but in saying that, that shot taken from that angle on that day was probably the best you were going to get.
What camera are you using.

Thanks chunk, I use either a D2x or a D200. I also have a G10, which is great for carrying around, although a little large for a pocket camera. With regards to the war memorial image, I shot and edited it to appear over exposed. I quite like it, was one of my favorites from that day! :blush:

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Thanks to the others that have also replied, I really appreciate your opinions!

ps - Has a reply gone missing? I thought I saw one yesterday, but I only checked the thread quickly before heading out..

pps - I also use a Spyder3 for calibration, but will be changing to another calibration system when I can. While I dont mind Spyder3, I think there may be better options out there for a similar price.

[Bushie]

ps - Has a reply gone missing? I thought I saw one yesterday, but I only checked the thread quickly before heading out..



I think one has gone missing - deleted ??

I can't remember who posted it but basically said some of the wedding photos looked 'strained' - as if they weren't enjoyable (by the participants).

I was going to comment that I didn't think that way, but then photography is as much about 'art' as capturing the scene/event and different styles will be viewed quite differently by other individuals.

Martyn

[matbor]

Cool pics mate, have added it to my RSS reader ;)

Probably the only thing i would do is reduce the number of pics/page or reduce the resolution a little as it takes a while to load.

Matt.

[dullbird]

it was me.....that posted. but I deleted as the comment I made as a non professional of my views of your shots which might I add I thought were good.

wasn't received that well judging by the reply from another member, so as not to offend (which wasn't the intention) I deleted as the comment wasn't worth upsetting anyone over...it was just an observation thats all

[DFNDR90]

Cool pics mate, have added it to my RSS reader ;)

Probably the only thing i would do is reduce the number of pics/page or reduce the resolution a little as it takes a while to load.

Matt.

Thanks matbor, you might be my first RSS subscriber! The amount of posts/images that appear is also on my list of things to change. I've had a look through my admin tools but haven't found the option yet. I've also changed my image export preset to a slightly lower quality to avoid over size image files.. :D

[dullbird]

did you build the website from scratch or did you use a package type thing

[Ausfree]

it was me.....that posted. but I deleted as the comment I made as a non professional of my views of your shots which might I add I thought were good.

wasn't received that well judging by the reply from another member, so as not to offend (which wasn't the intention) I deleted as the comment wasn't worth upsetting anyone over...it was just an observation thats all
OOPS:wasntme:was it? I hope I haven't upset anybody, my comments were meant for DFNDR90 and not to slag off anybody else on the Forum. Anyway if it was me ....sorry!!:mellow::mellow:

[grumpybastard]

Thanks matbor, you might be my first RSS subscriber! The amount of posts/images that appear is also on my list of things to change. I've had a look through my admin tools but haven't found the option yet. I've also changed my image export preset to a slightly lower quality to avoid over size image files.. :D

Just a word of warning from my personal experience.. websites do seem to consume copious amounts of time and can grow rather rapidly....mines just hit 50GB and contains 20,000 pics after 5 years

[Cap]

Cant comment on the photography cos im no expert, but I can comment on the web stuff as I do web sites on the side...

With web, its like art, everyone has an opinion... so go with what you feel will reflect you as the artist.

But some key rules apply (or should). Dont overcrowd the first page... have the first page with an introduction of yourself, who you are, your passions etc (without being verbose). Then ass some pics, preferably smallish type, not small as in thumbnail small, but small. These will be teasers.

Then you can add categories, eg Weddings, Recreational, Artisitic etc so that viewers can pic what they are interesting in seeing.

Valid points above such as download time is also important. Its better to have multiple pages in a site than 1 or 2 long (heavy) pages.

Hope this helps.

[DFNDR90]

did you build the website from scratch or did you use a package type thing

Hi dullbird, Im using wordpress with a plug-in from Prophoto.


Cant comment on the photography cos im no expert, but I can comment on the web stuff as I do web sites on the side...

With web, its like art, everyone has an opinion... so go with what you feel will reflect you as the artist.

But some key rules apply (or should). Dont overcrowd the first page... have the first page with an introduction of yourself, who you are, your passions etc (without being verbose). Then ass some pics, preferably smallish type, not small as in thumbnail small, but small. These will be teasers.

Then you can add categories, eg Weddings, Recreational, Artisitic etc so that viewers can pic what they are interesting in seeing.

Valid points above such as download time is also important. Its better to have multiple pages in a site than 1 or 2 long (heavy) pages.

Hope this helps.

Hi Stooge, thanks for the advice! Im still hunting for the option to reduce the amount of posts on the first page, so that will be changed soon.. With regards to the site taking long to download/being heavy, the images only download/appear as you scroll down the page. Its a tempory measure until I find out how to reduce posts per page.

[Ausfree]

Cant comment on the photography cos im no expert, but I can comment on the web stuff as I do web sites on the side...

With web, its like art, everyone has an opinion... so go with what you feel will reflect you as the artist.

But some key rules apply (or should). Dont overcrowd the first page... have the first page with an introduction of yourself, who you are, your passions etc (without being verbose). Then ass some pics, preferably smallish type, not small as in thumbnail small, but small. These will be teasers.

Then you can add categories, eg Weddings, Recreational, Artisitic etc so that viewers can pic what they are interesting in seeing.

Valid points above such as download time is also important. Its better to have multiple pages in a site than 1 or 2 long (heavy) pages.

Hope this helps.
I am from the opposite side of the spectrum (being an old film guy before this yu beaut digital stuff) but gee that makes sense to me. Go with it mate!!! Are you confused with all this expert advice yet? Don't oversell at first you must give them a teaser (no not that sort).
Cheers and good photography!:twobeers:

[matbor]

Hi dullbird, Im using wordpress with a plug-in from Prophoto.



Hi Stooge, thanks for the advice! Im still hunting for the option to reduce the amount of posts on the first page, so that will be changed soon.. With regards to the site taking long to download/being heavy, the images only download/appear as you scroll down the page. Its a tempory measure until I find out how to reduce posts per page.

If it's wordpress, it's in one of the options, just can't remember it atm!

[DFNDR90]

If it's wordpress, it's in one of the options, just can't remember it atm!

Found it! Its under - Settings/Reading in Wordpress's options. I was looking through my plug-ins options for it. Thanks matbor!

[jeppy]

I like your site. Easy to navigate, except finding your way to the home page. Lovely photo's too, I like your style. Gorgeous colours. Are your shots film or digital?

I strongly recommend adding watermarks to your photo's when publishing on the web, you don't want them becoming somebody elses property too easily.

[DFNDR90]

I like your site. Easy to navigate, except finding your way to the home page. Lovely photo's too, I like your style. Gorgeous colours. Are your shots film or digital?

I strongly recommend adding watermarks to your photo's when publishing on the web, you don't want them becoming somebody elses property too easily.

Hi jeppy,

Thanks for the kind comments! I've also noticed its not easy getting back to the main page, i'll look into that soon.

Im not a big fan of watermarks. Im using some other measures to prevent people taking images from the site (no right click etc), but apart from that im not too fussed about it. :)