My Redone Site

[jforkner]

I was trying for a simple, fast-loading site---hopefully I accomplished it. All the images are HDR.

http://www.caltel.com/~jforkner/

Thanks for looking. Any feedback is appreciated.


Jack

[Asher Kelman]

Hi Jack,

You photographs are great but the entrance is too slow. Can you make a non flash front and see if it can be faster.

I almost didn't enter, but when I did the pictures were worthwhile!

Asher

[MatthewMarshall]

If you have high speed or even medium speed Internet. The site loads fine. I also tested the site across the world using some tool our website company has. Your site loads under 10 secs in most of the world. So dont worry about what Asher said. He may have a slower connection.

You might run into problems is how you scripted the music. Its a wave music file linked as a plugin. Not a great way to stream music. Replace the wave file with a flash streaming music, or even a hidden mp3. You will get better sound, faster load up, plus a smaller file

Also why not make your logo on your pages a gif, or transparent Png. so that the background can show through and you wont have a gray box around your logo. I think this would look better.

[0lBaldy]

Just curious..
Why is it that now a days when I go to someones site I have to wait 10 seconds for an entry page to load so I can click a single button to enter the site I should have been directed to in the first place?

[Asher Kelman]

Originally Posted by 0lBaldy

Just curious..
Why is it that now a days when I go to someones site I have to wait 10 seconds for an entry page to load so I can click a single button to enter the site I should have been directed to in the first place?

Absolutely!

Further there's a major desgin issue. We have something of a situation where what one is offering with the music and beautiful signature is not what one gets!

The opening is artistic, lean and implies a romantic journey. We discover we can escape to your real front page and then we have twenty tiny thumbs crowded together like windows in a commercial office building. Nothing distinguished itself at that size. Everything is symmetrical.

Would it not be more effective to have just say 10 larger thumbs on the right and one georgeous image in a large window on the left, for example. Now for zero eye work on behalf of the viewer and potential buyer, you have already enticed them and seduced them with your wrok.

Currently, the attractive opening Flash page wastes the micro-time web surfers allow and with an office building to deal with, might just give up.

Excuse me being so bold, but I just think my own feelings might be helpful for you to thorw in the mix!

Asher

[jforkner]

Thanks all for the critique.

Asher - The front page is not Flash, but loading the music is what was taking so long. I removed it while I look into a more efficient method of loading it (such as Matthew suggests). I appreciate your format recommendation, and will give it a try. As you may have guessed, I'm using a software tool to create the photo album since I wanted it easy to update. I'll either have to find another tool or write my own.

Matthew - Thanks for the recommendations. I'll investigate alternative ways on loading the music. I also appreciate your suggestion about the .png files. I had not used that format before. I changed the logos as you suggest, and it looks much better.

OlBaldy - I can't speak for the other sites you visit, but loading the music was what took so long on my site. I agree with you, in principle. I hate Flash sites that take a while to load. That's why I didn't use Flash on mine. I was somewhat bothered by the somewhat lengthy loading time of the music I added, but decided to give it a try anyway. I do appreciate your comments.


Jack

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by jforkner

OlBaldy - loading the music was what took so long on my site. I was somewhat bothered by the somewhat lengthy loading time of the music I added, but decided to give it a try anyway.
Jack

Let me restate my rant..
Why is it that now a days when I go to someones site I am directed to an entry page to enter the site?

Why make people jump through the hoop of pushing a button to see your work when the express purpose of being there is to see your work..

[jforkner]

OlBaldy,

I don’t have a good answer to your rant. I can only say that my purpose of an entry page is one of introduction---sort of like shaking hands with someone you first meet prior to finding out about them.

That said, you make a good argument. I will have to consider abandoning my entry page and going directly to the photos.

BTW, how about a link to your website?


Jack

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by jforkner

OlBaldy,
BTW, how about a link to your website?
Jack

I am just an old, ranting, fuddy-duddy,
who has not found a reason to go to the trouble of maintaining a web site.

[jforkner]

Kinda what I thought. But I appreciate your critique anyway.

Jack

[Asher Kelman]

Jack,

Somehow, I feel I should return to the concept of your front page again. I do like the mood it establishes. Maybe you could use the script as part of the style of the site. At present there was no presentation of the sweep of mood from just seeing the words on the front page.

For your site, starting at the page with the images and seeing one at good size immediately knows what kind of food is being served up. If that is immediately appetizing then people might go further.

Whatever you do, your site should be inviting. The photography is not any issue.

Good luck!

Asher

[jforkner]

Thanks for you interest, Asher. I have not abandoned the front page, just eliminated the music. And I'm tossing around some ideas for the picture pages.


Jack

[smak]

>>>>>>> Kinda what I thought. But I appreciate your critique anyway.

Why does someone need a web site to comment on other's sites?

[jforkner]

You don't. I just think folks who have designed and/or created one have a different perspective on appearance and functionality.

[smak]

Here's a view on splash pages from folks who make web sites:

http://www.websiteoptimization.com/speed/tweak/splash/

[Asher Kelman]

Originally Posted by smak

Here's a view on splash pages from folks who make web sites:

http://www.websiteoptimization.com/speed/tweak/splash/

Perhaps the most important reference for web designers ever!

Asher

[0lBaldy]

He is not using "Flash" .. just an intro page.. If he wants to shake hands and not give out any pertinent information other than his name and where to click to "enter site" then so be it.. 2 seconds at the most..
Cut him some slack.. tis his decision and we are only consumers..

BTW. Jack, My dad ran a produce route back in the 50s for "Rose Brothers Produce" up around your area by the big hole in the ground. My youth was spent in Modesto.. spent a lot of wonderful times fishing the Stanislaus and Tuolumne Rivers ..

I see you have a SU-27 and a Wing, do you use either of these to photograph with? If you use a foamy I would be interested in seeing your set up.. I used a box kite many years ago just to see if I could.. fun times!

[jforkner]

OlBaldy,

Yes, I fly R/C planes and do aerial photography (AP) from two of them. I started about 3 years ago with a small foam model called a Magpie. It worked well; but I wanted to upgrade my camera, and it couldn’t handle the increased payload. So I designed a new, larger plane (which I nicknamed The PhotoMaster), and it works well carrying a Canon A620 camera. I’ve attached a photo of each plane and an example of a recent aerial shot I took during construction of the nearby Copperopolis Town Square.

I’m curious how you know I had an SU-27 and a wing? BTW, the SU-27 is no more, and the wing has the distinction of flying over the Grand Canyon. But I digress. If you’re interested in R/C aerial photography, I’d suggest checking out the RCGroups Forum at: http://www.rcgroups.com/aerial-photography-128/

Also, if you want more details about my AP setup, you can email me and I’d be happy to discuss it with you. My email address is on my website; which, you may notice, has been slightly modified per some of the suggestions contained in this thread.



Jack