homemade site...

[Janko]

Hello I'm new around these parts,

I should say I am not by any means a webiste designer. Took a long while to build especially since navigating and dissecting code is torture for me.

all comments/feedback appreciated. especially ones suggesting improvements.

http://www.jankowilliams.com

[igot2pman]

I like the flow and buttons. The only thing would be the speed of the homepage images, there to fast.

I really like the case studys, it really lets people in on how you create the works.

-Keven

[Ubi]

I looked at every single image. Great stuff. Don't really have any suggestions for improvement. Nice clean website, easy to navigate. And I like the before and after, and case studies.

Basically, I like it!

[Vernon]

Nicely done, Janko! I would agree, too, that the homepage images are cycling a tad too fast.
Maybe about half as fast would be ideal.

And your case studies are great; I enjoyed seeing your approach to each piece.

[Janko]

Thanks for the input, I slowed them down a bit and smoothed out the fade in and out, and added a pdf portfolio for download and a few other tweaks...

I change it all the time and getting feedback is super helpful.

Thanks!

[jtd131]

dude, those are some great images. I really like the website, keeps the focus on the images in a great minimalist presentation.

[Janko]

Thanks! Someday when I'm rich I'll actually pay someone to make a real website for me, for now this one will do...

[jtd131]

what software did you use ?

[Janko]

it's all done in flash w/ xml.

[crazyfly1]

Wow, do you need an understudy?

[LloydM]

Originally Posted by Janko

Hello I'm new around these parts,

I should say I am not by any means a webiste designer. Took a long while to build especially since navigating and dissecting code is torture for me

I don't think you need to hire a web-site designer... I have seen a lot of sites designed and maintained by so call pros and they aren't nearly as good nor function as well as yours. -AND -The photography and retouching are great too..!!

[Janko]

aw shucks! you guys are too nice. The thing that irritates me most is not having thumbnails and having to wait for each one to load until you're able to move on to the next.

I would also like to have a slicker interface with a zoom and refine the case studies a bit...

all that and a good content management system that works would be real nice...

There will always be things I could be spending money on... so far the website has done its duty pretty well so I wont complain.

[Ubi]

hi janko,

i had a look at your website again, as you complained that we are too nice, haha. Your website is great. Very clean, images load quickly.

I sometimes see with other retouchers a couple of steps from before to after in their case studies. So not just before and after but also a couple of steps in between. Maybe this gives a bigger WHAUW effect. Just some thoughts. Anyhow, good to hear that your site is serving you well.

[KAOS C.]

I think the website is great! Easy to navigate. Straight and to the point. I love the case studies and the before and after and your work is amazing! Hopefully i will be that good someday!

[pixelz]

I really like your website. The focus is on your images and that's exactly where it should be. Nicely done!

[resto]

Nice site and nice images. I don’t like flash but I like the site.

I did have trouble viewing it in FireFox said I needed to install the newer version of Adobe Flash but it ran good in IE.
That’s why I don’t like flash it can be undependable in different browsers. Similar image viewers can be made with java of just plain html links if you ever get tired of the flash or it gives you trouble.

But looks nice the white background really displys the pics well.

[Vernon]

Janko, thought to mention, too:
Consider adding a feedback form on your contact page where prospective clients can just fill in the form and submit it to you - there are quite a few flash tutorials on creating the form that includes a captcha (anti-bot code like "enter the sum of 2+3 to prove you are human...")

Here is one such link to a free flash captcha

[Janko]

Thanks all for comments and nice words!

resto- I know that flash has its disadvantages but I feel the animation and interactivity it brings is worth it. I feel most higher-end sites have at least some flash components to them. If I knew how to code php I think it would be a good alternative, but writing code is not my strength, and I have zero motivation to learn it...

Vernon- Thanks, thats a good point... I'm always looking to add parts and build more functionality and I would like to add that at some point.

[resto]

Originally Posted by Janko

I feel most higher-end sites have at least some flash components to them.

I would have to disagree with that. most high end site I know of don’t have flash for a lot of reasons. Most of the flash I see on high-end sites are just ads.

Flash is not a solid platform to build large sites on. It is more for small personal sites.

[Janko]

Originally Posted by resto

I would have to disagree with that. most high end site I know of don’t have flash for a lot of reasons. Most of the flash I see on high-end sites are just ads.

Flash is not a solid platform to build large sites on. It is more for small personal sites.

Hmm...That's interesting you say that.

some examples of flash sites--

http://www.taylorjames.com/cgi-retouching/index.php

http://www.saddingtonbaynes.com/

http://www.real-fake.com/#

http://recom-post.de/#/portfolio/overview/1/

http://www.christarantino.com/

also Id be curious to see the high end sites that have ads on them... wouldn't that make them not high-end?

I agree you don't have to have flash for it to be a good site. but I think it helps a lot in making the site more dynamic and visually stimulating. and since we're in the creative industry I feel its important to use all the help we can get to show off our work.

And like I said before if I were a better designer I would probably build a site using more than just flash. With flash is relatively easy to build a simple clean site...

[0lBaldy]

I Like the site also! Nice, Clean, well thought out!

Just one question... seeing as all the home page images that cycle automatically are on the inside and repeated again on almost every photo page... why have them cycle at all? If you just put a single copy of one of your best works, with maybe a before/after mouse over (because the title says 'Retoucher' under your name) ... It would speed the site loading time... and get the viewer clicking the buttons faster.. That way the images on the inside would be "Oh WOW!" instead of "already seen these"

[Janko]

Originally Posted by 0lBaldy

I Like the site also! Nice, Clean, well thought out!

Just one question... seeing as all the home page images that cycle automatically are on the inside and repeated again on almost every photo page... why have them cycle at all? If you just put a single copy of one of your best works, with maybe a before/after mouse over (because the title says 'Retoucher' under your name) ... It would speed the site loading time... and get the viewer clicking the buttons faster.. That way the images on the inside would be "Oh WOW!" instead of "already seen these"

Thanks OlBaldy, this is the sort of feedback thats extremely helpful. I was in the process of reorganizing and updating the site anyway.. after i read your post I felt you were right about the splash screen (the cycling images at beginning) did sort of take away from the impact of the images in the portfolio. plus it loads a lot faster now.

Thanks to all the comments and feedback so far, I have made changes and if anyone has any more thoughts or ideas on the new changes please let me know!

[pixelfinity]

Hi Janko

Nice work - I would suggest having your AFTER images to view and rollover to see the ORIGINAL shot.

At least that way you always present the best images on screen.

I do it that way at www.pixelfinity.co.uk

once again - nice work.

Ian

[Janko]

Originally Posted by pixelfinity

Hi Janko

Nice work - I would suggest having your AFTER images to view and rollover to see the ORIGINAL shot.

At least that way you always present the best images on screen.

I do it that way at www.pixelfinity.co.uk

once again - nice work.

Ian

Thanks Ian,

I think you're right I'll change that.

I really like your site and work too. I love the treatment you applied to the taxi cab shot, nice job.