Thoughts on my photography/website?

Texas Aggie · Mar 1, 2011

Hey guys,

I finally got around to creating a website for my family and friends to see my photos. I posted a few of these pictures here for critique a while back, but I've done some slight editing with a couple...so any more comments or critique of my photos or my website design would be appreciated.

Thanks and have a good rest of the afternoon.

http://www.robertgarrick.com

o hey tyler · Mar 1, 2011

I like the fact that since you did choose music that it's mostly not intrusive to the viewing experience. However, your photos appear to be out of focus when viewed at a large size, which doesn't speak well for your work. Building a good portfolio site is all about quality control, and putting your best foot forward.

Bitter Jeweler · Mar 1, 2011

I can't view it.

Texas Aggie · Mar 1, 2011

Bitter Jeweler, it's a flash site. So maybe your Adobe flash player isn't on or installed? This was one reason I was kind of hesitant to make it a flash site...

Bitter Jeweler · Mar 1, 2011

Mobile device. No flash.

o hey tyler · Mar 1, 2011

Texas Aggie said:
Bitter Jeweler, it's a flash site. So maybe your Adobe flash player isn't on or installed? This was one reason I was kind of hesitant to make it a flash site...

He doesn't have a Droid. :lmao:

SrBiscuit · Mar 1, 2011

i agree with tyler...the site is nice, but the photos have technical issues.
that being said...keep shooting, and update often!

go android! lol

inaka · Mar 1, 2011

The home page image doesn't load.
Shows up as this:

And I have flash installed, etc. This isn't a flash error. This image path goes nowhere:
http://www.robertgarrick.com/sitezimages/splash/IMG_0507-1.jpg

GeneralBenson · Mar 1, 2011

Oh God, here we go again...!!!

I don't know how to go at this without inflaming the flash vs. no flash / apple vs. android war. So I'll just steer clear of such thing.

-I hate all website that play music, or make noise, or auto-load videos or commercials, or anything like that. You can count the minutes in the day that I'm on my computer and not already listening to music on one hand. And no offense, but I want to listen to the music I like, not the music you like. I think music on a website works for things like wedding photogs, and maybe family portrait folks, but not really for editorial/commercial people. It always seems amateurish to me. And figure that anyone who is going to be looking at your images from a professional standpoint is probably on a computer in an office. I've talked to quite a few professional photo buyers who all seem to say that websites with auto-loading music annoy them.

-Same thing goes for auto-advancing images. I find it annoying, and I think a lot of people do. If I don't like an image, I don't want to stare at it for 5 seconds. And if I do like an image, I probably want to stare at it for longer than 5 seconds. Either way it's annoying.

-I think a lot of your images lack a strong base. Thre were quite a few where the whole images feel like it's supported over nothing, or that everything is going to fall out the bottom. This is partly due to visual proportions, and the way images are divided up inside; partly due to having action or subjects too close to the bottom of the frame; and partly due to have to much lightness/not enough darkness, or nothing sold/foundational at the bottom of your images. I think #2, #4 and #6 in your Chicago are good example of what I'm talking about. The visual weight of the images just feel off.

Also, I whole lot of your images seem to be leaning slightly to the right.

Forkie · Mar 1, 2011

I really like the site and love the music. What is it, by the way? I actually don't have a problem with the focus in the photos. Some photos don't lend themselves to being pin sharp, and I think most of these work well as they are.

Although havng said that, some of the diptychs are a little odd and most of the wide angle landscape needs straightening.

o hey tyler · Mar 1, 2011

Forkie said:
I really like the site and love the music. What is it, by the way? I actually don't have a problem with the focus in the photos. Some photos don't lend themselves to being pin sharp, and I think most of these work well as they are.

What's the point of viewing a landscape if it is distractingly out of focus or soft? Why wouldn't you want to have a sharp photo that exhibits technical photographic skill, rather than one that looks like you missed the focus? I guess I just don't understand the logic on this one.

bevoholic · Mar 1, 2011

Site seems buggy to me. If I clicked through your photos too fast it would reset me back to the main page. And your first picture doesn't work as a previous poster said.

HikinMike · Mar 1, 2011

I'm in the camp that hates pointless splash pages/Flash websites and music on a website. I generally leave, especially if I hear music.

Is this website just for you and your friends/family or are you trying to sell your photos via the web?