Website feedback

Hi everyone,
I have just performed a major update to my website, adding more than 200 pictures and entire new galleries. I checked and re-checked it out several times and I think everything just works fine, though sometimes I have the feeling as it is a bit slow. My internet connection though has just been horrible in the last days, so I can't really tell that for sure. Would you mind to have a look and let me know how it looks and works for you?

Thanks in advance, your support is highly appreciated.
Paolo

Paolo--it doesn't seem to be any slower than it was before your update. Only comment I would make is that the site won't let you jump ahead in the scrolling window. It always goes back to the next image in the queue. I like to be able to browse freely instead of being forced to wait while all the images are displayed sequentially. That said, your photos are so stunning it's not difficult to just sit back and let them flow by--Larry

Thanks for the feedback Larry. About what you mention there's actually an hyperlink below the thumbnail of each gallery reading "pause slideshow". If you click that slideshow will stop and you'll be able to browse freely through the thumbnail and enlarge whatever image you choose. Or at least... that's how it always worked! I have to check that again.

P.S. Did you get my response to your mail of yesterday?

Cheers Larry, and thanks again, very much
Paolo

Excellent layout and speed is just fine.
I'm very impressed by your site, and your command of English is outstanding!
Having said that, there are a few errors in grammar that should be fixed. I can post them in this thread or however you wish.

Again, I think your site is excellent and easy to navigate.

Thanks John, great feedback!
Would be great to have your grammar review too, if it's not too bothersome for you. You can post it here if you wish, I'm not shy about my errors...


Paolo

Paolo--thanks for the tip on disabling the slideshow, It makes it much more enjoyable for me to browse the site.

I did receive your email, and have looked at the website. I assume that Formatt and Hitech are the same?

Larry

Yes Larry, I think Hitech is just the brand for resine filters and Formatt is the company who owns that brand.

Cheers,
Paolo

OK Paolo...here goes:

'About the Artist (Gear & Films):
"I work indifferently with medium format film and digital cameras."

Remove the word 'indifferently'. That means 'having no concern'.

'Sales Policy':
"Is a very easy to use..."

Should read 'It is...'

'Handling & Shipping':
"...strong carboard tubes..."

Should read 'cardboard'.

In the 'About the Artist' section, the white letters run right up to the white border of the images, making those particular words a bit hard to read. A little space between them would make a big difference.

In 'Fine Art Prints':
"..and past it into the..."

Should read 'paste'.
________________________________________________________

I feel bad about pointing these minor issues out to you, but your site is very professional looking, and I only want to see it look even better. In fact, I will link this website to my 'Favorites' list because I like it so much!

La buona fortuna, Paolo!

Paolo, your site looks fantastic, i'm very impressed!
Unlike John, i don't feel bad at all pointing out grammatical problems, because i was traumatized by strict English professors who used to cover my papers in a sea of red ink! So, i'm pretty sensitive to grammar (except in my NPN posts )
I took the liberty of rewriting your "About" section because IMHO, this is a very important part of your site as it introduces you to the viewer. I emailed you the changes; feel free to use or discard. I treat writing as an art, no different than photography, and i think a well-written statement that flows well will only compliment your beautiful photography.

Hi Paolo, the site looks great. Photographic as my mind is, I was just looking your images and there is so much great stuff I discovered. I am also very impressed with your Architecture and M&N-like images. Very beautiful and emotional work!

I go to your site and go to Favorite Recent Works, click on the image on the lower right. The page changes to Architectures and Cityscapes and the wrong image comes up. I keep clicking on the lower left, but I get the wrong image. I'm running Firefox.

The site and your work is truly beautiful.

- Dan.

Everyone--
Wow pales, thanks for your great support!
I have already implemented all the suggestions you offered, both about text and layout. I have also added some viewing tips to each gallery that explains how to disable automatic slideshow.
Thank you very much again firends, this is just a wonderful community!

Dan--
I'm afraid I don't fully understand what's the issue you're experiencing. In the galleries thumbnail - the on on the left side of the screen - the the lower right image is for "architecture and cityscapes" gallery. If you click it you will open that gallery in the center area of the screen. What's the wrong image that comes up? Thanks Dan for visiting my site and for your feedback

Paolo

So the nine images on the lower right are just a menu for the other galeries? That wasn't clear to me. I thought they were thumbnails of your favorites.

- Dan.

Paolo,

First and foremost, your photographic works are stunning. I've always marveled at your images posted here on NPN.

Your site is clean, professional and nicely layed out. Our photo websites should be mostly about showcasing images, and your site does that very well.

I do have some feedback/input on the galleries. I now understand the group of thumbs in the lower left represent the various galleries, but it is not intuitive. In other words, from the previous page, the galleries also have text titles. On subsequent pages you just have the thumbnails and honestly, I don't think visitors are expected to remember which image belongs to which gallery. The small thumbs are fine for the gallery navigation, but I would continue the text titles as well.

I would also recommend that the slide show feature be defaulted as off. This may be related to what Dan was seeing, but when the slideshow is playing and you then click on an image other than the next one in order, it starts to get confusing; the slide show continues to play even though you select a different image.

I don't have an issue with slide shows per se, but I would let the visitor "opt in" to a slideshow rather than have them get frustrated trying to stop the slide show. Personally, I like to have time to enjoy an image and also be selective in which images I chose to view.
Just my opinion.

Those were both minor and personal choice suggestions. I think you have an excellent website and more importantly, beautiful images.

Lon

Thank you all again for the great feedbacks received.
Dan and Lon, I've addressed the issues you mentioned: now in each gallery there are some viewing tips explaining how to browse through galleries and images within galleries. And now the default setting for slideshow is "disabled" So viewers can freely scroll the thumbnails and enlarge images of their choice, and enabling slideshow is now an option and not a default.

Thanks again everyone,
Paolo

Some amazing images, Paolo!

Guy

I'm not much help in finding anything that doesn't work, I thumbed through the pages quite a bit and it all works nicely and I spent quite some time looking at your fine work.
the new winter scenics are my favorites.
georg

Paolo, lovely website and beautiful images. I didn't have much trouble with the slideshow but prefer to browse unaided. Thanks for sharing it with us. Cliff