I made some changes to my photography web page . . .

[AndyS]

Going forward each update slide show will become a gallery of it's own so future visitors can see them as they were originally presented. Once on the home page you can click on Browse and see the slide shows at the top and the other collections lower on the page.

Once you open a gallery (update) there are two options; share and slideshow. If you wish to share a particular presentation the share button creates a link to that gallery that you can paste into an email, post or other web page.

Nothing on the site is for sale but if you like something feel free to right click and copy it. All I ask is that you include a link back to the site if you share the image and of course give me credit for it.

Have a look and tell me what you think.

https://andyshanks.smugmug.com/

[MLAA]

1. AndyS

Your work is gorgeous! That’s why I suggest putting photos on the home page of your site. When one clicks on your sight they need to see something beautiful to make them look further. Just a suggestion 💗💖

[AndyS]

2. The home page should open to a slide show of about

a dozen images grouped around a theme which is the first slide.

That's what I see when I open the page. Are you seeing something different?

[MLAA]

3. I see a brown text box first...just relooked and see the brown box with text about the drought of '22

then after a full 4 seconds the slide show starts. The first time I looked I didn’t wait 4 seconds 🙂.

On my iPad the brownish background box and yellow text don’t show well. The browse page looks really beautiful, so maybe you could rework the brown box to make it black with white lettering or some other combo ☺️

[AndyS]

4. Ok, thanks. I can shorten the view time and the

colors on the intro vary from upload to upload.

[MLAA]

8. Your work really is amazing!

[AndyS]

11. Thanks for the kind words and helpful critique. nt

[Ahna KneeMoose]

5. Just A Few Comments (As You Requested)

Hello Andy:
Your photography efforts are spectacular (!); thank you for sharing them.

Your website (since you asked) "Have a look and tell me what you think":

(Your) HOME Page (My Comments):

(1) As an 'olde', I have great reading difficulty with your 'blue-over-black' textual style (I have no suggestions).

(2) Perhaps your 'HOME Page' might dismiss the (too rapid) scrolling effect (entirely); as it's disappointing and difficult to view and then read 'in-passing'.

(3) I suggest you create a new single image of say twelve of your 'BROWSE' page selections and set (that) as your 'HOME Page', now WITHOUT the scrolling effect in place; as in, if I wished to browse your most fine work, I could easily select your 'BROWSE' page (without assistance from your website).

(Your) BROWSE Page (My Comments):

(1) I really like this well-done page (a lot).

(2) Easy-to-read text below beautiful imagery (!).

(Your) SEARCH Page (My Comments):

(1) I suggest you select and place one of your more brightly-colored images to help carry this page, in place of all that 'darkness' (now below the search box).

(2) I also suggest you 'embiggen' all of the text below the search box in an effort to improve readability.

Thanks for listening. Best always, Ahna

[AndyS]

6. Thank you! Your comments are well received! nt

[AndyS]

9. Ok, I changed the text color and just got rid of the

Search feature. It was useless anyway because I haven't taken the time to add keywords to each image and don't plan to.

I will seriously consider replacing the Update slide show with a browse page. I created the current layout to accent the newest uploads on the assumption that most return viewers wouldn't want to review things they've already seen. My thought was to show off the new stuff and encourage browsing if someone is interested. However the new changes make a case for presenting a number of smaller slide shows to look at.

Some of the galleries have a LOT of images and are too much to digest all at once, so smaller bites may be better.

Thank you again for the critique.

[Ahna KneeMoose]

12. It's Me Again

Hello Andy:

As you eliminated your 'Search' page, perhaps you might also consider squelching your 'Home' page as well...(please don't hurt me) as it (your 'Home' page) does little more than what your most-excellent 'Browse' page does (by itself).

What if you replaced the text at the top of your 'Browse' page with the text (just below) simply centered over your pleasantly-pleasing images (currently set so very nicely on your 'Browse' page), thereby creating a 'One-Page' website which allows the viewer an immediate graphic presentation of your excellent work encabulated with the ability to (then) browse (to) your galleries (at will).

~~~~~
Andy Shanks, Photographer
Feel free to browse and share these images with your friends
~~~~~

Appreciatingly, Ahna

[AndyS]

13. I understand what you are saying, but the Home on the auto load page is

different from the home in the gallery section. I should re-name that 'home' to 'newest'. The Home button below my name and next to Browse button takes the viewer back to the auto load page that AndyShanks.Smugmug.com opens to. It is the only one that automatically starts the slide show. I could set all the galleries to auto run but that negates the share option.

If/when I make the other changes that 'Home' button will bring the viewer back to the gallery view you have suggested and which is where the page will open to.

This is a cookie cutter web page so some things can't be changed, are an extra cost option or are above my skill level. "Dammit, Jim, I'm a photographer not an html editor."

[Ahna KneeMoose]

15. Make It So...

Understood...and as always:

AndyS; 'You have the conn'

[WarGamer]

7. Agree with the others...

Your work is so amazing it should be seen on a home page slide show...

Exceptional work, really!!

The website needs a boost.

[AndyS]

10. The hardest part of having a web page is driving traffic to it.

I learned that during my years as a Realtor.

Thankfully I'm not making a living with this; it's purely vanity and for my own amazement. Still, I try to encourage return visits and when I add something new I promote it here on DU and to friends and family.

I'm considering revamping the home page to offer a number of previous short slide shows with the newest at the front. It's a work in progress and the critique helps drive the evolution.

Thanks!

[FossFafy]

14. I like the design

Easy to browse.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

16. Welcome to DU, FossFafy!

AndyS often posts his great photos in the Photo Group.

Here's the link: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1036

Come by and have a look!

[AndyS]

17. Thank you for the kind words.

It's a work in progress and with the suggestions up thread it improved a bit today.