portfolio critique

Hi folks, I don't normally make such requests but in the interest of

better business and to bring the level of my work up to a higher level

of quality, I think this is a good place to ask such a question.

I've been shooting medium format photography for a good number of

years and just recently built a web site to display the portfolio, in

an effort to attract business. It has been successful to a point, but

I think it could do better.

What I'm hoping is that some of you nice "brutally honest" members

will go through my site and reply either through the on-board email or

this web forum with your opinions on the [design, structure and ease

of use] of the site overall. It needs to tell potential clients that

I am open for business. Does it do that? (In your opinion) I value any

and all opinions and appreciate you taking the time to do it.

Thank you very much.

You should consider telling us the URL.

 

This one: www.twoeyesopen.ca ?

I think you've got a nice site!

The blue background is a little bit too wild for me, but I like the simplicity of the page and good navigation.

really brutally honest:<br /><br />

 

� a written intro would provide some idea of who you are and any unique qualities/

abilities.<br />

� first impression is that of an amateur site, not a professional. I expect a professional to

have hired a design firm.<br />

� the stained glass rollover is ugly and detracts from the images and experience<br />

� the portfolio images look like they need to be sharpened for screen display<br />

� the moving links on individual photo pages are distracting<br />

� organizing the images into categories might provide more structure<br />

� providing a context in text form for the images and the purpose they were to serve could

demonstrate your utility to customers<br />

� the blue background is a terrible choice when looking at photos - black, dark grey or at

least a less saturated dark blue would be better.

brutal honest? right, sit down...

1. good for you to seek advice and be open to take it.

2. to be fair though, and fair to the viewers/readers this is not a quick fix

3. others don't have the anwsers, I see what is wrong, I recognize my own shortcomings

with your site.. but it takes alot to go through it..and most of us don't have the time.

4. that being said here are some the problems I detect.

5. you are all over the place.. do not over estimate the viewing abilities of your potential

clients.. simplfy, at the risk of losing some aspect of your business, specialize and rise to

the top in that area.. say location portraiture..take that one area and build your site around

that..make a link to other work but minimize it. go back and either reprint or rescan all

the work in this area.. they are all to flat and overlit.. you can burn down some areas in

existing shots like the welder, but when you shoot again keep in mind the area of interest

and light accordingly.. I like what you are seeing but you fail to bring it to the table..study

the greats in the field..past and present.. see what makes those shots strong.. yours look

weak, tonal values are mushy.. i don't think the sepia tint is doing anything for you and

who knows what shade of brown everybody is looking at. sure my laptop doesn't help

but you have to consider this is how people view your work.

your site is hard to neogiotiate, I don't like the little cropped thumbnails..unless it

automatically brings up the full shot when you roll over it.. the strong blue just

underscores the weak black and white of the shots..

6. this diatribe applies to myself as well, and I will try to heed my suggestions when I put

together my new site.. your are only as good as your weakest shot...good luck

There are distracting elements in several of your environmental portraits. The eye is naturally drawn to light areas in a print so the fluorescent light and the window around the machinist's head and the large area of sky above and to the right of the black man posed against a wall interfer with the subject matter. The same can be said for the light sky behind the guitarist, the weeds at his feet are also distracting. Most of these can be fixed in the darkroom/computer. Also, you are as bit too fond of sepia toning.

Thanks to all who responded. I'll take all your views, opinions and advice to heart when I re-evaluate the site. If anyone else cares to add their two cents, let me reiterate that I am looking for opinions on the [design, structure and ease of use] of the site. Not the composition or lighting in the images.

Thanks again.

www.twoeyesopen.ca