New wildlife photography site im working on..

[flashwiz]

Hi all....

Just thought i would post a pic of a new wildlife photography site that im currently working on... there is lots more to the site than just this one shot, but im still interested in peoples feedback good or bad....

[Toon]

Can't see much wrong, I love the main picture it really makes it come to life. Which I guess Wildlife should. Nice One.

[flashwiz]

Cheers toon... the main image changes too between several... some of the pictures are amazing... although the bear one... i tell you i hope he had a long lens... because i wouldnt want to get to close to something running at me like that...

[Toon]

Must be great doing a site for a stock image site as you already have the best pics to use.

[flashwiz]

Yes it does make like easier... although its then getting the best out of the images... first time ive used a darker background... and the hardest part is the coding for an online stock library... had to do it in PHP in the end which i know NOTHING about....

There is two parts to the site too... this commercial side and a consumer side which is more workshops, safaris, about him, webdiary etc etc...

[flashwiz]

Not going to be easy thou transfering 1500 sets of "low,medium,high res images up" since each set is about 70MB..... :-( my line is quick, but this is going to test it somewhat... lol...

[Sammii]

Sites don't get much more pro than that and it looks robust too - I mean it looks like it works and will have content behind the nice design. It fills a viewer with confidence in the site. Does this make sense?

[flashwiz]

Yes Sammii.... and flattery will get you everywhere... no thanks for the comments i appreciate them and although you like the design etc, if you see anything that maybe doesnt quite work then by all means please let me know...

im my own worst critique if not...

[bluesage]

I like it, looks very pro :) however a few things I would do differently:

1. have Recent Pictures be more obvious than featured photographers, for example switch their locations, as I believe the Recent pictures will make photographers known :)

2. The grey colors I dont really like in the sense that it is a Wildlife Picture site and grey is a bit sad, not so lively. Would go for some more "natural" colors, add some contrast, example, using some greens, oranges, blues (grass, leaves, sky, water, earth symbolic meanings). gives the site more warmth.

You may be restricted to what your customer wants though, so that is why I say it is still a very nice website design.

The search box stands out nicely, and the nav is clear and simple.

[flashwiz]

Hi bluesage... yes your right some of the colours are restricted by the client one of which is the greys as this section of the site is going to be an imagebank, similar to gettyimages but only for wildlife photography, all be it 10,000 images. One of the reasons i have tried to use some more bright colours in the details. Take your point about the featured photographer bit too.... very good point and something i had not really thought about. Although the client may argue the opposite knowing my luck.

Thanks for the comments... much appreciated.