NIce, but we are getting to the point where something like this can be done pretty easily using html/css/js, and While I am not a flash basher I think you should use standards if you can achieve the result you want with them. Also the way scrolling worked was kind of irritating.
With all that said the work is great, and I like that the design of the site doesn’t take away from the work itself.
Hmm, do not like the way it disables mouse scroll. Not one bit in fact. The auto scroll is nice but you shouldn’t remove mouse scroll.
Saying that there is some extremely nice features on this site. Viewing individual images and galleries is a pleasure, and agree with Rich about the flash comment for this one.
In slide show mode they should use the delay between slides to load (or at least start loading) the next image, seeing a percentage loader every time rather defeats the object.
Well, I’m at home on a Win 7 64, and FF3.6.2 / Web kit works fine…
Maybe Apple vs Adobe has hit an all time high?
…anyhow, regarding the site…
I know it says “fotoblog”, but in my opinion, the layout doesn’t work since you always have at least two photos (smallest screen size) on each row fighting against each other, and when you’re viewing on a larger screen, you have 3-4 photos per row ( on my Dell, I see just over 12 images at a time), plus very little white space separating each photo.
I would say that the site might have been better off with a basic layout, with bigger photos, and one photo per row, then fade out the photos that aren’t the focal point of the viewer, thus giving each photo being viewed much more impact.
Well, mouse wheel scrolling + flash player + OS X is a known problem. You need to explicitly add support for mouse wheel scrolling, for example using: http://hasseg.org/blog/?p=138
Love the interface on the site! It’s outstanding, and works very good in my opinion.
Hello all, thanks for your comments and feedback on my site. I thought I’d jump in and talk to some of the points raised. I’m a designer / flash developer and don’t know one bit of HTML. After using Flickr and Pixelpost for a few years I decided to design and build my own photography site, using my skills, in Flash using AS3. I’m sure you could pull the same design off in HTML, it’s a fairly simple design after all. What I like about building sites like this in Flash though is that you have complete control over typography, layout and animation. And while the layout looks simple, it took a long time to refine and redesign, and then tweak again.
In regards to mouse wheel, yeah it’s annoying that it doesn’t work natively in Flash on OS X. I got a Macbook Pro so suffering from that myself (works fine on my work PC). Jonas, thanks for sharing the link to the mousewheel support class! I will implement that over the next few days.
In regards to the thumbnail layouts, I have been playing around with the spacing over time. Used to have them wider apart, but I actually quite liked grouping them closer together. It might just come down to taste and what I felt worked best with my style of photography. I look at a lot of photography galleries and while they’re often similar, I like the subtle differences and nuances between them.
On a last note, I have been thinking to release my site as a template so others can use it with their own photos. It’s got a custom built CMS attached to it. If anyone is interested, send me an email (me@heikowaechter.com) and I will notify you when the template installer is finished. Probably in 3-4 weeks time.
Thanks again for your constructive feedback, it’s good to hear what people think.
I’m all for clean, simplified code, but I am starting to feel a little beaten about the ears with the word “standard(s)”.
I think the site is fantastic, especially on my 24″ monitor here at home. I kind of feel like I’m in bridge or something, and all the thumbnails really makes me feel like I have a lot of content to pour over.
I will say I could do without the auto-scroll, but it doesn’t interfere with my experience, so I have no problem with it.
Hi guys, I have released my fotoblog as a template so that other photographers can use it. The package includes the Flash front end, custom CMS designed tor use with the gallery and user manual. Hope you like it. http://www.heikowaechter.com/#/?page=template
14 Comments
NIce, but we are getting to the point where something like this can be done pretty easily using html/css/js, and While I am not a flash basher I think you should use standards if you can achieve the result you want with them. Also the way scrolling worked was kind of irritating.
With all that said the work is great, and I like that the design of the site doesn’t take away from the work itself.
Can’t imagine how clunky this design and functionality would be in HTML/CSS/JS… Just because it’s possible, doesn’t mean you should. Just my 2 cents.
As for the site, I love the typography. Great photos too. Like the auto scroll as well.
Hmm, do not like the way it disables mouse scroll. Not one bit in fact. The auto scroll is nice but you shouldn’t remove mouse scroll.
Saying that there is some extremely nice features on this site. Viewing individual images and galleries is a pleasure, and agree with Rich about the flash comment for this one.
Nice work overall.
I must be viewing a different site – the mouse scroll works fine?
In slide show mode they should use the delay between slides to load (or at least start loading) the next image, seeing a percentage loader every time rather defeats the object.
Otherwise very nice job.
@dudey,
definitely not working on my machine. Mac OSX FF3.6.2 or on Safari 4.0.5
Quite odd. Ah well
@Rob:
Well, I’m at home on a Win 7 64, and FF3.6.2 / Web kit works fine…
Maybe Apple vs Adobe has hit an all time high?
…anyhow, regarding the site…
I know it says “fotoblog”, but in my opinion, the layout doesn’t work since you always have at least two photos (smallest screen size) on each row fighting against each other, and when you’re viewing on a larger screen, you have 3-4 photos per row ( on my Dell, I see just over 12 images at a time), plus very little white space separating each photo.
I would say that the site might have been better off with a basic layout, with bigger photos, and one photo per row, then fade out the photos that aren’t the focal point of the viewer, thus giving each photo being viewed much more impact.
Again, that’s Just my 2 pence…
Well, mouse wheel scrolling + flash player + OS X is a known problem. You need to explicitly add support for mouse wheel scrolling, for example using: http://hasseg.org/blog/?p=138
Love the interface on the site! It’s outstanding, and works very good in my opinion.
Hello all, thanks for your comments and feedback on my site. I thought I’d jump in and talk to some of the points raised. I’m a designer / flash developer and don’t know one bit of HTML. After using Flickr and Pixelpost for a few years I decided to design and build my own photography site, using my skills, in Flash using AS3. I’m sure you could pull the same design off in HTML, it’s a fairly simple design after all. What I like about building sites like this in Flash though is that you have complete control over typography, layout and animation. And while the layout looks simple, it took a long time to refine and redesign, and then tweak again.
In regards to mouse wheel, yeah it’s annoying that it doesn’t work natively in Flash on OS X. I got a Macbook Pro so suffering from that myself (works fine on my work PC). Jonas, thanks for sharing the link to the mousewheel support class! I will implement that over the next few days.
In regards to the thumbnail layouts, I have been playing around with the spacing over time. Used to have them wider apart, but I actually quite liked grouping them closer together. It might just come down to taste and what I felt worked best with my style of photography. I look at a lot of photography galleries and while they’re often similar, I like the subtle differences and nuances between them.
On a last note, I have been thinking to release my site as a template so others can use it with their own photos. It’s got a custom built CMS attached to it. If anyone is interested, send me an email (me@heikowaechter.com) and I will notify you when the template installer is finished. Probably in 3-4 weeks time.
Thanks again for your constructive feedback, it’s good to hear what people think.
I have implemented AS3 mouse wheel support for OS X using Matt Gigers mousewheel class. Works a treat – http://blog.earthbrowser.com/2009/01/simple-solution-for-mousewheel-events.html
Ah much better
Good work Heiko!
@this can be done with html
i guess you didn’t see the details that makes this site perfect
I’m all for clean, simplified code, but I am starting to feel a little beaten about the ears with the word “standard(s)”.
I think the site is fantastic, especially on my 24″ monitor here at home. I kind of feel like I’m in bridge or something, and all the thumbnails really makes me feel like I have a lot of content to pour over.
I will say I could do without the auto-scroll, but it doesn’t interfere with my experience, so I have no problem with it.
Great job!
Hi guys, I have released my fotoblog as a template so that other photographers can use it. The package includes the Flash front end, custom CMS designed tor use with the gallery and user manual. Hope you like it. http://www.heikowaechter.com/#/?page=template