[miro]

Hello,

My current website was not updated for long time. On the other hand I’ve used pretty old and ugly presentation of my images. I’ve used pure HTML pages combined with JALBUM. While jalbum works fine for snapshots of my family the quality of this software is not good for portfolio presentation.

I’m considereing to do progress in this area.

1. I want to rebuild my server software infrastructure – Currently I’m using only simple APACHE server. No PHP and MySQL. The server is running at my home.

2. Install application software – E.g wordpress or Jomla.

3. last by not at least – image glarery update.





My question is what type of software are you using for your Websites.



I’m considering Jomla or wordpress for BLOG, while for portfolio and gallery I’m considering some FLASH compatible software.









Thanks in advance.

Miro

[Sibbi]

Hi Miro,



I was also searching for the best solution in the past. I tried several CMS like Joomla, Drupal and Wordpress but although I'm a software developer I was not interested in the developing stuff as I just wanted to present my images... Thanks to Klaus I found smugmug. They give me the possibility to create a proffesional website within a minute (PRO Account) and - even more important - unlimited webspace for my images... [url="http://www.smugmug.com"]www.smugmug.com[/url]



Well, this is my approach and here is my website [url="http://www.sibbi.de"]www.sibbi.de[/url]



Bye Sebastian

[Guest]

[quote name='miro' date='17 July 2010 - 08:56 AM' timestamp='1279349802' post='1055']

Hello,

My current website was not updated for long time. On the other hand I’ve used pretty old and ugly presentation of my images. I’ve used pure HTML pages combined with JALBUM. While jalbum works fine for snapshots of my family the quality of this software is not good for portfolio presentation.

I’m considereing to do progress in this area.

1. I want to rebuild my server software infrastructure – Currently I’m using only simple APACHE server. No PHP and MySQL. The server is running at my home.

2. Install application software – E.g wordpress or Jomla.

3. last by not at least – image glarery update.





My question is what type of software are you using for your Websites.



I’m considering Jomla or wordpress for BLOG, while for portfolio and gallery I’m considering some FLASH compatible software.



Thanks in advance.

Miro

[/quote]



I'm pretty happy with Joomla plus uploading Lightroom galleries. Only annoyance is that I haven't found a way to have the two use the same template, or even a similar template, short of making a new LR template, which is not easy. I just figure the galleries need a different format anyway, to give all focus to the photos.



-Lars

[wim]

Currently I am using, or rather busy trying to set up, a Joomla site, with a Deziner Folio gallery, which actually is the part that is working currently. No time yet to do anything else with it. Deziner Folio uses mySQL to store image information, is easy to use, but the admin interface appears not to be 100% bug free (minor issues, however).



I have used Rokin Gallery in the past as well, which is an add-in for Joomla, but it was quite a lot of work trying out the software and figuring out its logic, before I got it to work, as the manuals are essentially non-existing. Once set up, it does work nicely, however. It also allows one of these bouncy wall type setups (CoolIris 3D), which was a requirement for the person who asked me to set up a website with gallery. BTW, you can setup a local gallery with this, or use Picasa with it, or a few other photohosting solutions. You can also use it in standalone mode.



All of this is free stuff, or donation-ware (Rokin), so quite affordable.



A few weeks ago I embarked on a project to get a little more control over my gallery, so I ended up buying some flash components, SlideShowPro and ThumbGrid. I've got this working nicely now, with a bunch of external buttons which I created myself, essentially having zero knowledge of Flash programming or the Flash application for that matter. Out of the box it is easy enough to create something that straight away looks very similar to DezinerFolio, provided you have one of the CS packages which come with FlashPro, getting to grips with Flash itself is a little more complex, especially if you want to get better control over everything.



My next step is to try and figure out embedding Flash on an html-page, th eexact details that is, which isn't necessarily straightforward. Just a gallery is easy enough, but I haven't researched embedding yet.



One thing I did find is that not all flash learning sites are equally good, or even most articles on a single flash learning website for that matter.



Anyway, some links for the stuff I used so far:



Deziner Folio: [url="http://www.dezinerfolio.com/dfgallery-2/free-flash-gallery"]http://www.dezinerfo...e-flash-gallery[/url]

Rokin Gallery: [url="http://www.pageworks.nl/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&layout=category&task=category&id=9&Itemid=38"]http://www.pageworks...&id=9&Itemid=38[/url]

SlideShowPro: [url="http://slideshowpro.net/products/slideshowpro/#sspff-trial"]http://slideshowpro....ro/#sspff-trial[/url]



All of these I do recommend, because they all work well and do look professional, unlike many other cheap ones. I've tried many by now.



You could also buy a ready mode gallery/website, but be prepared to spend some money on something that looks really good. Have a look here: [url="http://www.flashmint.com/free/flash-gallery.php"]http://www.flashmint...ash-gallery.php[/url]

This is also a free one, which works very well, and is simple to set up, but I don't like the logo displayed. However, they also do very professional stuff, which you can buy, from $30 to thousands. I do like quite a few of their $50 to $250 designs, I must say. A few examples:

[url="http://www.flashmint.com/show-template-2337.html"]http://www.flashmint...plate-2337.html[/url]

[url="http://www.flashmint.com/show-template-2817.html"]http://www.flashmint...plate-2817.html[/url]

[url="http://www.flashmint.com/show-template-2849.html"]http://www.flashmint...plate-2849.html[/url]

[url="http://www.flashmint.com/show-template-2340.html"]http://www.flashmint...plate-2340.html[/url]

[url="http://www.flashmint.com/show-template-2349.htmlAnd"]http://www.flashmint.com/show-template-2349.html[/url]

And there is plenty more.



I specifically looked at these options because I want to run without mySQL if possible, and with Flash and XML if possible (for the gallery), and I also want to integrate with Joomla, Drupal, WordPress or e107 if it si at all feasible.



That brings me to another tool, Artisteer. With a little work this helps you creating quite nice templates for Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, plain HTML, and a few other CMS-type serverapplications. You can find it here:

[url="http://www.artisteer.com/"]http://www.artisteer.com/[/url]



Works very well, too, and is very reasonably priced.



Anyway, I think I have touched on al your questions, so I do hope that this information may prove useful to you.



Kind regards, Wim



P.S.: figured embedding out in the mean time, which was easier than I expected once I found a good explanation; now for the proper sizing and, of course linking.

[miro]

Thanks for the quick and relevant feedbacks.

Special thanks for Wim. I’m still busy with processing of all information. In the mean time I keep shooting. It’s good for water lilies, dragonflies and butterflies.



Greetings,

Miro

[Sylvain]

being on my ipod touch i can't quite write a long answer yet but just a quick word if caution with flash renderers. By default they're not color managed! it makes ilage display quite unbearable on any large gamut display! Know that if you intend to buy a flash component which you don't have access too, its developper might have overlooked this! this is the case for the not so good anymore imagin dynamic gallery software. www.imagin.ro I mailed the guy, with no luck. More on this from me later. another pointer in the meantime www.picsengine.com

[wim]

[quote name='Sylvain' date='22 July 2010 - 09:22 AM' timestamp='1279783369' post='1224']

being on my ipod touch i can't quite write a long answer yet but just a quick word if caution with flash renderers. By default they're not color managed! it makes ilage display quite unbearable on any large gamut display! Know that if you intend to buy a flash component which you don't have access too, its developper might have overlooked this! this is the case for the not so good anymore imagin dynamic gallery software. www.imagin.ro I mailed the guy, with no luck. More on this from me later. another pointer in the meantime www.picsengine.com

[/quote]

This is why you need an engine indeed where it actually displays your own picture, and only does some clever resizing. This is why I went with SlideShowPro in the end. You can either have it work its own stuff, or just replace the images unaltered are completely as PP-ed by yourself. And it displays the images as intended, which is very good; no additional processing. I am quite happy with it <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />.



It does require some Flash skills from the person using it, however. It is not a ready made offering, although simple galleries are quite easy to create with it. Another alternative is Zen gallery, I guess, which is quite highly respected, but I don't particularly like the style and layout options it provides. Obviously, that is a very personal thing.



Kind regards, Wim

[Brightcolours]

[quote name='wim' date='22 July 2010 - 01:15 PM' timestamp='1279800933' post='1226']

This is why you need an engine indeed where it actually displays your own picture, and only does some clever resizing. This is why I went with SlideShowPro in the end. You can either have it work its own stuff, or just replace the images unaltered are completely as PP-ed by yourself. And it displays the images as intended, which is very good; no additional processing. I am quite happy with it <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />.



It does require some Flash skills from the person using it, however. It is not a ready made offering, although simple galleries are quite easy to create with it. Another alternative is Zen gallery, I guess, which is quite highly respected, but I don't particularly like the style and layout options it provides. Obviously, that is a very personal thing.



Kind regards, Wim

[/quote]

I seriously dislike FLASH! Sure, you can make some nice designs, but boy, how annoying, all those flash sites from photographers. They still take ages to load, flash is still buggy as hell and a big resource hog. great, to have your computer use all its energy slurping CPU power just to show someone's pictures. Right.



I would advice AGAINST flash, as it is such a bother. And then at least your photos can be seen by all people, with whatever browser and device they use navigate to your site. Remember that websites are for OTHERS, not for yourself.

[wim]

[quote name='Brightcolours' date='22 July 2010 - 04:46 PM' timestamp='1279809967' post='1235']

I seriously dislike FLASH! [/quote]

Fine, that's your prerogative.

Sure, you can make some nice designs, but boy, how annoying, all those flash sites from photographers. They still take ages to load, flash is still buggy as hell and a big resource hog.

Flash is no buggier than anything else out there, did you actually try? As to resource hogs: what takes up the real resources, bandwidth, memory, computer, cpu, etc., is the images, especially if you want to maintain some quality.



Anyway, it is easy to criticize, which, BTW, I don't mind. However, if you do, also provide a solution. This is where I get annoyed, when people just tell you what you do is crap, but don't come up with an alternative. IOW, give me a good alternative without having to go through hoops and loops of programming, without anyone taking over my site completely or easily.

great, to have your computer use all its energy slurping CPU power just to show someone's pictures. Right.

Jeez. Maybe you shouldn't post when you're in an uncaring mood with regards to feelings of other people.

I would advice AGAINST flash, as it is such a bother. And then at least your photos can be seen by all people, with whatever browser and device they use navigate to your site. Remember that websites are for OTHERS, not for yourself.

Funnily enough, it is for myself in the first place. And if anybody ever wants to see my stuff, essentially when I invite them to do so, I am sure they will have adequate computers and adequate screens to be able to view my stuff the way it should be seen according to my personal ideas about this.



But as I said. If you do have a good alternative to Flash, with a few sample sites where this works really well, I will gladly look into that. If not, why even bother to post your message.



Regards, Wim

[Sylvain]

[quote name='wim' date='22 July 2010 - 02:15 PM' timestamp='1279800933' post='1226']

This is why you need an engine indeed where it actually displays your own picture, and only does some clever resizing. This is why I went with SlideShowPro in the end. You can either have it work its own stuff, or just replace the images unaltered are completely as PP-ed by yourself. And it displays the images as intended, which is very good; no additional processing. I am quite happy with it <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />.



It does require some Flash skills from the person using it, however. It is not a ready made offering, although simple galleries are quite easy to create with it. Another alternative is Zen gallery, I guess, which is quite highly respected, but I don't particularly like the style and layout options it provides. Obviously, that is a very personal thing.



Kind regards, Wim

[/quote]



Wim, first, plus one to you again, nice resource links ! I'll have to check them out!



On colour management.I don't really see your point in your reply. It has nothing to do with applications messing with your images, resizing them or whatever, but rather that the flash renderer will by default not know about your profile needs and will display pictures with what often results in overly saturated reds. But the picture itself remains intact. This is something SlideshowPro might also been affected with AFAIK.

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/quickstart/color_correction_as3/



On Flash, I think the general misconception comes from its early life when it was mainly seen as a SFX language. So any pages made with flash would feature "funky" effects that have been used ad nauseam. It is also true that still too many photographers force you through unnecessary "funkiness".

But you can also do simple things with Flash, nobody put a gun to your head.Just look at Wim's suggested SlideShowPro, they have a "demo" of a very minimalistic mode : just the picture, and two click zones.



I think that, beyond the discussion about who's locking who into what ("open" vs "closed" standards, true W3C technologies, Apple compatible, battery drain...etc...), Flash/Flex has now evolved into a rich and clean web framework and I can imagine the benefits on architecture & maintenance. (YES, there are other powerful languages)





Just my two €cents...