Craig Photography has a new photography site!

I’ve been reading John Craig’s blog for quite a while, and he now has a new site to show off his artwork.

Style
Clean, elegant and black, what more could you want for style? It actually might be a little too simple, but you can’t argue that it sets off the photos nicely. If you’re going to err here, erring in the direction of simplicity is the way to go. It would have been very easy to overdesign this site, and it was not done. Clean, neat, and orderly. No clutter to distract from the content.

I think the choice of an almost black and white photo for the first image was a particularly good choice. I’d recommend that similarly colored images continue to be used in that position. The simple color palette of that image highlights the elegant nature of photography and the site design. As we all know, first impressions matter, and this gives a good one. The color images that follow don’t take away from this first impression, but build upon it.

Structure
Flash. Maybe not my first choice, but well done. Flash is so often overdone in this sort of site, but here it’s used with quiet restraint. The word subtle comes to mind.Perfect for showing off the photo without over shadowing them.

I couldn’t help but notice that the pages have not page title, and is also missing keywords or metadata. Simple fixes and something that likely just got overlooked. They would allmake the site more search engine friendly.

What would I change
I’d promote the photographer a little more. Mr. Craig’s name should be a little more prominent.

I’d fix the page titles, and add keywords and metadata to the pages. Again, this would be to promote the site and the photographer by making it more search engine friendly.

I’d add some sort of fluid graphic element to break up the simple but linear structure of the layout. To my eye it’s just a little too organized for my taste. It is a matter of taste though, I’d be very hesitant to make any significant changes, I’d want to be very, very subtle if I changed anything about the design. I’d consider using some sort of classical element as the fluid element I’d add. A fleur-de-lis or maybe some simple scrollwork. I’d simplify whatever image I chose to use, making it look like a simple fluid drawing, maybe even a single pen stroke. Color would also be important, it would need to be a dark neutral that was subtle enough not to clash with any photo.

You might be able to kill two birds with one stone, and add the fluid element while promoting Craig at the same time. I’d consider adding his name, possibly in a fluid font or even a signature, to the background of the site. Very subtly, in a dark almost black graphic. Probably at the bottom left, partially behind the existing toolbar. Just a little flourish to breakup the otherwise linear layout.

Summary
Craig’s new site is a beautiful piece of design. It’s simple and elegant, and gives first priority to showing off the photos, as it should. While I’d consider a few minor changes, they are entirely a matter of personal taste. Realistically, I rarely see anything that I wouldn’t consider changing at least a little, and this comes as close as anything to that untouchable ideal.

The key here is to remember the purpose of this site. It is to promote Craig Photography and John Craig’s photos. It does that with style. Well done, my congratulations to Craig on his new site, it will serve him well.

Trackposted to Blue Star Chronicles, Perri Nelson’s Website, Planck’s Constant, The Amboy Times, Rosemary’s Thoughts, Adam’s Blog, and Pursuing Holiness, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.