Favorite Photographer's Sites?

[Photo-John]

Post your favorite photographer's Web sites. I'm looking for inspiration for my own, personal site. I figure other people here could use the same thing. And I don't mean the photographer that you like the most - I mean the Web site that you like the most. This is a thread about Web sites, not photography.

C'mon - inspire me!

[mtbbrian]

One of my favorite photographers is David Burnett, he is a journalist his site is http://www.davidburnett.com
Mary Ellen Mark's site is good too, kind of plain, but works for her. http://www.maryellenmark.com

I really dig on Sterling Lorence's site. He uses Flash, but has a really cool opening animation. http://www.sterlinglorence.com

Ian Hylands is another great site.
http://www.photo-x.com

Then there is this one guy, he is from Utah of all places, he does mountain bike stuff too. He has a simple but effective site. Great photographs too.... ;-)
http://www.mtbbrian.com

Brian
;)

[natatbeach]

in one of the galleries...

www.johnkeatley.com

I really like his photos and the way in which they are presented...clean and easy to follow

[racingpinarello]

Her site is very clean, shows great photography, and is quick to load.

http://www.ondreabarbe.com


I am having somebody redo my site, and my goal was to have a html/flash site with inspiration from Ondrea's site. She was Kodak's emerging artist winner and shoots Portra 160VC.

Loren

[Asylum Steve]

...one of OUR OWN:

http://www.shanidze.com/en/index.php

I would be floored by this site even if I didn't know the guy...

Post your favorite photographer's Web sites. I'm looking for inspiration for my own, personal site. I figure other people here could use the same thing. And I don't mean the photographer that you like the most - I mean the Web site that you like the most. This is a thread about Web sites, not photography.

C'mon - inspire me!

[Photo-John]

Wow! Irakly's site rules. He's been holding out on us. I didn't recognize any of those photos. And the overall quality of his photography is sooo much better than his posts here indicate. And the site is amazing!

Thanks for posting that link, Steve. Irakly's site really is inspiring.

[mtbbrian]

Those all are great sites Loren, Steve and Nat contributed!
I am just blown away and inspired!
Makes me think about Version 3.0 of my site!
Brian

[Michael Fanelli]

I have always liked Nevada Wier's web site. It isn't as fancy as some others (thank goodness!) but the layout immediately gets me thinking about travel.

I love the "Recent Travels" link. If you move the cursor over the image, a cool postcard appears that explains the image and lists the technical details.

http://www.nevadawier.com/

[Asylum Steve]

John,

I actually recognize much of the work on Irakly's site from posts he made here. There was a while there where he posting a lot of work in the old Lighting Forum and discussing his setups. He was also posting some of his "non people" shots in Viewfinder and Critique...

One thing I agree with you on is how good his work looks on his site. But I believe that's a perception magnified by his amazing presentation. IOW, I see pics there that I only liked slightly when I first viewed them here, but now have a much greater appreciation of.

It's like how seeing a complete gallery show by an artist will usually make you respect them more than simply viewing random images from time to time in another context.

His overall site design emphasizes a vital point I try to make here: a photo artist should create a rich visual ENVIRONMENT in which to view their work. That really sets the mood for a viewer and makes it MUCH more likely they'll appreciate the work.

Make sense?

Wow! Irakly's site rules. He's been holding out on us. I didn't recognize any of those photos. And the overall quality of his photography is sooo much better than his posts here indicate. And the site is amazing!

Thanks for posting that link, Steve. Irakly's site really is inspiring.

[mtbbrian]

His overall site design emphasizes a vital point I try to make here: a photo artist should create a rich visual ENVIRONMENT in which to view their work. That really sets the mood for a viewer and makes it MUCH more likely they'll appreciate the work.

Make sense?

Steve,
I remember you saying more or less that same thing to me, a year or so ago, it didn't make a lot of sense then, but having seen Irakly's site it makes more sense now.
And for Irakly's site it works well. I feel his site, kind of blurs the line between the site being more about the site and less about the photographs.
If what you are saying is true, about creating a mood for the viewer in order for the viewer to appreciate the work more. Why aren't more established photographers or even those who are considered "icons'' have site like that?
This is a good thread.
Brian

[Sebastian]

Why aren't more established photographers or even those who are considered "icons'' have site like that?
This is a good thread.
Brian

I dunno, but I can guess...

Established photographers need to sell themselves to stay established, in other words to continue working. THey need sites that highlight their work, as well as amke it easier for the viewer to navigate, explore, etc, while trying to appeal to a broad range of clients without putting anyone off. Plus, the sites are usually put together by outside comapnies that don't understand the photographer as well as they could, and probably have more experience making commercial sites than artistic ones.

I view Irakly more as an artist that chooses photography as his medium, than a photographer. His site and imagery is edgy, potentially disturbing, and I think that's what he goes for. The site and pictures work together to further drive home the message that his images convey. So it's almost like the site is just another piece of his wholy body of work.

Just my 2 cents...

[Asylum Steve]

Why aren't more established photographers or even those who are considered "icons'' have site like that?
This is a good thread.
Brian

The only answer that comes to mind is that many famous or established shooters have become "commodities" or "franchises", and are handled by marketing or promotion departments or agencies or galleries.

These folks are usually only interested in the COMMERCE aspect of their client's career, and have good incentive to making a site as simple and accessible to as large an audience as possible.

Again, I'll never say one style works for all of us. I'm sure there are many who are confused or turned off by Irakly's site. It's just that I doubt those are the people he's trying to reach.

I think those that would be receptive to his unusual work will also respond very well to the basic look of the site, and in fact be put in the proper mood to view his photo galleries by the surreal imagery he presents on his site pages.

[Asylum Steve]

Again, I'll never say one style works for all of us.

IMO, that's the real beauty of web sites. You can make different areas of a site more or less complicated, more or less confusing, more or less thought provoking, more or less accessible...

I've never understood the theory that a web site needs to be consistent. My personality has MANY facets, my career and businesses have MANY facets, my private endeavors have MANY facets. My web site will always reflect this...

So, it's important that parts of my web site are easy to get to, easy to navigate, and easy to understand. I DON'T want to put up road blocks for potential customers.

And yet, there are many areas of my site that have nothing to do with my business. These areas are supposed to be clever, or unusual, or a bit cryptic, or even downright confusing to the average viewer. I don't mind or care if anyone has a problem with that.

People either get it, or they don't...

I think of a web site like rooms in a house. The front entrance should look appealing and inviting. It shouldn't be hard to figure out how to get inside. If you're in business, you should have a front room or group of rooms that are professional and suitable for meeting people in a serious business environment.

But, that doesn't mean you can't have a basement or attic or backroom or second floor that looks more like PEEWEE'S PLAYHOUSE..

[mtbbrian]

I think of a web site like rooms in a house. The front entrance should look appealing and inviting. It shouldn't be hard to figure out how to get inside. If you're in business, you should have a front room or group of rooms that are professional and suitable for meeting people in a serious business environment.

But, that doesn't mean you can't have a basement or attic or backroom or second floor that looks more like PEEWEE'S PLAYHOUSE..

I certainly can't disagree with you on any of that.
You have a lot of great points.
You and this theard have given me a lot to consider in regards to website design.
I don't think I am ready for the next version of my site, but I will remember this thread and probably post more when that time comes.
I like your analogy of the house. I was never really a fan of PeeWee, but he sure had a cool bike!
Thanks again for adding this particular forum John and thanks to you too Pete for moderating it too!
Brian

[ThoughtfulPirate]

http://scottmarkewitz.com/

I like that one, I cant think of any others that I have been to lately.

[Peter_AUS]

I'd like to see more input into what members site you like so we can pick one to maybe feature for a week or two etc like the featured photo is in critique forum. It is great to see the participation here from a few members (frankly the regular posters and discussion stimulators ) but would like to see input from others as well.

This is a great way to display opinions on website designs which will lead hopefully to happier photographers and maybe earning money from their craft, I know I would like to.

Keep posting everyone.

[kafin8ed]

Scott Serfas Photography

[dcity]

My fav photographer right now is http://www.stefanhester.com

What do you think?

[MotionBoy]

I really like http://naotoikeda.com/ I just find his work so interesting.

[Rolfe]

I like http://www.f45.com. It's simple but effective.

oh yeah, and my images.

[opus]

I just saw www.jeffpflueger.com and I like how it's laid out.

[jesskatt82]

I found this one from a guy on Deviantart.com...really amazing stuff

http://www.antilimit.com

[AgmLauncher]

Yeah, those pictures are incredible. Nice combination of photography and digital artwork tbh. Those are the kinds of things that sell well as they're so surreal people want them hanging on their walls. Pictures like that are almost soothing to look at. (like these)

http://www.antilimit.com/displayimag...pn&cat=3&pos=4
http://www.antilimit.com/displayimag...album=18&pos=9

Those are just amazing.

[ckozo]

......
I've never understood the theory that a web site needs to be consistent.....

So, it's important that parts of my web site are easy to get to, easy to navigate, and easy to understand. I DON'T want to put up road blocks for potential customers.

you have answered it yourself why a web site needs to be consistent: consistency improves the ease of navigation and improves how quickly a visitor understands how to get around your site. so instead of spending time figuring -out your navigation or being distracted by a grossly changing theme, they can spend time viewing the content (photos). when i visit a site, i don't want tasked with figuring-out how to navigate or find things. just get me to the content--- that's why i visited the site.

(note: i'm an cranky ex- web developer. can you tell?? LOL)

[ckozo]

multiple pages of 'award-winning' photo sites. That's subject to debate, but still a good place to get ideas.........

http://www.netdiver.net/photography/