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www.arigram.gr

I launch the website, then Kosovo declares independence, the party of Bhutto wins the elections in Pakistan, Fidel Castro officially steps down, Cyprus changes leadership, its snows heavily in Crete and in my hometown...
I swear it was unplanned! I had nothing to do with all that!
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Cats and dogs living together! Total chaos!
 
JBrunner said:
Cats and dogs living together! Total chaos!
Click to expand...
Yeah, we are only missing the dead rising from their graves and a giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man invading Manhattan.

Any thought on whether I should have titles on my photos or not?
 
arigram said:
Yeah, we are only missing the dead rising from their graves and a giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man invading Manhattan.

Any thought on whether I should have titles on my photos or not?
Click to expand...

I have always thought that the meaning of a photograph is determined by the viewer. The subject can sometimes be the viewer, the photographer will be a viewer, but mostly strangers will be viewers. I think titles merely inhibit the enjoyment of photographs, documentary photos excepted.
You have asked for comments on your web site per se, but I would like to say that I was blown away with your photographs. Your web site and photographic style spoke to me like few others I have seen.
Thank you for sharing this.
Regards
Bill
 
I agree, but then I thought that "places", could have the name of the location. When I remember it.
You have asked for comments on your web site per se, but I would like to say that I was blown away with your photographs. Your web site and photographic style spoke to me like few others I have seen.
Thank you for sharing this.
Click to expand...
Now, Bill, this is a very flattering compliment and I must definitely reply to it, not with a short answer.
I am of the firm belief that an artist should know where (s)he stands. An artist should know him(her)self and the level of the work. Should not be an optimist, blindly believing (s)he is a genius with astonishing masterpieces, but also should not put him(her)self down, damaging his work ability and life. There are artists who are great enough to go to either extreme and do masterpieces, like Giacometti, Picasso, Pollock, Dali, Van Gogh, Rodin and all who fought with depression and megalomania.
I cannot claim to know myself. That is a high goal, that many ancient philosophers couldn't reach themselves.
But I do know more or less my artistic level and where my goals are.
I will be completely honest with you and whoever reads this, when I say that I am at present a mediocre photographer, with poor technical skills, moderate aesthetics and with little or no originality.
I am brutally honest because I compare myself to the great artists and my goal is to create great art myself. But I am at the very, very beginning. I am still learning the basics of photography and art, am still doing basic experiments and often am held back by my own timidity and narrow scope.
This website took a lot of time, because apart from technical matters, I had trouble picking photographs to display. I was very disappointed when I went through all my negatives. Even in very photogenic places I had nothing to show and kept thinking I could do more with the people that gave their time for me.
I don't personally consider my work good, just passable.
And not only out of comparison, but also because many ideas and desires for photographs I have in my head are not realized yet and don't know if they ever will.
Unfortunately, photography needs real subjects to be created. Unlike my work with drawing and sculpture that is imaginative and free, my photos are restricted by my approach to real people and real places. I am often too timid to point my camera at someone, too uncertain to make a good composition with something photogenic, too unskilled to bring the idea to fruition.
My ideas and desires go far beyond on what I have on my negatives. And why is that lag? For many reasons, but one could group them all under the word "beginning". I am too much at the beginning. Almost ashamed to show this level to you, because I know I can do more, much more.
And that is good, right?
I mean, if an artist couldn't do more, then (s)he would be dead.

Thank you Bill and everybody else for liking the photographs.
Not so much for me (even though I do get satisfaction out of compliments to be honest), as much for you.
In another thread I wrote that making art is about pleasing oneself and that is correct. But I am happy that you derived enjoyment out of my photographs, not so much because it was me and my work that did it, but because you enjoyed that moment.

If a genie would grant two wishes, would be one to have the opportunities to make some good photos and second to actually do it without chickening out.

Thank you all.
 
Great site, I like the icons especially. You have some wonderful photos there, and it's easy to get around and get the information you want. Fine with me on Windows Vista with IE7. Usually I dont like splash pages for being a bit outdated, but yours serves a purpose for selecting the language and even looks nice. I'm very impressed.
You've sent me back to my site to look what I can improve, so I think that can only mean you've left an impression.
 

Ari, I can completely emphatize with how you feel!

I've been thinking almost the same things for myself. Unlike you, I often question my goals as well:rolleyes:

And yes, after clicking on the images they look much better
 
Arri,

Only on the contact page do I find your name. You should have it on the splash page, (and the biography), so people know who's work they are viewing, without chancing to navigate to it.
 
You are right Jason.
During the first drafts my name was all over the place and maybe I over did it during the minimalization.
It still on the browser title bar, but who reads that one?

Ok, let's see:
- Portrait photo and maybe of the darkroom and studio space.
- My name on the splash screen, the biography and maybe next to the small monogram at the top right.
- Some better arrangement of the CV.
- A more "human" biography written by someone else.
- Titles only on "places"

Anything else?
 
Some small improvements made by your suggestions, more to come.

I have be meaning to ask, how is the textual information?
Is it clear and informative?
Is the language all right?
 
I am thinking of implementing a notification system for important updates in my photographic website, like the addition of new photographs and information.
If you are interested in receiving such updates, please send me an email with a simple "Yes". The system is not completely automatic. If you decide that you don't want to receive any more email updates, please tell me so.

Thank you,
Aristotelis Grammatikakis
 
It looks great and ofcourse the work is greater (no surprise). I also found it quite "minimalist" I guess..Suzannes point. Often the work needs to connect with the photographer, and it makes a difference to understand influences, working style etc. That does not necessarily mean marketing yourself or selling. Jus that that the artist is always part of the art.

Not sure I like the black background, but that is a personal preference.

Rgds, Kal
 
Thank you Kal, but I am not sure what you're suggesting. To list my favorite photographers? Well, they are many, too many actually. Some are not even part of the Hall of Fame, they might be APUGers whose work or even one photograph has touched and influenced me. Plus, I am very much at the beginning and I don't think I'm even close to the place where I want to be. And by that is that the photographs I really want to make are still in my head and the ones shown are already surpassed and gotten over with.
As far as marketing is concerned that's a serious matter that I am working on at the moment.
The heart of it is "don't be a cheap whore".
What I remember Suzanne suggesting is to personalize the information regarding the artist and that is something I cannot do.
I can write about my equipment and why I chose it and I've done that.
I can write why I prefer film and I've done that.
I can write what I think photography is and my approach to it and I've done that.
But I can't write about myself in a third person. I just can't. It comes out too cheesy.
Maybe in a decade or so, after I have established myself somewhat, but right now, the only thing I could do is to ask a writer friend of mine to write about me and he didn't do it. So, I am stuck at the moment.

I am preparing a large flood of new photographs soon to be uploaded, some updates in the text and possibly some shots of my studio, darkroom and even myself if I can manage the last part.
I could never do self portraits really, in pencil, text or photographs.

I imagine though you are all pleased with the language.
 


But I can't write about myself in a third person: Well you could ask one of us to write about you. (can't find the devil smily) Of course not me but an APUGger that has seen your progressive work since 2004.

Language: I have no problem with the language, it speaks from the heart and shows your passion. Your monologue on film and squares is, in the old vernacular right on. Critically speaking though, it reads like a resume, and if I were an art director or other non-photographer that needs your niche analog talents, I might be put off by the warrior/combative language; "sniper" and "machine gun." My personal analogy might have been kendo or bushido: wait for the moment then strike with a single decisive stroke, not a lot of thrust and parry, but that's besides the point. IMO, in America the word sniper still has a bad taste, a sniper killed Kennedy and King.

Resume: Interesting that you speak and studied Japanese, but have not traveled there. Hopefully an oversight that will be corrected soon.

Terry
 
After a long, long time, we're working on a new framework for my website.
Before it is put in place, which will take some time, I have slightly updated the current design.

The new website won't look radically different, more like V1.1 even though the engine behind will be totally V2.0.
What do you think of this mockup:
 
Ari, I like the Greek goddess theme. So far so good....but, I must confess...it is all Greek to me . HOnestly, it looks good. - Simple layout, easy navigation, photos not too small.


In general, the following things tend to make Photo web sites suck (in my opinion):

1) Flash / Shockwave
2) splash screens
3) overly complex layout or navigation.
4) too much talk about the photographer or the gear on what is really supposed to be a presentation of the art. I think photo sites should choose one or the other - gear or art - and stay with it..


Like I said, what you have presented looks pretty good.
 
Thank you Brad.
The present website has really old code which is frankly a mess, so my coder can't really work on my proposals without a shitload of unnecessary work. So, we decided to move to a new framework, something modern, open and well structured, we can also modify and customize as we like.
Even though he already uses Slideshow Pro for other websites, we both agree that we prefer more freedom of movement and of course the lack of proprietary extra code, such as flash and shockwave.
My website will remain open standard web code so it can be displayed correctly and quickly with any device, especially important in this netbook/iphone day and age.
A photographic website should take you to the art as quickly and easily as possible, should be displayed as fast as possible and should be easy and effortless to browse through.

Yet, I am very concerned about the professional look of it.
Please, point out the smallest of details that you don't agree with and feel free to criticize anything you don't like.
 
Aristotelis,
after having admired your photos, I read the texts and found two typos. It is a habit from work, I guess, to be attentive to such things. Anyway:

"I use film, type 120 (medium format) and tranfer the work to digital media only if the work type demands it. See the category “film” at the left for a detailed explanation of this decision."

"tranfer" instead of "transfer"

"I begun my photographic quest with a Nikon F that my father bought in Ethipia in 1967, I moved up to a Nikon F90X when the first had an accident in China and finally, I stopped at a digitial Nikon D70s that I use in non important projects. The photographs in my gallery are made in 35mm film with the analog Nikons."

The Nikon F was probably bought in Ethiopia, not Ethipia.

Wonderful photos, by the way. And I hope that your book project goes forward!
 
Erik Petersson said:
Aristotelis,
after having admired your photos, I read the texts and found two typos.
Click to expand...
Thank you Erik.
The text is in process of being rewritten actually.
Any comments regarding the present design of the website and the future mockup I have posted?
 
hmmm, only marginal things. I actually found it a bit unusual to have to click more than once to see the photo in maximal size. Why not at once? This is of course no big deal.
 
Erik Petersson said:
hmmm, only marginal things. I actually found it a bit unusual to have to click more than once to see the photo in maximal size. Why not at once? This is of course no big deal.
Click to expand...

That is actually a very significant comment.
As it is, the photographs have three sizes: a whole bunch of thumbnails and one middle sized displayed right next to them for those who want to quickly view the photographs in a hurry. Not everyone is interested in every category and every photograph so like that its quicker and easier for them. For those who really want to study one of my masterpieces (ahem) I have provided the option for a larger size.

If I was to take out the middle sized image at the right, I could have larger thumbnails taking the whole space horizontally and with one click, to display the pop-up, larger image. I am going to work on a mockup tomorrow as its a bit late now, but you definitately gave me something to think about.

Thank you Erik!
 
Here's a second mockup.
Its a different layout, with the thumbnails bigger, taking over the space in a horizontal fashion. A pop up image should cover the whole screen. Pages are preferable to scrolling because it doesn't need to load all thumbnails at once, is faster for slower machines and you have a better sense of place.
 
I find it better with only two sizes.

I personally also like to be able to open pictures in separate window or tab, because then the picture can load in the background while I read or watch something else, but this is just my personal taste.
 
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