Painting With Shadows

The blog of photographer Kim Ayres

New Blog Layout

14:16
A completely meaningless post to those reading it in their RSS feed, or on Facebook imported notes, but for those who read my posts directly off my blog you might have noticed a change in the design and layout of this place.

For a while I've felt the last design was just a bit too cluttered and hard to find your way around. Additionally, because I converted the last one from a Wordpress design, there were a few things that didn't run smoothly when it came to making edits and adjustments.

I'm hoping that this will make things easier.

Thoughts and comments on the new look are appreciated. It might well change a few times over the next couple of days as I make more tweaks to it.

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27 comments

debra said...

Good morning, Kim. Came over from my reader to see what you were talking about. I know that lots of folks will be looking for their pictures this morning.
Not sure how I feel about this layout though.....stay tuned...

3:10 pm, March 13, 2011
Ponita in Real Life said...

While this new layout is more streamlined, I really did love the colour and individuality your previous layout showed. I think it was more 'you'... Not sure how I know that, since we've never met... but perhaps you understand what I mean?

4:35 pm, March 13, 2011
Pat said...

Well it's never dull with you ducks:)
I like this one and after a while will stop taking my glasses off, licking my lips and smiling at the camera.

5:06 pm, March 13, 2011
savannah said...

very cool looking! i did like the other one, as well. call me fickle, but i've been impressed by all the changes you've made along the way with the layout! xoxoxoxo

5:40 pm, March 13, 2011
Mary Witzl said...

I think this is great, Kim. What I like best is that it IS easier -- it comes up right away! And it still has an individual feel to it, too.

When I consider my own blog look, I feel like Ms. Conservative. I take simplicity to a boring extreme -- but I still find it comforting.

10:58 pm, March 13, 2011
Ponita in Real Life said...

Now you've gone and changed it yet again!! ;-)

10:58 pm, March 13, 2011
Kim Ayres said...

Well we're now up to about version 6 in the background tweaks.

The first version I did - which is where the first coments from Debra, Ponita, Pat and Savannah came in, I felt was too dull.

I've since been playing with the background and now settled on this idea of surrounding the outside with B&W photos.

Unfortunately I don't know whether Mary and Pointa's second comment came just before, or after, I put the new background up.

Anyway, I'll leave it like this now for a while until I get a bit more feedback, or have slept on it.

Kim :)

11:10 pm, March 13, 2011
Synergy Gallery said...

Ummm, maybe I just dont like change.... but I like this less then I liked the last one. A bit more cluttered and colourless if you ask me. But feel free to ignore me Kim. x
Katie

11:56 pm, March 13, 2011
Eryl said...

I really like it. It seems much faster and smoother than the last one too.

12:32 am, March 14, 2011
Unknown said...

Well Mr. Ayers, I adore the new layout. and found my word verification to be an interesting one ~ multions!

1:43 am, March 14, 2011
Jayne Martin said...

Yes, I like what you've done with the place. Quite sophisticated. Now if you'd only go to Disqus.com and change to their commenting system, I'd be doing the happy dance. ;)

2:25 am, March 14, 2011
angryparsnip said...

I enjoyed the other layout because it was bright and lively like I think you are but... there is always a but

I really like the new layout. It is quite stylish, it is black and white your favorite and it is much easier to see and use.
So far so good !

cheers, parsnip

2:36 am, March 14, 2011
Unknown said...

Okay, I looked at it this morning and it looked different than it does now. I love all the pics you've done as the border. I like it much. Great job.

2:52 am, March 14, 2011
Ponita in Real Life said...

Okay.... I like it better now, with all the photos around the outside... but I still miss the colours you had with the previous one. I like colours. Maybe you feel differently. That's just my opinion... :-)

3:28 am, March 14, 2011
Eric Fischer said...

RSS feed? Stop it man, you are boggling my mind with all of this technology gibberish.

Nice layout, strangely feels like it doesn't suit you, must readjust mental imagery, preconceived notions.
cheers

5:19 am, March 14, 2011
AA said...

Much prefer this one. :)

You have much *colour* in your photos. In spite of them being black and white.

11:23 am, March 14, 2011
savannah said...

it's like the best of both worlds (all the photos from before and minimally stylized as i saw before), just in B&W, sugar! i like the intensity of it! xoxoxox

12:09 pm, March 14, 2011
hope said...

I feel somewhat disoriented with things opposite than where I usually find them...then again, could just be the dizzy that comes with all that pollen.

At first glance, I didn't like the B&W...then I got down to the spot of color and it seemed like a brilliant idea! Your photos really shine in that moment.

Only true complaint...you got a good deal on the watch band, could you look a tad more thrilled in that photo? ;)

11:07 pm, March 14, 2011
Katie Roberts said...

I'm wondering if everyone is being polite - or if I really am in the minority! I am not shy of having an unpopular opinion, esp. with you Kim, though I never like to offend.

Am I the only one that thinks this layout is boring, cluttered and who doesn't like the font, size of font, thinks the rounded frame doesn't suit you and misses the original, distinctive, homely, familiar grittiness of the last two blog designs? Really people 'fess up, I'm feeling alone here folks.

I love your earlier one of a year or two ago, as it was so simple and somehow 'grumpy' and dark and moody (and you!?;) I grew to like the second one - when I got broadband and could load it fast enough. The stuff around your posts annoys me a bit, I hardly look at to be honest, so the layout doesn't matter to me in that way so much. Though its always nice to see your photos I perfered the different sizes, colours and coffee cup etc.

This one just feels a bit bland and like its not really saying anything much, nothing that scream the character of Kim Ayres I think of.

Although, I am eternally grateful you have stuck with your logoy thing. Please keep playing with your blog design till your hearts content Kim, but never change that.

Please! (I find some comfort in that at least) Oh, and dont worry about my opinion, its only you who really has to love it, its for your self expression after all isn't it?

Will try to be a loyal reader, despite the aesthetic conflict.

1:43 am, March 15, 2011
Katie Roberts said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
1:50 am, March 15, 2011
Katie Roberts said...

Oh god! I'm on a rant. But I just realised this new layout... is all about the photography. As much as I love you're photos I think of your blog as about everything from philosophy to DS, depression to observations of humans, homour, realism, story telling, music, comedy, kids, parenting, satire, politics, oh and photography.

If I was new to your page, I wouldn't know what it was about and who all these faces are.

Just a though.

1:51 am, March 15, 2011
Hindsfeet said...

sharp. I truly dig it. packs a punch. not as "busy" on the eye.

...and definitely steers the viewers "eye" toward your focus on photography.

good stuff, Kim.

4:26 am, March 15, 2011
Aayushi said...

i lyk'd the old one..though this one is more systematic but the earlier one was funky!!

4:27 am, March 15, 2011
Z said...

The writing loaded quickly, but all those photos are taking ages. I waited a minute or so but they still hadn't all loaded by the time I clicked through to comments. If you want to keep them and let those with slow Broadband see them, maybe you could have a pop-up comment box rather than comments replace the blog page.

8:28 am, March 15, 2011
katierobertsart said...

Yeah! a gallery window or something for the photos would be great! Not easy maybe but... by the way, its me Katie the Opinionated again. (I dont know who I'm logged in as, sorry) x

11:17 am, March 15, 2011
neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

A quick look and yes, definitely clean...manly-grey too, if there's such a thing :-)

Now I'll go peep around.

4:41 pm, March 15, 2011
Kim Ayres said...

Thanks to each of you for your comments - they have all fed into the thick and rich stew that is my thought process.

Clearly the new look divided opinion, and to be honest, I wasn't sure about it myself. So I have pondered, discussed and redesigned again (see latest post), taking into consideration some of the concerns.

Hope this one works better

11:39 pm, March 15, 2011

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