DBBB spams Surfing Waves!

[drowningbitbybit]

Right, okay, yes, spamming BAD
...but I've posted almost 5000 posts on SW, removed untold spammers, banned numerous trolls, deleted double posts, and even laughed at Uncle Jaffa's puns so I reckon I'm owed a spam of my own. Not to mention, it's friday and you're all wasting time on the internet anyway

So the story so far...
The job I do, medical research, was a brilliant job, but turns out to be a rubbish career... badly paid, insecure, and far too prone to random luck than any correlation with effort. Also - the money runs out at the end of this year... so I'm going to work for myself, partly doing some scientific writing to make sure the bills get paid, and partly working up my own business as a photographer.
I'm already doing low-level stuff this year, part time, but will go full time next year.
So the website has been built, registered with google... but it needs more traffic to get up the top of google's search result.

So everyone that Ive ever given advice to, made laugh, laughed at your jokes, or just joined in the conversation with, can you pleased head over to
http://www.mattgphotography.com.au/ and have a look around. Constructive criticism welcome too! (But don't go too overboard - I know its presently a very simple site, and that some of the images aren't up to standard). Almost nothing to do with surf I'm afraid - waaaay too much competition for that in this neck of the woods!

And even though its the same stuff, and not finished yet, hit my facebook page too...
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mattgphotography/222284844491195?sk=wall


If you want to make yourself really popular, then go to google and search for 'mattgphotography coogee photographer' and then click on my link (there's another mattgphotography in texas irritatingly - not that one!).

Thanks!


(Sorry SP!)


PS If anyone move's this to shoredump, I'm putting it straight back in chat!

[jaffa1949]

Wham, bam , thank you spam,
So now you see the DBBB,
out in the world and running free.
With camera and lens around his neck,
no more research, so what the heck.
he requests us all to view his site,
don't be afraid, he won't bite.
I for one, hope the photos there
reflect a view of style and flair ( I haven't looked yet).
and bring him in loads of cash
so his dreams don't turn to ash.
Now to gaze upon his site
then report back and tell it right.
I've been to the site and looked around
I have to say, I like what I found.

Good luck DBBB.

[drowningbitbybit]

Jaffa, you're a complete loon!

[surf patrol]

Good for you DBBB, I'd let everyone spam if they contributed to this forum as much as you have done.
I really do hope this works really well for you. I'll add a link on the sites resources page next week.

I had a chance to have a quick look around and noticed a couple of quick technical things. It does seem to load quite slowly, which is probably down to the size of the images. Have you considered having seperate images for the smaller thumbnails. Quicker loading pages would improve user experience.
Try to keep full stops and spaces out of url.

The pictures look good, and it shows a nice variety of photos.
Good work.

mattgphotography coogee photographer search - check!
hit facebook page - check!
read jaffa's poem - check!
moved to shoredump...

Nice one

[billie_morini]

drowning,
wishing you the most success possible!
Saw some mighty fine fotos on your website.
The past 12 months have seen a number of guys on Surfing Waves forum make career changes.
Best I can tell, those of us that did it, are better off. You will be, too.

Here are my primary comments about your website.
1. There are some very interesting photo compositions
2. You seem to have unique skill with portraits
3. The photos for "Recent Shoot" and "Gallery" load too slowly. They sort of fade in from the top to bottom. I got tired of waiting. Maybe you have a fix for that.

billie

[longboarder]

Hey DBBB Welcome to the Pro photography world.

If you ever make it over to this part of the world (Emerald Isle) look me up. I'm involved in the supply side of things to Pros. I can introduce you to some fellow photographers and then go surfing.

Good luck with the career.

[flyingvee]

Wanna buy my old Nikkormat FTN?

[drowningbitbybit]

Cheers guys!

The thumbnails are already tiny separate images (okay, not quite true... there are a couple of in there where I was in a hurry and didn't make a smaller version), but obviously some of the main images are too large. I'll sort that out.

Good point SP about the spaces in the URLs so I'll... *groan*... rename them all

[drowningbitbybit]

Right, I've changed all the files so that they're smaller (which, incidentally, really makes a photographer weep - why spend all your cash on a camera that gives a 32Mb file and then upload a 84K file?!?) and also made them 'progressive jpegs' so there should never be a blank space with nothing happening (thanks for pointing that out Billie).

Haven't fixed the URLs yet... much too dull a job to do with enthusiasm...

If anyone that found it too slow last time can check it for me again, that'd be cool!

[esonscar]

Dude - never have the same person on the same page twice or more where you are showing different pics'. Every pic should be a different person on a single page. Show again on the next page of thumbnails if needs be. Of course if you are featuring a person or group the yes have multiple images of the person (with carefully selected complimenting shots)

[drowningbitbybit]

Okay... you got me there... where?
The only duplication I can see is the baby on the gallery page, which shows two very different types of shot.

[surf patrol]

I see you offer a pregnancy package, what does that involve?

[libby]

So the story so far...
The job I do, medical research, was a brilliant job, but turns out to be a rubbish career... badly paid, insecure, and far too prone to random luck than any correlation with effort. Also - the money runs out at the end of this year...

Dude I hear ya! Coming towards the end of my PhD with the realisation that if I stay in science it's either a life OR a career, and the career will never really be secure, and will only pay just enough to get by

Shame I can't take photos!!

Will hit up sites everytime i'm trying to ignore thesis writing, which is all the time, top of the google ratings here you come!!

[drowningbitbybit]

Hey Libby,
Yeah, you've got to be really committed to it. I was... but now I'm not. So I'm outta there (while keeping one finger still in the pie, doung some scientific editing, but freelance and from home).

And while you're writing up your PhD, go to
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mattgpho ... 4844491195
...and like my FB page too

The more 'fans' there are, the more you can do with the page, so every 'like' is important!

[jaffa1949]

Hey Libby,
So I'm outta there (while keeping one finger still in the pie, doung some scientific editing, but freelance and from home).

I can see you are not as committed as you used to be, "doung" indeed
I guess your real attention is on developing your photography and since it is mainly digital now it has less negatives.
Your shots are good and I hope you are still doing some film work, to keep you trembling with emulsion.

Just so no-one gets the wrong idea, I like your site and work.

[drowningbitbybit]

I can see you are not as committed as you used to be, "doung" indeed

[jaffa1949]

A Biblical Pun comes to mind. Cue a Charlton Heston Voice. "DOUNG to others as you would have them "DOUNG" to you.