Author Topic: Your opinion please.... (Read 2154 times)

Mindy · « **on:** January 16, 2008, 03:58:19 pm »

I am building a website for Stump-Branch Logging, one of the logging companys filmed for the History Channel series "Axe Men." I know the History Channel will do an excellent job on their end. The show begins airing in March

I would like anyone's input on the site, keep in mind its a work in progress! Also, since the owner is always working he doesn't see what I have put up. So I come to you for your input, all is welcome. I want to focus on the positive aspects of logging and the environment.

Thank you for your time,

Mindy
www.stumpbranchlogging.com
mindy@stumpbranchlogging.com

Jeff · « **Reply #1 on:** January 16, 2008, 04:31:56 pm »

Welcome to the Forestry Forum Mindy! That's goona be pretty snazzy website. I really like what you have so far, although I need to ge fetch my glasses so I can read the text. It got the dogs attention too as I played around on the mouse overs.

Are you planning a non-flash version for all the industry people out there that still live in da sticks and have to work off of dial-up?

Mindy · « **Reply #2 on:** January 16, 2008, 04:36:16 pm »

Hmmm, Hadn't thought about dial up. I live in the sticks and have to use Verizon air card. I'll check into that, thank you. Also I will make the text larger.

Thanks so much,
Mindy

Jeff · « **Reply #3 on:** January 16, 2008, 04:46:02 pm »

I'm looking forward to seeing the photos of the operation once you get them up.

The site loaded within only a few seconds here on cable, so maybe it'll be pretty fast. Some of the guys here with slower connections can probably let you know how that works. Question: Does the site template allow for a sound toggle to enable/disable sound?

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #4 on:** January 16, 2008, 05:24:40 pm »

I commented on an earlier thread. But, what you need, to make life a little more enjoyable, is an Enter to bypass the flash button for us dial-up crew. I probably won't see cable here for another millenium. The towns here have cable and such, but we are not as high class out here on the farms.

Kevin · « **Reply #5 on:** January 16, 2008, 05:31:41 pm »

Hi Mindy and welcome to the Forestry Forum.

My opinion is I don't like it.

I find it too busy with too little content.
It just needs a little tweaking without all the flash.
Don't give up, I'm looking forward to the site and the show.

Mindy · « **Reply #6 on:** January 16, 2008, 05:33:49 pm »

I have hundreds of photos from going out on job sites, may be going out next week to get more. I will start posting them today. As far as sound there is that option I haven't put it up yet. I am going to have video that we take out in the field for the site, this will be our own not History.

As far as the flash can someone with dial up give it a try, please. Going to make changes based on your thoughts and opinions. Keep them coming!

Thanks a bunch,
Mindy

Mindy · « **Reply #7 on:** January 16, 2008, 05:36:29 pm »

The tweaking begins, I think it won't seem as busy or flashy once some photos are up, you'll have to let me know what you think. I am working on it right now.

Thanks for your comments,
Mindy

Jeff · « **Reply #8 on:** January 16, 2008, 05:39:20 pm »

Don't forget to tell the guys about the Forestry Forum. There may already be some guys on here they know. There aint a better group of people then those that work in and about and for our forests and you will find a ton of them right here. Besides, if these fellers become celebrities, we can keep em grounded.

Kevin · « **Reply #9 on:** January 16, 2008, 05:41:09 pm »

Pictures, preferably video, light background music with narration works for me.

Jeff · « **Reply #10 on:** January 16, 2008, 05:42:46 pm »

Quote from: Kevin on January 16, 2008, 05:41:09 pm

Pictures, preferably video, light background music with narration works for me.

Mindy, Kevin is what you get when you mess with someone that spends all their time in a tree.

Mindy · « **Reply #11 on:** January 16, 2008, 05:43:33 pm »

Melvin Lardy is the owner of Stump-Branch and he has been here before, I'll see him tonight and tell him what you said! He's just a regular logger, you guys are gonna love him! He is already famous around here!

Kevin · « **Reply #12 on:** January 16, 2008, 06:02:39 pm »

Thanks Jeff, no more ~~soup~~ trees for you!

Mindy, here's one of my fav's ... Bird on a wire

It's long and probably a killer for dial up but I think you'll get the drift.

John Bartley · « **Reply #13 on:** January 16, 2008, 06:03:23 pm »

Quote from: Mindy on January 16, 2008, 03:58:19 pm

.....
I would like anyone's input on the site, keep in mind its a work in progress! .....

Mindy,

Sorry to be negative, but when I encounter a "flash" site, unless I need or want something specific I just stop looking. I find animations, flash intro's etc an unnecessary annoyance. Photos and videos are ok, but I want to be able to choose what to look at and at what speed it passes by my eyeballs.

cheers eh?

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #14 on:** January 16, 2008, 06:05:51 pm »

Got your ban button ready and loaded Jeff?

Just kidding.

Jeff · « **Reply #15 on:** January 16, 2008, 06:11:48 pm »

Kevin, that video was awesome.

Mindy · « **Reply #16 on:** January 16, 2008, 06:14:00 pm »

Way cool video, doubt I'll get anyhting like that.

Hey you guys I asked for your opinions, the good and the bad! THe neat thing is I am in the begining stages so everything counts Now. I do appreciate every honest opinion!

Thanks,
Mindy

Kevin · « **Reply #17 on:** January 16, 2008, 06:20:25 pm »

Mindy;
You could manage it.
You wouldn't need helicopters and it wouldn't cost very much.
Just a little video editing.

Mindy · « **Reply #18 on:** January 16, 2008, 06:45:22 pm »

I think your right! I watched the video away, I get where you are going with the suggestion. I'll talk to Melvin and come up with something really neat for next week!

I checked into HTML, think I will switch over to that.

THanks everyone,
Mindy

Mindy · « **Reply #19 on:** January 16, 2008, 06:53:50 pm »

http://www.stumpbranchlogging.com/html/

Really needs sprucing up now!!!!! But at least you can view either way. Thanks for the suggestion!

Mindy

pigman · « **Reply #20 on:** January 16, 2008, 06:59:54 pm »

The flash site took 5 minutes to get the front door to open, another 4 minutes to see anthing to read. Just clicked on the nonflash site and it loaded within 10 seconds and could read about logging in another 4 seconds.

slow Bob

Mindy · « **Reply #21 on:** January 16, 2008, 07:05:23 pm »

Talk about slow I am waiting for pictures to upload, hope they won't take along time to load for you.

Thanks,
Mindy

John Bartley · « **Reply #22 on:** January 16, 2008, 07:17:36 pm »

Quote from: Mindy on January 16, 2008, 06:53:50 pm

http://www.stumpbranchlogging.com/html/

Really needs sprucing up now!!!!! But at least you can view either way. Thanks for the suggestion!

Mindy

Yup - I'd browse it in this format!!

cheers eh?

Mindy · « **Reply #23 on:** January 16, 2008, 07:21:03 pm »

Good, glad it worked better! I am uploading massive photos will be posting as they load, may take a bit of time though!

Thanks,
Mindy

DanG · « **Reply #24 on:** January 16, 2008, 07:52:27 pm »

Welcome Mindy! Looks like a neat project you have going there.

Another tip from a dial-up user: If you're going to use videos, try to supplement them with plenty of still pics. There is nothing more frustrating than running across something you really want to see, but not being able to download it. It would also help us if you keep the file size of the photos to a minimum.

Mindy · « **Reply #25 on:** January 16, 2008, 07:55:44 pm »

Thanks for the tip, was just talking to Melvin about that! He has dial up also!

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #26 on:** January 16, 2008, 09:02:12 pm »

Don't pay any attention to me. But, it's probably a good idea to talk with the boss who hired ya to make the website, to at least find out he has only a dial-up connection before the site is designed.

Mindy · « **Reply #27 on:** January 16, 2008, 09:15:42 pm »

I did and he doesn't have any problem when he views it.

Thanks,
Mindy

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #28 on:** January 16, 2008, 09:23:16 pm »

I misunderstood, sorry.

Mindy · « **Reply #29 on:** January 16, 2008, 09:30:07 pm »

Hey no problem,

I am making major changes in case the site gets ugly for a while bare with me, I appreciate your support. Melvin told me tonight that its important for this site to appeal to the loggers and the industry.

Thanks,
Mindy

Mindy · « **Reply #30 on:** January 16, 2008, 11:16:40 pm »

http://www.stumpbranchlogging.com/html/index.html
Click for dial up or non flash

http://www.stumpbranchlogging.com/
For flash/original site

I have some pictures up, have to figure out how to make the 2 sites work together. Many features are gone with HTML site, not to mention it doesn't look right. I'll keep working at it, thoughts please...

Thanks,
Mindy

Jeff · « **Reply #31 on:** January 16, 2008, 11:25:15 pm »

Mindy, underneath our help link is a tutorial on posting photos to the Forestry Forum. Within that Tutorial is instructions on how to compress and resize photos for the web. Your photos are massive. Even on my cable modem it took many many seconds for the first one to load. The one I checked on the html site was 8218KB. Thats almost a thousand times bigger then it needs to be. Your whole website should be able to fit within one or two megabytes. If I can help you, let me know. I've got several thousand webpages behind me in the way of practice.

Mindy · « **Reply #32 on:** January 16, 2008, 11:33:52 pm »

ok thanks, i guess i was in the mind set that the pictures were downsized automatically. Besides the help link what can you reccomend? Should I downsize manually or is there a program for that can do that automatically? I have a website for the work I do for Banks Fire at www.mindyhughes.ifp3.com I have problems there as well. I usually bring the photo quality way down to do a bulk image upload. Sometimes that is not even enough. I use adobe photo shop. EDUCATE ME Please!

Thanks,
Mindy

Radar67 · « **Reply #33 on:** January 17, 2008, 12:00:44 am »

In Photo Shop, select FILE, SAVE FOR WEB. and make adjustments to file size by adjusting quality.

Prior to saving, reduce the image size by selecting IMAGE, IMAGE SIZE.

Mindy · « **Reply #34 on:** January 17, 2008, 12:16:49 am »

Thank you very much I'll work on that tonight and tomorrow.

I appreciate you input,
Mindy

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Author Topic: Your opinion please.... (Read 2154 times)