Blogs, How in the name of.....

Valentia

Following on from Julie's post on better presentation of pics than Flickr (I hate that white background) I was just wondering.

Is there anywhere I could go as a blog moron to learn how to set up a really simple site. I was thinking of a few in particular that I like. One pic at a time, clean and very little waffle (text). It would be good too if under the hood I could have organised the pics in categories, Say when you click on "archive" it will give a choice of categories or picking a date from a calender.

I was thinking of doing a photo a day type thing, (which wont last too long if I don't give up these bloody fags)!!

php and sql and api are Greek to me unfortunately so FreeAnd...'s comment about that kind of stuff frightens me.

Here are a few examples of the sites I aspire to:

http://www.headphoneland.com/

http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/

This would be my favourite layout with a darker background: http://caitriona.net/c/

I like the "archive" setup a lot on Caitriona's.

The ultimate is of course: www.noahgrey.com but I imagine that is nowhere near as simple as it looks.

Thanks for any advice.

elven

Here's some reading to get you started, maybe:

http://wiki.photoblogs.org/wiki/Main_Page

rymus

If youre looking for something to feck around with, provide a domain name and I'll set you up with a wordpress install and a few gigs of webspace.

Wordpress with a photoblogging theme is definately the best bet. It's a very sturdy and capable backend with an infinitely configurable frontend. I lurrve it. Send me a pm if you're interested anyway.

Valentia

Thanks Rymus and Julie.

I have a domain but only use it to store stuff and to stick up pics of the local musicals and plays etc for the locals to see eg www.porchfield.com/cinders (if you really have nothing better to do).

I installed Wordpress but I'm so deadly thick that I couldn't get my head around the logic of uploading, formatting et al. Maybe I'm just too bloody lazy.Wrong generation more like!

I'll pm you Rymus with my cpanel reg if you like, if you have the time like and maybe you could kickstart something along the lines of of the blog layouts I like.

Would that be ok with you. No rush, honestly, just if you had a spare few minutes (hours??). And maybe a down 'n dirty fools version of how to update would be a bonus.

Thanks again.

rymus

no bother.. The wordpress backend is fairly easy once you spend a bit of time on it.. The more time consuming bit is getting a theme you're happy with and getting it to look the way you want.

Wordpress has an integrated upload facility, but speaking for my own blog, I just link directly to flickr. Too much of a pain in the arse uploading everything twice.

elven

I think there are a few tools for wordpress included in this monster list, might be handy:

http://www.quickonlinetips.com/archives/2005/03/great-flickr-tools-collection/

Valentia

elven wrote:

Here's some reading to get you started, maybe:

http://wiki.photoblogs.org/wiki/Main_Page

Just had a quick gawk at that site. Thanks, it looks like I can kind of unerstand it .

thebaz

Valentia wrote:

I was thinking of doing a photo a day type thing, (which wont last too long if I don't give up these bloody fags)!!

.

Danny - i started doing a blog using a flickr set
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebaz/sets/72157594514066440/

but after nearly 3 weeks and some positive feedback , i am ready to quit , what sounded easy, taking and uploading a photo daily, has become a chore , and whilst i have taken loads of photos , like any routine task , it has become that -- so not sure if i will continue -- maybe you are more persistent than me -- anyway goodluck.

GristlyEnd

I've been meaning to set up a photo blog for ages and the wordpress setup looks good. I have my own host so I'm going to attempt the 5 minutes install it states on it's website.

Fenster

I'd fourth (fifth?) Wordpress

GristlyEnd

I've got wordpress set up on my website now and I'm very impressed so far. The biggest hurdle was deciding on a theme. I've linked up with my flickr account and will start to add more content over the next few days.

Valentia

I'm going to give it another lash on my own. The only way to know how to fix things is if you make the effort in the first place to build it. Give me a week or so Rymus 'til I see how I get on.

One question. When I set up Wordpress on my own domain do I use my space (storage) to host everything? I'm a bit confused because I see some blog stuff that says that you have to use their servers.

Fenster

http://wordpress.com/

I'd try a Wordpress blog from there first, to see if you even like it. Better this than jumping in at the deep end and deciding you don't like Wordpress.

rymus

Valentia wrote:

One question. When I set up Wordpress on my own domain do I use my space (storage) to host everything? I'm a bit confused because I see some blog stuff that says that you have to use their servers.

Yes and no. You can if you wish to but it's not required. I host all my photos on flickr, but link to them on my blog. I could put up a second copy of my photos onto the server that my blog is hosted on, but as I previously said it'd only be a pain in the arse having two copies.

There are specific requirements for hosting a blog; Your webhost has to have certain software and services enabled on your account. Generally (unless you've got a crap webhost) these will all be enabled and you'll be good to go.

Starting to think that dispensing all this advice is counterproductive... Just creating more competition for the 2008 Blog Awards

Dara Robinson

This does not have a white background and its in flickr - My slide show
Not great but its there

Valentia

rymus wrote:

Starting to think that dispensing all this advice is counterproductive... Just creating more competition for the 2008 Blog Awards

No worries there. Good luck this year!!

The thought crossed my mind the other day of leaving something semi-permanent behind me. A photoblog would be a nice kind of legacy provided I could leave instructions for the direct debit for the web space to be paid every year.

Melancholy stuff but I'm at the age where friends are already beginning to go.

Valentia

I'm like a flippin child. I know I should wait until I have it sorted but sure feck it!!!

I have got a handle of sorts on how to do it: www.porchfield.com

WARNING: UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Fenster

What theme is that?

Valentia

Ni****a: http://brajeshwar.com/documents/readme/ni****a-v1-wp.html

311

Great name valentia ,the homepage is nice aswell.;)

440Hz

Hehe I went to the trouble of working on a photo showcase/blog on one of my sites and then never used it.. typical me :P www.pictioneering.com
must do something with it really. like my other site, it just sits there.

rymus

that's a bloody nice theme Valentia... Might just have to poach that in future