(Rated by 2 people, viewed by 68 people)
Retro-Freak.Org has 2 Reviews
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![[img: avatar]](/avatars/joshehsaurus.png)
joshehsaurus gave it
on 31st Oct 2009 and said:Ah, Gunnstein, Remember Me, Josheh?
Probably not, oh well, I'm Josh and I'm going to be reviewing your lovely looking site using Google Chrome v3, on Windows XP with a screen resolution of 1024x800.Layout 3.5/5
I have always been a fan of your layouts, and I think that you're new style of layouts, the more minimalistic yet grungy looks are nice, but maybe don't live up to some of your older work which made me fall in love with your design. You maybe prefer this to some of your older work, I under stand that but that is my opinion. I still adore the colours you've used in the header image, but maybe a change in background image, and maybe a centered layout and you'll be onto a winner :)Coding 2/5
I believe you're using Wordpress, so I will try and see if you're coding is validated up to XHTML Transitional Standard.
Okay, so I have found 122 Errors and 3 Warnings. Not very good. It is important nowadays in a world with a variety on computers that visitors feel comfortable visiting you're site, and making it viewable, and learning to code properly with XHTML is important. I'll try it now with HTML Transitional.
Hmm, 31 Errors and 23 Warnings. You really need to get these fixed before the XHTML. Please don't think of what I'm saying as a must by the way, They're suggestions, so you can do whatever you feel is necessary :)
On the other hand, I have tried your site on 2 other browsers, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Apple Safari, and they look very similar, so hopefully, other OS' and Browser's can view your site as it should be. :)Blog 4.5/5
I'm in love with the way you blog! You have incorporated a project 365 with your blog, which I think looks very nice. There's nothing really to report here, but maybe some typo's. I do also understand that English is not your first language, but if easier, maybe post a norweigen version of your blog so that you can get a wider audience and feel more comfortable with blogging in your native tongue (if that is how you feel).Resources 5/5
Hmm, I see the word 'Resources' used here, and yes, the majority of it are Resources for people to use in their layouts etc, but there is also 'Content' available here, which is completely different to a resource.
A resource something made by you or somebody else which can help somebody create something, when content people can use, and keep to add to what has already been created.
So maybe stating the difference on your site can help people see the difference as well.
Anyway, overall you have some very good work here, a very good balance of Quality and Quantity is here, which is good, and I can tell you have put a lot of time and effort into what you do, which is excellent.Overall Mark: 15/20 (75% - Around 3.5/4 Stars)
I love your site, and I honestly thing that it was your coding which let you down. At first glance, there doesn't seem to be any problem, but when a further examination is made, the truth is told :P I think that if you work on that, your site will be tip-top. I also think that asking visitors what they want from your site is a great way of know what to make in future, but right now, just keep doing what you do best!It's been a pleasure reviewing your site and I hope to visit again soon :)
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Gunnstein's Response:
Hi! I appreciate everything you said, and I do remember you :]
I actually do have a Norwegian blog too, because I wanted to bring my pictures to a wider audience. :)
Thanks for all wise words!![[img: avatar]](/avatars/Vivace.jpg)
Vivace gave it
on 27th Oct 2009 and said:First impression: I was expecting that taking a shot at reviewing from my office's break room, on a slow computer with IE 6 of all things on it, would be nearly impossible. Who designs for IE 6 these days?
You do, apparently. Well done! Your layout is simple and readable in this ancient browser. Your links appear to be exactly where they should be, everything lines up. I like your logo - it adds just a little color, and the grunge look balances the sharp, clean lines of your layout.
At first glance this appears to be a photo blog, which explains the basic layout - your pictures are left to speak for themselves. I see you credited the photographer for your inspiration post, good for you.
You appear to have three separate sets of navigation - the links just below the logo, the first group in the sidebar, and the second group in the sidebar. I'm not sure why they're broken up that way. The ones below the logo seem to be related to the graphic resources your site focuses on, while the ones on the side include both stuff on your site (eg. webmaster, credits) and links away (your myspace and deviantart, for example). The third set of links, I've just realized, are actually your blog categories. Much as I appreciate your simplicity, if there was a simple "categories" header, I would have known more easily what the third group of links was.
As for links offsite to your profiles elsewhere, you should clearly separate them out from the links that keep the viewer on your site. In as little as two clicks - one to your dA for example, and then a second click on a daily deviation - your hypothetical viewer could be totally immersed in someone else's art. Wouldn't that be a shame? You could either put the profile links into another section on your layout (probably below the categories but above the other links) or put those links on the webmaster page.
Now for the actual sections. Your resources section is pretty impressive. The textures in particular look like images I'd like to play around with, but each section I looked at had a good display of items for the viewer.
Your tutorials are plentiful, but almost all of them seem to be aimed at real beginners. Installing brushes is very 101. Maybe it's time for you to expand your tutorial section into more complicated topics. That would also make your tutorials stand out from the many other sites that offer basic info on using photoshop. Your tutorial on free hosts isn't a tutorial so much as it's a list; it would be more useful if you reviewed different free hosts or added some tips on making a first site.
Your 365 project seems to be off to a good start. I assume that when you have more of these posted they will be broken down into pages showing only a few days at a time. It would be more interesting if you had some of your thoughts about each photo along with them.
Your portfolio page is very long and is not organized at all. You might want to use thumbnails or subpages and divide them by the kind of photo since you have quite a few.
Your webmaster page is pretty basic but it does cover everything. You should really add some detail to the list of likes and dislikes, though; as is, it's pretty boring. You might also consider adding some info about your equipment since so much of your site focuses on your photography.
The portfolio link over here is the same in your other navigation; you should really only link it in one place. Your credits page would be more helpful if you said what you got from the resource sites but otherwise does its job. The contact page would be an ideal place for those profile links.
Overall you seem like a talented photographer. I think instead of worrying about basic photoshop tutorials you could really stand out by doing a series of tutorials on photography. By covering different camera techniques and other skills you could bring something more unique to your site. Good luck!
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Gunnstein's Response:
Wow, thank you so much for all tips! :)
I appreciate every word.
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