Site Update

It’s been a while since I’ve updated my site.  Like underwear, it’s a good thing to change every so often.

I’m keeping the foundational template known as Atelier as it offers a clean and simple framework which is consistent with my over all style.  However, I’m changing the structure of the site content, beginning now with the introduction of a new home page.  Over the coming weeks and months this structure will be build upon and extended.

• Entry Portal (Home Page)
  This is a continuation along the path of changes I implemented in the last update.  At that time I moved away from the Blog as the entry into the site to one that was a gallery of some of my favourite photographs.  Those favourites represented just one type of content available on the site. With this change I am tiling several types of content organized as a portal view onto the site.  This is intended to offer those visitors with specific interests direct access to the material they seek.
• Menu simplification
  By exposing a content portal as the entry into the site, I can simplify the menu structure to just four [intuitively obvious] items: Portal; Blog; About & Contact and Search.  The Blog menu item is arguably redundant as it also appears in the Portal, but it is an important part of the site and thus representation in both places is appropriate, in my view.  I consolidated the search bar previously in the menu bar into the Tags & Archives page to provide a single place to find information.  This allows for multiple different types of search, including: text, keywords / tags and by date (calendar) all accessible from the renamed Search page.
• Portal Framework
  The portal is structured into three bands. The top band of a single row points to my Blog and Projects / Studies.  These are two important (to me) types of content and thus get top billing.  I intend to document more of my projects in the future.  Currently I am experimenting documenting works in progress.  My Photography Portfolio is presented in the middle band of two rows and provides direct access to different categories of photographs.  This structure is presented to allow those with interests in a specific area to view relevant material without having to slog through that which is not.  It also offers a simple overview of the areas of photography that I get into.  The bottom band presents two other areas of interest for me, travel and cooking.