I found this module rather daunting - I had set out on a near-impossible task, eager to explore as many different traditional and alternative processes as I could. Though I found it difficult to narrow my focus, I knew I had to, and decided to focus on four key processes. Salt prints, argyrotypes, and home-made pinhole cameras had to be sacrificed, as did infrared film and chlorophyll prints, two that I was particularly eager to learn more about. I chose to focus on multiple exposures, lumen prints, chemigrams and cyanotypes as they were all distinct processes, yet similar enough that my audience would be able to transfer the knowledge they gained from one technique and apply it to something new. Once I had chosen my core techniques, I was able to plan my time better and direct my focus to the design of the blog.
I enjoyed experimenting with different font styles, colour schemes, and layouts, but settled on something quite simple. This was a calculated decision, as I wanted the actual blog content to be the main focus. If the website design was too complicated or busy, it would undermine the message that I wanted to give to my audience: these photographic techniques are simple. By keeping the layout well-structured and consistent throughout the site, the reader would be less likely to feel overwhelmed and more likely to engage with the content. As a result, the site is clear and easy to navigate. The combination of a largely monochrome dark-mode website and the occasional pop of bright orange is an effective way to mirror the blog's exploration of traditional techniques with a contemporary twist.
One thing I found interesting was the search engine optimisation feature built into the Wix blogging tool. This allowed me to add a variety of relevant hashtags, to ensure my URL slugs could be consistent, and to link my posts together by their respective categories. I would have liked to delve into this a little more and fine-tune the settings, learning more about analytics and algorithms, but for a blog in its infancy, the basic tools are sufficient. To further improve this online content, I would like to purchase a domain name, promote the blog on social media, and gain feedback from unbiased readers.
Having had some feedback from friends and family, they feel the blog posts are well-written and that I have successfully created a conversational tone. They like the fact that the blog titles are puns (however terrible) and the self-deprecating humour peppered throughout. I'm proud of my writing, and feel that this is a particular strength of mine.
Overall, my blog is a navigable, attractive site with engaging posts and relevant content. The design choices I have made have all been purpose-driven, helping me to meet my end goal of producing a high-quality blog that is both entertaining and informative.
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