bastrzyk.com

Case Study: Bastrzyk.com

Working on bastrzyk.com, I created an advanced platform for an esports photographer that combines modern design with speed and functionality. Here’s how this project was implemented from a technical perspective.

Technology and Architecture

The bastrzyk.com website was built using Astro - a modern framework that’s ideal for content-focused websites. The choice of Astro wasn’t coincidental:

• Performance - Astro renders components on the server, sending only lightweight HTML to the browser without unnecessary JavaScript
• Content flexibility - Allows for easy management of different content types (portfolio, galleries, services)
• Loading speed - Critical for a photography website with many high-quality images

I also used:

• TailwindCSS 4 for responsive styling
• React for interactive components
• Cloudflare as a hosting platform, providing a global CDN network

Design Challenges

Image Optimization

The biggest challenge was ensuring lightning-fast loading of high-quality photo galleries. I implemented:

• An adaptive image loading system that selects the appropriate resolution depending on the device
• Lazy loading for galleries, loading images only when they’re visible in the viewport
• Cloudflare caching system, speeding up access to frequently viewed photos

Dark Theme

The site uses an elegant dark theme that perfectly showcases esports photos. The color scheme was carefully selected to:

• Emphasize contrasts in photos from dynamic esports events
• Ensure appropriate text readability
• Create a professional and modern look consistent with the esports industry

Animations and micro interactions

I applied subtle animations that increase user engagement without distracting:

• Smooth transitions between page sections
• Animated entry of elements while scrolling
• Interactive galleries with hover effects and photo expansion

Site Structure

Landing Page

The information architecture was designed to present the photographer’s services in an intuitive way:

1. Hero section - with a distinctive hero section representing the brand’s essence

2. Services section - presenting photography offerings (Event Photography, Portrait Sessions, etc.)

3. “Why Trust Us?” section - highlighting experience and achievements

4. Portfolio section - organized into categories (Events, Portraits, Media Day)

5. How does it work section - presents the process on how Pawel colaborates with clients

6. Our standards section - outlines the values that are important for the photographer. Makes it super clear for pottential customers on what personal Pawel is.

7. Contact form section - with validation and anti-spam protection. This makes it easier for customer to get in touch. Cloudflare turnstile is really fast and great solution for minimizing bots submittion on forms.

Meet Pawel Page

The “Meet Pawel” page was carefully crafted to build trust and showcase the photographer’s expertise:

• Personal introduction section with a professional yet approachable tone
• Career timeline highlighting his experience since 2015 with major esports brands
• Work experience section
• Call-to-action section with direct contact options and a free quote button

This page plays a crucial role in establishing credibility and connecting potential clients with the person behind the camera, using the same dark theme aesthetic that enhances the professional presentation while maintaining brand consistency.

Event Photography Portfolio

Portrait Sessions Portfolio

Media Day Portfolio

SEO Optimization

I took care of technical SEO aspects to ensure the site is highly visible to potential clients:

• Semantic HTML5 for better accessibility
• Optimized meta tags for various social media
• Fast page loading (90+ score in Lighthouse)
• Appropriate heading structure and alternative texts for images

Mobile Solutions

The site was designed with mobile users in mind:

• Fully responsive design for devices from phones to large monitors
• Optimized hamburger menu for small screens
• Adapted galleries with quick preview on touch devices

Results

Thanks to the technical solutions applied, bastrzyk.com:

• Loads in less than 2 seconds
• Effectively presents the esports photographer’s portfolio
• Provides intuitive navigation between different sections
• Generates more inquiries from potential clients

This project demonstrates how modern web technologies can be used to create a platform that combines aesthetics with performance and functionality in the specialized area of esports photography.