#1: Purpose of this Blog

A journal-of-sorts, for myself and anyone that wants to join me on this adventure of mine.

What is this site going to look like?

This budding ‘idea seed’ is still very fresh and new, so I don’t actually know what I plan to do with this site! What I do know is that I want to post some of my photography (all captured and corrected by moi!), as well as channel my love for writing into something fun - like a blog!

For the time being, I’m taking this process one step at a time, with excitement at seeing how this adventure evolves as I do.

What is the goal of this site?

Truthfully, I started this site for three core reasons:

1.) To act as a portfolio for my photography so I can start sharing my work.

2.) To give me a fun hobby to channel my writing into while I travel and go through life.

3.) To be a creative outlet for me to grow as a person traveling through her own life.

Please Note: While they are complementary to each other, the Gile Photography Portfolio and Blog are two parts of this one site.

What inspired combining Gile Photography with a Blog?

Photography has been around for as long as I’ve been a photographer, but Gile Photography came about because I wanted to keep my photography contained more cleanly - and maybe a little bit because it also sounded way more professional.

The blog, however? That’s new.

A few months back, while visiting and talking with my former professor, he suggested I make a travel blog as a way to channel my photography and combine it with my writing. It took him suggesting that I, “try to do it just for fun” before it stuck - but when it did, it was stuck-stuck in my brain.

I sat around, juggling the concept and brainstorming some ideas to go alongside that. Even now - that is, today - I’m writing the first post for the blog portion of my site, and I’m wondering whether I should continue brainstorming ideas.

But I know myself - I’ll brainstorm my ‘idea seeds’ until they die in my brain; only once I finally plant my idea seeds do I actually see how vibrant they can grow to become.

So here I am, finally picking up that can.

Here you are, for reasons that are your own.

Here we all are, reading the thoughts I’m putting into words.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for joining me on this journey (no matter how long or brief it may be).

What do you plan to write about in the blog?

This originally started out with the idea of a ‘travel blog’, but I wanted to widen the scope. After some reflection, I realized that I am constantly traveling through my own life! (I had to sit back and let that sink in for a few minutes)

That’s my turnaround way of saying that I’ll be writing about a fair number of things.

I’m a travel bug through-and-through, with a love for wild adventures as well as tranquil coffee stops alike - although I’m partial to a good café~

While I love to travel and explore, I’m turning both inward and outward with my curiosity; I’m recovering positivity with how I view the world by focusing more on curiosity, gratitude and love.

So you can expect to see a variety of topics - some prompted, some free-flowing, and some recollecting the day’s adventures to the best of my capabilities.

Any final words?

Yes! I really really reeeeeally want to thank Patrick for planting this idea in my brain! He helped me rediscover my love for photography (several years ago, in 2019), hone my photography skills, and now he’s pointed me in a direction to have a fun outlet for my creative work.

So truly, my deepest gratitude goes out to Patrick for all the support he’s given me in the time I’ve known him (whether he realized it or not).

And lastly (because anyone who knows me knows I never finish on one ‘final’ note, HAH~!!!), thank you to any soul that has read this far. Thank you so much, merci beaucoup, arigato gozaimasu, for taking the time to read this far. I love you for your curiosity <3

Titled “Equilibrium” (2019), this photo was my first published work alongside ‘“Element of Shinto” (2019) in the UW Capillaries Journal, Spring 2022 issue.

It felt only fitting that it represent my kickoff with this blog, both in its intended concept and its significance in my journey.