Meet the Artist
Meet Jennifer Gile (that’s me!). She’s a 26 year old afab womxn (she/her). What can we ask her, so we can better understand the perspective of the artist taking the photographs on this website? Let’s start here:
When do you first remember picking up a camera?
Shoot. I can remember receiving my first Nikon digital camera (I don’t even remember the details of it), and I feel like it goes back as early as 10-12 years old at the earliest.
My parents gifted me that Nikon camera for my birthday - and I remember it was my birthday because I immediately ran outside to take all sorts of photos of the flowers growing in my parents’ garden. Even today my mom tells me stories of how I came back in with some really cool photos from some really interesting and unique perspectives.
From then-on, I didn’t do a whole lot of working with a camera until video production in high school - but that’s a different story for another time. My point is basically that photography is something I just did for fun when I was camping with family or on trips with friends, but never as a solid creative medium - until recently~
How would you describe your photography style?
Opportunistic Photography: As implied, it’s photography that takes place based on the idea of ‘opportunity’; a spontaneous style that let’s me tap into creative inspiration with perspectives.
I predict that as my photoshop abilities develop and grow, my visualization of ideas may expand in congruence with this development in my skillset.
What photography styles and/or subjects do you want to explore more of?
As far as photography goes, I want to explore micro- and macro-photography. But most of what I want to explore is within photoshop. I want to learn a few new photoshop techniques, to help me express a different creative side of the photos I create with my camera - because I have a fair amount of them from throughout the years I’ve been taking photos, haha!
I want to continue exploring my current focuses, which are often nature and random things that sparks something within my soul.
I’ve actually been exploring something that was inspired by my “Candlelight” Portfolio photo: Movement and activity combined with long exposure in the evening.
For your blog, what do you hope to write about?
I have plenty of books with writing prompts that I’ve gathered through the years (some used, some gathering dust, some new and ancient ones).
I particularly have a book from my Gromme - that’s what we call my grandma - that she gave me with a gigantic pool of quotes, and as an avid explorer of philosophy and spirituality, they bring up some profound ideas and I love it. ^-^
I might also occasionally share my independent studies, because I’m a scholar at heart and I love to read/listen and learn (I will be sure to cite my sources when this happens though for the sake of references, credibility purposes, and to share my own personal material with everyone). My preferred subjects to write about are culture studies, communication, international studies, philosophy, and spirituality.
More than anything, I really want to try my hand at a travel blog for some time - given, it wouldn’t be real-time because I need time to take, process, and post photos, as well as write a blog. But if I can take it at a steady pace and get a good rhythm going, it’ll be an exciting opportunity to practice deep inward curiosity (and perhaps outward as well).
These are all ideas - as this blog grows and starts to take shape, I’ll have a much better idea of what I want to write more about.
Titled “Flourishing Academia” (2021), the start of my newfound love for opportunistic photography.