# I. Where are we?
It's been five years since I published my first website. The first domain was mostly an experiment, with a name chosen rather randomly. I retired it soon after due to the naming issue, and started snowleopardj.com in late 2023.
Since then, the internet has changed rapidly. There have been a few tweaks to the site during that time, but not much. Recently, it's felt like the moment to make some changes.
While I believe photographs can tell stories on their own, there's something compelling about learning more through other means, including words. The previous site was mainly for photographs; this time... a blog. Platforms like Medium and Substack aren't really an option for me, due to their policies, so as usual, building from scratch it is. It can be frustrating at some point, but it's also enjoyable and always flexible when it comes to making changes as time goes.
# II. Reimagining
Reimagining doesn't mean creating perfection, since true perfection doesn't exist. Not perfect, but unique — evolving over time. Like... a glacier.
As I went through the design of the site, I wanted it to be simple, but not just functional. It has to carry something familiar, something that resonates with me. My mind kept circling around snow, the Himalayas, and water. That trail of thought naturally led me to climate. And then I remembered a typeface I had come across before that aligned with the idea I had for the site: Climate Crisis font (shaped by past Arctic data and future projections). It's not really like other static fonts in the usual sense. Instead, it changes, with various weights tied to shifts in the Arctic.
The previous logo was designed quite some time ago. It belongs to the beginning of the project. It has been part of the previous site for years, and carries that history. But over time, it started to feel a bit boring. It's quite common when working on a project to feel that there's always something to update or improve over time — it's never entirely satisfying. This is one of those times. The new design brings life to the site. The letter slowly deform, "melt" as time goes, reflecting decades of impact.
# III. The Nature
Nature has always been one of my greatest inspirations. I find it both captivating and timeless. We live in a world overtaken by technology — apps, social media, likes, comments, and endless notifications — consuming our attention over and over. Despite the constant sinkhole of distractions that we often find ourselves in, there's also the nature inviting us to pause and live a story of our own.
And this, is my story.