Photoblogs Magazine: Let's begin by telling us a bit about you. Who is Ed and where is he heading?

Ed Little, Jr. : Ha ha...I am usually not one that discusses 'me', so I'll try to make this concise. I am going to first introduce myself the Dine (Navajo) way, then in English. In the Dine' way, I am of my mother, father, and grandparents clans...which is, Tl'aashchí'í nishli (Red Bottoms People from my mother)...Yé'ii Dine'é Táchii'nii ba shishchiin (Giant People Red Running into the Water from my father)...Tódích'íi'nii ei da shichei (Bitter Water from my mother's father)...Lók'aa' Dine'é ei da shinali (Reed People from my dad's father). This makes me a son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, friend, advocate, and mentor. I am originally from the Dine (Navajo) Reservation located in Northern Arizona. I recently moved from Flagstaff, Arizona to Eugene, Oregon to be closer to my companion's (Julie) family. I've been supporting children and adults with disabilities, domestic violence, runaways, homeless youth, and the elderly professionally for the past fifteen years...and most of my life personally. My ultimate goal is to obtain a doctorate degree where I can further support people, and to continue increasing my skills of capturing images of the world that's around me.

PM: When did you take your first photograph and what inspired you to continue?

ELJ: This is an interesting question, for I was just thinking about this during a recent hike....ha ha. I remember it was a special day with my family...I was six years old and it was my first time to Disneyland. My first photograph was taken with a Polaroid Land Camera...a gift given to my parents by one of my uncles, my dad's brother. I vividly remember we all dressed up and my dad captured our unique poses and huge smiles with the new camera. We noticed our dad had not been part of the picture taking experience...so the camera was handed to me. I remember my dad showing me how to compose the scene through the viewfinder...and when everyone was in the 'square box', I was to push this big red button. I snapped my first image of my parents...but it did not stop there. I was so amazed to see the results within minutes that I wanted to continue to snap pictures. I wish I had continued from that day. I might have been one experienced photographer by now. I seriously got into photography after deciding to sell the full size truck I loved, to purchase my Nikon equipment in March 2000. I was inspired when I realized my images could elicit many different emotions from the people that viewed them. I felt a sense of peace when I saw that my images comforted others.

PM: What role does photography play in your life? Is it a part-time hobby or do you describe it differently?

ELJ: I would say that my photography is a tremendous part of my life, especially the last five years. My photography is now a part of who I am, my way of life in 'Hozho'. Hozho is the core, or the very heart, of the Dine Philosophy (Navajo Way) in everything we do. The word 'Beauty' is typically used to describe Hozho. Hozho means when a person, place, or thing is in harmony, balance, and/or in equilibrium with the world around you. Opposites exists in all of us...pleasure/pain, good/bad, mother earth/father sky, etc. Hozho exists when theses opposites are in balance, or harmony. We are then stronger, healthier, wiser, smarter, faster...the world around us is peaceful and/or beautiful. Through 'Hozho' I am capturing what I see as 'beauty'.

PM: Nature, that is "Mother Earth & Father Sky", seems to be at the center of your attention. Tell us how it has become your main theme in photography?

ELJ: It's from the Dine teachings and beliefs I learned from my parents and grandmother. The term 'Mother Earth and Father Sky' does not only relate to nature and/or landscape images per se, but to everything that comes from 'Mother Earth and Father Sky'. People, plants, animals, our clothes, medicine, home, cars, computers, the rain, light, electricity, food, everything comes from Mother Earth and Father Sky. My photography focuses on who I am and everything within the world that's all around me. When I photograph, I am capturing images of 'Mother Earth and Father Sky'. If I am taking pictures of a person, building, car, or animal, I am capturing images of 'Mother Earth and Father Sky'. Everything relates back to "Mother Earth and Father Sky". This also relates back to the Dine philosophy of 'Hozho'. We can learn a lot from Nahasdzáán Shima (Mother Earth) and Ya dil hil (Father Sky) for all people, and everything around us, is from them. Living the way of 'Hozho' means respecting, caring, learning, providing, teaching, supporting, everything about yourself, and the people and things around you.

PM: I realize you have recently moved from film and slide to digital. What made you consider digital and do you see it replace conventional formats in your future work?

ELJ: Digital is here to stay. It's going to evolve, and eventually even eliminate film, but probably not in my lifetime. Just like everything else in life, it will evolve to a state that's higher. I first heard of digital during Nikon's first release of it's Coolpix cameras in the 90s. I decided to take the leap to digital when I saw what the new Nikon D70 could do...and of course when I had enough money to purchase the camera. The quality of the digital images is comparable to my film camera, and I can shoot as many images as I want, without feeling that I am wasting film. I also like the immediate results I get with the digital format. I still shoot film every now and then, but as the technology of digital evolves, I could see it as the main format in my future work.

PM: What do you have in mind for the future of your photoblog?

ELJ: Lately, I've been posting more than one image of the places I've experienced. Once I get my new website organized, I will be posting more images from each experience. You'll notice on my website that I've posted multiple images from my last two hikes. Not only do I want the visitor to see my best images, I want to also display how I got there and what else was in 'my world' at the time. I am also experimenting with sound recordings I've made with my Sony Minidisc...I am not sure yet whether to pursue this as part of my website. Basically, I want my art to grow...to evolve to a much higher place. My ultimate goal is to totally live off my art. Of course, I would still be involved in supporting other people. I've learned so much from the many people I've had contact with through their photoblogs. I also would like to thank you for having me as your guest on Photoblogs Magazine.

posted by Ali |spotlights| | back to top
http://beyond.my-expressions.com