© LeRoy DeJolie

© LeRoy DeJolie

© LeRoy DeJolie

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Interviewer: How did you discover photography?

DeJolie: I discovered fine art photographs first before I discovered that I could make an image through a camera. There is not a better magazine in this country that can convey to the viewer the colors and landscape, its boldness and mystery, its special enchantment than Arizona Highways magazine. I sat for hours pondering and contemplating over the photographs in the magazine of my homeland.

Today, after 21 years of trial and error and countless hours of research, I find myself picking up a copy of Arizona Highways magazine viewing my very own photographs. Conveying and sharing my feelings and homeland to the viewers. Perhaps I can entice an individual or a viewer to become a photographer in the future. I can say with a pioneer spirit that I experienced the same fascination — that one day I could share my vision and passion through photography.

My passion for photography offers me a two-fold thrill — first, the joy photographing or making images. Then, the great anticipation to view the results days later.

Today, I feel only good things and great things come out of my photography. I cannot help this surge of energy that totally overwhelms me, when I get published or sell a photograph through the gallery that represents me in Aspen, Colorado. Daily, I have a burning determination to capture new images with my camera. I race to record my homeland and my Navajo people before it all passes away.

Interviewer: What does photographing Navajo people and places mean to you?

DeJolie: First and foremost, this is where my heart lies and still remains anchored to. My objective as a Navajo Indian Photographer is to capture special moments by using the highest quality methods and techniques possible to display to others what I witness and visualize, thus the large format camera.

There is a sense of pride that overcomes me when I see the fine attire of old Navajo men wearing the much forgotten moccasins and the tiny hour glass shaped hair knots tied behind their heads hidden under the wide brim of Stetson hats. The grandmothers finely- dressed in their velveteen blouses and long, flowing pleaded skirts with strands of beautiful turquoise hung around their necks. This is what photographing Navajo people means to me. Perhaps, through this, it can be a key to harmony and nature and thus satisfying my artistic and creative emotions. Wishing — I could turn back the hands of time in "old Navajo Land."

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