Kiah Strong Photography

Blog

  • Bringing the Project Together: My Myths and Matriarchy Photobook

    Bringing the Project Together: My Myths and Matriarchy Photobook

    Blog Post 6
    One of the most exciting parts of working on Myths and Matriarchy has been creating the final photobook—a space where all the images and ideas from the project come together in one place. The book acts as both a portfolio and a narrative, offering viewers a chance to engage more deeply with the themes I’ve explored throughout the series.

    The photobook opens with a short introduction to the project and includes all the portraits I’ve created, laid out in a way that allows the viewer to spend time with each image. There’s no text alongside the individual photos—just the work itself, presented quietly and intentionally. I wanted the experience of looking through the book to feel contemplative, encouraging people to draw their own interpretations and emotional responses.

    I also designed a digital version of the photobook, which is now available to view online via Simplebooklet. This makes the work more accessible to people who can’t see the physical version in person, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. The digital format maintains the same pacing and layout, offering a similar experience while making it easier to share with a wider audience.

    This book represents a significant moment in my practice—not just the completion of a project, but the beginning of what I hope will be a longer exploration of mythology, feminism, and visual storytelling. I’d love for you to take a look and let me know what you think.

    If you’re curious, you can view the digital photobook here: Myths & Matriarchy Photobook
    You can also follow me on Instagram @Kiahstrong_photo where I’ll be sharing more about the physical version soon.

    Thanks for following along with this project—it means a lot to have your support as I continue developing my work.

  • Reintroducing Myths and Matriarchy: How the Project Has Evolved

    Reintroducing Myths and Matriarchy: How the Project Has Evolved

    Blog Post 5
    When I first began working on Myths and Matriarchy, I knew I wanted to explore the intersection of folklore and feminism, but I wasn’t entirely sure what form that would take. The original idea was to reclaim and reimagine mythological women—to give voice to forgotten figures and challenge the one-dimensional roles they’ve often been reduced to. As the project has developed, it’s naturally evolved into something more focused, grounded, and meaningful to me.

    What started as a reinterpretation has become more about representation. Rather than trying to reinvent these mythological women, I’m now interested in how they’ve historically been depicted—and what that says about the world that created them. Through photography, I’m exploring these archetypes as they are, offering my own perspective through styling, symbolism, and visual storytelling. In doing so, I’m not erasing the old narratives, but layering new meaning onto them.

    This shift in direction has made the project feel more authentic and personal. It’s less about rewriting myths, and more about asking questions: What do these stories say about gender? Who do we choose to remember, and how? It’s about presenting these women not as tropes, but as complex figures—just as worthy of contemplation and creativity now as they were centuries ago.

    As I continue building this series, I’m leaning further into mood, symbolism, and visual cues from mythology, while grounding each image in a sense of strength, stillness, or resistance. I want viewers to look at the portraits and feel something—curiosity, recognition, reflection.

    If you’ve been following along, thank you. And if you’re new here, welcome to Myths and Matriarchy—a visual exploration of identity, power, and the lingering echoes of myth.

  • Reimagining Women in Folklore: Insights from My Critical Essay

    Reimagining Women in Folklore: Insights from My Critical Essay

    Blog Post 4

    As part of my final year, I recently completed a critical essay that ties directly into my current photography project. The question I explored was:

    “In what ways do traditional depictions of women in folklore continue to influence modern representations of gender, both in media and societal behaviour?”

    This topic really helped me dive deeper into the patterns and archetypes that have followed women through history—and how they’re still present today, just in new forms.

    Patriarchal Foundations in Folklore

    Folklore has often reinforced patriarchal views by presenting women as villains, passive beauties, or cautionary tales. These stories—passed down for generations—have shaped how society views femininity, power, and morality.

    I looked at how characters like witches, sirens, and goddesses were framed through a male gaze, and how those portrayals still echo in everything from fairytales to films.

    Archetypes in Modern Media

    The Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone—three key archetypes—still show up all the time in media. Sometimes these roles are subverted, but more often than not, they’re just repackaged. Whether it’s the “pure” girl next door or the “mature” woman who exists only to support others, these tropes are everywhere and continue to shape how women are expected to behave.

    Real-World Impacts

    These representations don’t stay on screen—they spill over into real life, influencing societal norms, beauty standards, and expectations around work, motherhood, and behaviour. The pressure to fit into these boxes is something many women experience, consciously or not.

    Feminist Reimaginings

    Thankfully, there are also creators pushing back. Artists like Angela Carter and Cindy Sherman have reworked these old narratives to give women more power and complexity. Their work inspired me to think about how I could do the same through photography.

    Tying It Back to My Work

    All of this research has fed directly into Myth and Matriarchy. By reinterpreting mythological women through a feminist lens, I hope to create images that challenge outdated ideas and offer something more layered, emotional, and powerful.

    This post is just a glimpse into the essay—if you’re interested in reading the full thing, let me know! I’d love to share it and hear what you think. Do you see these archetypes in the media you consume?

  • Looking Back: Past Projects & Exhibition Experience

    Looking Back: Past Projects & Exhibition Experience

    Blog Post 3

    As I continue working on Myth and Matriarchy, I’ve found myself reflecting on the projects that came before it—and how each one has helped shape the way I tell stories through photography. Every project has taught me something new, and exhibiting my work has helped me grow in confidence and connect with others through my images.

    Past Projects

    One of my most recent series, Still, focused on capturing quiet moments of rest by photographing people sitting on benches around Plymouth. It was a gentle, observational project that explored how public spaces can become personal. That series helped me develop a more documentary-style approach and taught me how to find subtle meaning in everyday moments.

    Before that, I’ve experimented with all sorts of photography—from product shots to landscapes and portraits. But I always find myself returning to conceptual narrative photography. I love creating work that’s rich in symbolism, emotion, and story—images that ask questions rather than give answers.

    Exhibiting My Work

    In May 2024, I exhibited Still as part of Unwritten, a group show at Ocean Studios in Plymouth. Being part of that exhibition was more than just putting work on the wall—it was a chance to get involved in the full process, from sending out invitations and finding sponsorships to thinking about how to present the work physically in a space.

    Seeing people engage with my images in real life—watching them pause, lean in, start conversations—was such a rewarding experience. It made me realise how much of photography is about the audience, and how much power there is in sharing your work publicly.

    Moving Forward

    Looking back, I can see how each project and experience has been building toward Myth and Matriarchy. Everything I’ve learned—from slowing down and observing, to experimenting and trusting my instincts—is feeding into this new chapter.

    If you’ve ever exhibited your work or are hoping to someday, I’d love to hear about it. Let’s chat in the comments—what’s your experience been like?

  • Exploring Folklore & Feminism: Introducing Myth and Matriarchy

    Exploring Folklore & Feminism: Introducing Myth and Matriarchy

    Blog Post 2

    For my final-year photography project, I wanted to bring together two of my biggest creative influences: folklore and feminism. Myth and Matriarchy is a visual exploration of how myths, legends, and folktales have shaped the way women are understood and portrayed throughout history. With this series, I aim to reclaim and reimagine these narratives—highlighting themes of power, mysticism, and resilience.

    I’ve always been drawn to the stories preserved in folklore—especially those featuring witches, goddesses, and overlooked female figures. But many of these stories come through a patriarchal lens, flattening complex women into villains, temptresses, or cautionary figures. With Myth and Matriarchy, I want to shift the perspective and give these characters more depth, agency, and emotional weight.

    The Process

    This project blends location shoots, styled portraits, and conceptual setups inspired by the aesthetics of myth and legend. I’ve been playing with moody lighting, symbolic props, and storytelling-driven compositions to create a feeling that’s both timeless and a little otherworldly.

    I’ve been sharing behind-the-scenes moments on Instagram and TikTok—everything from scouting wild locations to editing the final images—so if you’re curious about the process, come follow along.

    What’s Next?

    As the project evolves, I’ll be exploring different cultural myths and refining the visual language I’m developing for Myth and Matriarchy. I’m excited to see where it goes and to share more along the way.

    Got a favourite myth or folklore figure? I’d love to know—drop a comment or message me, I’m always looking for new inspiration.

  • Welcome to My Photography Blog!

    Welcome to My Photography Blog!

    Hi, I’m Kiah Strong – a conceptual narrative photographer in my final year at Arts University Plymouth. My work is inspired by a mix of folklore, feminism, and storytelling, often leaning into moody, dramatic, and slightly mythical vibes.

    Over time, I’ve explored a range of photography styles – from landscapes and portraits to product work – but I always come back to themes that feel timeless and a bit magical. I love creating images that feel like they belong to a story, even if you’re not quite sure what that story is yet.

    For me, photography isn’t just about capturing something pretty or technically perfect – it’s about building atmosphere and emotion. Whether I’m working on a personal shoot or putting together a project for an exhibition, I’m always thinking about the story I want to tell and how it might connect with someone else.

    This blog is a space for me to share more of that process – behind the scenes of shoots, reflections on past projects, thoughts on photography, feminism, creativity, and whatever else inspires me along the way. I’ll also be writing about my latest project, Myths and Matriarchy, which explores mythological women through a feminist lens.

    I’m excited to use this space as a bit of a creative journal – and to connect with people who are interested in similar things. If you’d like to see more of my work, you can check out my portfolio or follow me on Instagram and TikTok for more regular updates and behind-the-scenes content.

    Thanks for being here – I’m looking forward to sharing more of my journey and creative work with you.