Dee Kelly, LUMINA (PEOPLE 2025)

These portraits envisage historical and mythological women from history through a contemporary lens. They honour women form the past, drawing inspiration from figures who have been revered, coveted or misunderstood. The poses of the models convey their autonomy and their intent expressions invite a sense of connection with the viewer. Through these images, I sought to illuminate the timeless presence of women, who repeatedly reimagined, continue to shape our cultural imagination. Anne Boleyn, the second wife and Queen of Henry VIII, captured the King's attention with her wit, charm and refusal to be his mistress. She was later beheaded on charges of High Treason, a fate she faced with dignity and grace. Eve, the first woman of the Abrahamic religions, was tempted by a serpent into eating the fruit of the forbidden tree, an indiscretion which brought death into the world, and led to humanity's expulsion from Eden. High Queen of Britain, Guinevere was caught between her duty to her husband, the legendary King Arthur, and her love of his best knight, the peerless Sir Lancelot, a tragic tension which contributed to the fall of the Round Table. The first human woman of Greek mythology, the curious Pandora ignored divine instructions and opened a mysterious vessel now known as 'Pandora's Box', which unleashed all the evils of the world, but also contained 'Hope'.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.