Libby 'Lara Croft' Murray

Libby Murray photographed by Katie Vandyck February 2020

Libby has that combination of strength and femininity that both males and females are drawn to in the heroines of graphic novels and video games, those warrior women archetypes

This I attribute to a natural self-confidence arising from the fact that she is a dancer and horsewoman. She is very comfortable with her own body in the way that very fit people often are, and this brings a glamour of its own.

The top is a dancer’s top and the jeans provide a boyish contrast to the extreme femininity of the scooped neckline, a classic shape that has been loved by women for centuries.

I explained to her who Lara Croft was (and felt quite old having to) and we deliberately chose poses that would call to mind powerful female archetypes.

The glorious mane of windswept hair didn’t hurt.

Photographer’s note

As with her older sister Ella, Libby’s skin required no retouching except where I’ve upped the contrast to lift the photographs gently out of photorealism and into a heightened, more legendary, look.

Away from the girl next door and towards another archetype - Girl Nextdoor.

Thank you to Libby.