Two Local Authors, Two Worlds of Fantasy
This isn’t the start of a spooky Halloween story (promise). I’ve just had the pleasure of photographing not one, but two incredible local authors this month — and both happen to be fantasy writers. I know, what are the odds?
Now, if you’ve ever read fantasy, you’ll know it’s never just about swords and spells. It’s about world-building, emotion, and texture — and that’s exactly what I wanted to capture through their portraits. Even though both authors share a genre, their styles (and the moods they evoke) couldn’t be more different.
Let’s start with Karen Lenger, a born-and-bred Central Coast local whose debut fantasy novel Eternia is soon to hit the shelves. Her writing draws heavily on the natural world — lush forests, earthy tones, and the quiet resilience of nature itself. So, instead of locking ourselves in a studio, we headed out into one of our beautiful national parks. The dappled sunlight through the trees, the textures of moss and rocks, and the gentle tones of red and gold became part of her story’s visual language. The result feels organic, grounded, and full of life — just like Karen’s words.
Then there’s Callum Broadway-Bennett, another Central Coast talent, whose debut novel Duskborn (a dark, vampire high fantasy) has just been acquired by Bloomsbury’s new SFF imprint, Archer. From the moment Callum described his book, I knew this shoot needed a completely different energy — moody, dramatic, and cinematic. We worked with one of my hand-painted backdrops, layered with projected light patterns to create depth and atmosphere. It’s a portrait that leans into the shadows — evocative, mysterious, and just a little bit dangerous.
What I love most about projects like these is the creative challenge: how do you turn someone’s inner world — their imagination, tone, and energy — into a single image? There’s no one-size-fits-all formula. It’s about listening, experimenting, and finding that visual language that truly fits them.
Two local authors. Two totally different worlds. And a reminder that storytelling — whether it’s written or photographed — is all about bringing imagination to life.
