Maria Lax's photobook *Stray Sod* draws on Irish folklore and archival accounts from the Irish National Archives to explore the phenomenon of the 'stray sod'—enchanted patches of earth said to disorient and lead travelers astray, especially at night. Her images reimagine rural Irish landscapes as sites of sudden confusion, where familiar landmarks vanish and fog or mist descends, evoking a sense of 'constant quiet terror'.
This project matters because it revives a lesser-known folk tradition through contemporary photography, bridging historical narrative and visual art. By grounding supernatural folklore in real, everyday landscapes and ordinary people's experiences, Lax's work offers a fresh lens on Irish cultural heritage and the universal human fear of losing one's way.