Photo editor Stella Kalaw’s thoughtfully curated photography Magazines first got on our radar during the pandemic. If how-tos and gear news are the bread and butter of the #photography topic, Stella’s contributions are like flavorful smoked salt — the perfect enhancement. Her “Behind the Pictures” Magazine goes beyond gear and technique to explore the art of picture-making, while “Women: Photo Projects” celebrates extraordinary female photographers. (A vegan, Stella also curates Magazines about plant-based eating and longevity, among other topics.) 

We’ve been following Stella’s work for a while, so it’s a thrill to have her on board as our winter 2024 Photography Curator in Residence. From now until April, you’ll find Stella in The Photography Exchange community Magazine, where she’s regularly posting artistic stories and connecting with others; in our photography newsletter, The Shot, where she’s guest-curating once a month throughout her residency (the first theme was outstanding women in architectural photography); and as an advisor on our photography topic and editorial calendar.

Stella’s also ignited her Mastodon presence on flipboard.social, where she’s selecting a daily #photooftheday. She recently documented how she’s selecting these marvelous images. “The photo geek in me is dancing” she says in the piece’s tagline. 

The photo geek in us is dancing too, at the prospect of having Stella’s trained eye and appreciation for art enhancing Flipboard’s photography offering. Learn how she’s approaching the residency, her tips for other photography lovers on Flipboard, and how any of us can train our eyes to see more like an artist’s.  

Your eye for photography is incredible. How would you describe it?

It’s a curious eye. It’s always looking. When you see through an eye of curiosity, there’s no judging — you’re just “Oh, OK, maybe that could work.” Things open up to you and you see it differently. You allow yourself to either imagine, or to go around and see it differently. It gives you the permission to look closer or deeper or at a different angle.

How can any of us hone our “curious eyes”?

It’s just immersing yourself in things that strike you, whether it’s a word or a [physical object like a] cup…You’re walking and something stops you. Look at what’s around it. Then, maybe later, make a note and look up the history of it. That’ll lead to something else. 

When you inform your mind and your heart, then your eye follows. All of that information sets you up to make juxtapositions, and as you put more information in your head, then it starts to mold into something [else]. Always be looking, absorbing, reading, listening…

What rituals do you have around keeping and cataloging these inputs?

I have a scratch notebook that has everything in it. I just love notebooks. I do Notes on my iPhone. Or I’ll take a picture with my iPhone, and then if you scroll up, there’s a caption area there. So I put my notes there too. 

You interned with Irving Penn in 1998. What was that like?

That was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I still can’t believe how that happened to me, and I’m super grateful to have done that: seeing a master at work and being around them. It elevates your sense of seeing. 

Sometimes he would just sketch his idea with lines — just a squiggle — in his office and then next thing you know he is putting it together in an editorial. It was amazing to see how everything came to fruition in his studio. I have such respect for his creative process. 

One of the things that I enjoyed very much was going into his photo storage unit. All these platinum prints. Pictures of him when he was an ambulance driver during World War II, things like that. It was such a privilege.

What do you curate on Flipboard and why?

I curate two photography magazines on Flipboard: “Behind the Pictures” and “Women: Photo Projects.” After Google Reader became obsolete, I spent considerable time looking for an alternative and only found Flipboard four years ago. Its visual-friendly interface appealed to me, and it now serves as a personal photographic library — an inspiration drawer not only to fuel my work but also to share my collection with others. 

What can people expect from you during the residency?

You can look forward to an exploration of diverse photographic works, spanning from historical to contemporary pieces. I’ll be focused on honing that artistic eye – offering visual prompts that aim to inspire and invigorate one’s perspective on creating images. I hope that this will serve as a catalyst, sparking new photographic projects or guiding someone toward exciting and uncharted creative paths.

What are your tips for other photography lovers and curators on Flipboard and in the Fediverse?

Nurture your visual curiosity. This platform presents a fantastic opportunity to cultivate one’s unique taste. As you build your collection, make sure to take a moment to study it — you might notice patterns that may lead to finding your photographic voice. And, the best part: you can share it with others. With Flipboard, collaboration becomes even more exciting as you curate a Magazine together.

I’m still getting the hang of the Fediverse, but a valuable tip I’ve picked up is to always include hashtags with your posts for better discoverability. 

Thanks, Stella! You can follow Stella on Flipboard at @StellaK2020.

If you are interested in becoming a resident at Flipboard, please apply to become a member of our creator community, check “photography” as your area of expertise, and check “yes” for the resident question. 

— Mia Quagliarello, head of creator community, co-curates a Magazine with Stella called Flipboard Collage Collective