Photography Educator: Erin Ryan Stelling

Lenscratch, the daily online photography journal established by Aline Smithson in 2007, highlights a unique contemporary photographer every day and stands as a vital platform within the photography world. As a guest editor for Lenscratch, I spotlight photography educators who inspire through both their artistic practice and their dedication to teaching.

To start off the New Year, it gives me great pleasure to feature the work of artist and educator  Erin Ryan Stelling. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to meet Erin and several of her students in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she teaches at Ravenscroft School, and to witness firsthand the sophistication of her students’ photographic work. Erin nurtures curiosity and passion for the medium in both classroom and darkroom and invites students to pursue their own interests and take risks. She fosters an environment in which experimentation is openly encouraged and celebrated. In her dual role as photography instructor and gallery coordinator, she mentors students through the full arc of artistic production and exhibition. She is dedicated and committed–her students are truly fortunate to learn from her. See more of Erin’s work and her students work here on Lenscratch.