This week we had a very exciting delivery: the latest issue of Lodestars Anthology (Greece) alongside a big restock of back issues. Cue much page turning, paper stroking and marvelling at the beautiful covers. How does Lodestars create such an inviting magazine every single time?

We thought we'd ask editor Liz Schaffer and, to our delight, she gave us a peek behind the Lodestars curtain.

How do you go about choosing a cover?

Liz: The simple answer is that I'm not entirely sure. There are so many stunning shots that could become our cover photo, each with their own magic. In the early days of the magazine, I'd pick a few options and our designer, Tommy, would play around with them, which meant I'd often make my decision at the very last minute. Now, it's more common that I'll see an image from one of our contributors and it will just feel perfectly right. It'll be the sort of photo I want to hang on my wall, but it also captures the spirit of our chosen country. Often light-bathed, calming and a little unexpected.

Can you tell us about the light-bathed cover of the Greece issue?

Liz: The cover image, of the gorgeous island of Symi, is by Thomas Gravanis, a freelance photographer living in Athens. We met the good old-fashioned way, through Instagram. I know it's far from perfect, but when it comes to bringing people together, growing creative communities and showcasing work, Instagram is pretty excellent. He reached out after seeing that I was in Athens, a city he so clearly adores, and shared some of his stunning work, which of course I snapped up.

I loved this photo immediately. It's a crop of the original, but the hills, water, pastels and light all struck me as being wonderfully Greek. At the same time, the scene wasn't a typical Greek islands snap. Divine as they are, there isn't a donkey or blue dome in sight. I enjoy being able to share something real, surprising and full of life.

If you had to pick one cover as your favourite, which would it be?

Liz: Oh my gosh, that's impossible. I adore different covers for different reasons. I loved how abstract our first Australia cover was, an aerial shot from Tania Malkin that captured the Kimberley's waterways and sun-baked earth. The Wales cover from Holly Farrier was a joy. She had the shortest amount of time on Mount Snowdon and amazingly, the weather gods smiled upon her. In the midst of the pandemic, for her to be able to capture something so alive, expansive and green, it just felt perfect.

Mexico was fabulous too. I was besotted with its colours, the beauty, the fact that the image (a pastel, flower-adorned cross) came with so much meaning. That was especially lovely as it led into Jimena Peck's images of Día de Muertos, which opened the magazine. I genuinely love all our covers. They capture the essence of each issue, what I felt while on the ground, and what I hope others feel when they delve into our pages.

Last question. How do you pick the countries for Lodestars?

Liz: Every country has been picked for a different reason. In the beginning, it was because I wanted to know more about my adopted country (England), its neighbour (Scotland) and because I wanted to explore home (Australia). Others have been chosen because I simply can't get a destination out of my mind (New Zealand and Portugal) or a contributor has offered up a story I'm desperate to publish (Canada and Japan). We may think about a destination for years (this was the case with Greece) or a decision will be picked in the moment, with a passing conversation convincing me that it's the only place we could possibly explore next (Mexico was one of the quickest decisions I ever made).

Decisions always make sense at the time, but looking back, I can't always remember how I got there. You're almost too busy plotting what comes next to reminisce too much about how things came to be. With magazine-making, you have to trust your gut, make the leap (which can be challenging for an over-thinker like myself), trust your contributors and aim to create something you're proud of. Something that can be a canvas for the fabulous work of others.

Liz Schaffer is the editor and creative director of Lodestars Anthology.Issue 15: Greece is available in the shop now. You can browse all available Lodestars issues here.

What's your favourite Lodestars cover? (We still can't decide).