Elska is a bi-monthly magazine, dedicated to male photography and culture. The magazine is based in the United Kingdom.
History Elska was created by Liam Campbell, and its first edition was released in September, 2015. Its name means "love" in Icelandic. Liam Campbell, editor-in-chief of Elska was named as one of 100 LGBT trailblazers In February 2021 issue of Attitude magazine.
Overview Elska is published six times a year. It features photographs by its chief photographer Liam Campbell as well as guest features by established and emerging photographers. Each issue is dedicated to and shot in a different city, featuring photospreads of local men, each accompanied by stories which are mostly written by the men themselves and allow the participants to candidly open up about their lives.
Elska has been defined as "part intellectual queer pin-up mag and part sexy anthropology journal". One of the main ideas which separates Elska from other gay photography related publications is that it does not feature perfect models, but instead focuses on real people with their imperfections, presenting real life people and stories, and providing a kaleidoscope glimpse at queer men and community around the globe. It is a multicultural magazine, with issues themed on cities around the world and on all continents.
Elska has become known for its diversity, profiling people of various races, ages, and body types. It has also been described as having a message of body positivity, and was described by The Advocate as "probably the nicest, most sincere magazine to have ever been created". The magazine assumes the idea that it does not matter what shape, size, colour, or race a person has, he is beautiful. In addition to print issues, all the issues are also available in electronic magazine format.
Issues
1 Lviv, Ukraine 2 Berlin, Germany 3 Reykjavík, Iceland 4 Lisbon, Portugal 5 Taipei, Taiwan 6 Istanbul, Turkey 7 Cardiff, Wales, UK 8 Toronto, Canada 9 Yokohama, Japan 10 Mumbai, India 11 Providence, Rhode Island, US 12 Brussels, Belgium 13 Helsinki, Finland 14 Haifa, Israel 15 Bogotá, Colombia 16 Cape Town, South Africa 17 Perth, Australia 18 Los Angeles, California, US 19 London, England, UK 20 Lyon, France 21 Seoul, South Korea 22 Stockholm, Sweden 23 Dhaka, Bangladesh 24 Guadalajara, Mexico 25 Manila, Philippines 26 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US 27 Warsaw, Poland 28 Amsterdam, Netherlands 29 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 30 Sydney, Australia 31 Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK 32 Dublin, Ireland 33 São Paulo, Brazil 34 Atlanta, Georgia, US 35 Casablanca, Morocco 36 Montréal, Québec 37 Bern, Switzerland 38 Athens, Greece 39 Singapore 40 Paris, France 41 San Francisco, California, US 42 Almaty, Kazakhstan 43 Bangkok, Thailand 44 Tbilisi, Georgia 45 Glasgow, Scotland 46 Madrid, Spain 47 Munich, Germany 48 Melbourne, Australia 49 Salt Lake City, Utah, US 50 Odesa, Ukraine 51 Buenos Aires, Argentina 52 Chișinău, Moldova 53 Mexico City, Mexico 54 Rome, Italy 55 Akureyri, Iceland 56 Pristina, Kosovo 57 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 58 Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada 59 Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Thailand 60 Chicago, Illinois, US
Reissues Lviv, Ukraine (with additional materials and new cover) Berlin, Germany (with additional materials and new cover) Reykjavík, Iceland (with additional materials and new cover) Lisbon, Portugal (with additional materials and new cover) Taipei, Taiwan (with additional materials and new cover) Istanbul, Turkey (with additional materials and new cover) Toronto, Canada (with additional materials and new cover) Yokohama, Japan (with additional materials and new cover) Mumbai, India (with additional materials and new cover) Haifa (with additional materials and new cover) Los Angeles, California, US (with additional materials and new cover) San Francisco, California, US (with additional materials and new cover)
Special editions 15 Icelandic Swimming Pools
Elska Ekstra The magazine also publishes the e-zine Ekstra. This publication contains hundreds of outtake images, behind the scenes tales, and other bonus features.
References
External links Elska magazine Elska Ekstra e-zine Elska magazine blog by editor-in-chief and main photographer Liam Campbell Entrevue avec Liam Campbell d'Elska Magazine