In the 50th issue of Elska, a bi-monthly magazine that offers a glimpse at the lives of queer men around the world, locals from the beautiful Black Sea city of Odesa are being captured. The new photography book reveals candid stories and stunning images of ordinary queer men from Ukraine’s third most populous city.

 

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Una publicación compartida de Elska Magazine (@elskamagazine)

Liam Campbell, the editor and chief photographer for Elska, manages to offer readers worldwide an intimate glance at queer men’s lives by capturing their true essence in a series of personal photographs taken in their homes and throughout Odesa’s streets.

This latest issue bears a special meaning, as Campbell said: “The first ever edition of Elska, which was published back in 2015, was made in Lviv, Ukraine. Therefore, it only seemed right that the fiftieth should also be made in Ukraine, but this time I chose to focus on Odesa.

“Of course, this trip wasn’t as easy as the previous one, considering that it took place in the midst of Russia’s full-scale invasion. However, my love for the country and my determination to mark the fiftieth Elska in this special way spurred me on. Certainly, I was scared, but I felt that I had to try.”

The combination of photography with written memories provides sincere insights into the beauty of the ordinary. Another remarkable aspect of this magazine is that the people featured are not models or celebrities. Regular real citizens are depicted in their homes and city’s streets in the purest form, whether clothed or not.

The project may also have opened Liam’s eyes to another way of creating: “Elska Odesa also marks the first in a brand new era of Elska,” the creator states.

“Previously, I used to plan each issue to the most minute of details. This time, mainly because of the war, I arrived spontaneously. I then just met whichever local men I happened to find, and photographed them where they wanted, when they wanted, and how they wanted.

“Then, after each meeting, I wrote extensive notes in a diary, which became the basis of the narrative in Elska Odesa. For future editions, I will follow this spontaneous spirit to meeting locals and will use this diary approach to the writing”. 

If you are interested in getting to know the city of Odesa and the queer men who live there, check out Elska Odesa here. The collectable print format and the downloadable e-version are both available for order online as well as from a select group of shops around the world. 

Make sure to also check out the other stunning editions of Elska, such as the Dublin issue, to view their amazing portraits of queer men around the world.