Até logo, Brasil!
In just two weeks I was supposed to be flying to São Paulo to shoot Elska’s first Brazilian issue. I’ve now been isolating at home for two weeks, and it’s been tough, but having a trip to look forward was keeping me going. But even though my flight still isn’t technically cancelled, it doesn’t feel right to travel. So I took the airline up on its ‘free change policy’ and moved my trip to November.
Over the past few years, and twenty-eight cities of Elska, I’ve met several Brazilians — they really get everywhere. There was Kyle B in Reykjavík, Matheus G in Lisbon, Henri B and Rodrigo T in Amsterdam, and certainly more who slip my mind for the moment — forgive me, but the current tally of ‘Elska boys’ is at 463! I enjoy meeting most everyone, but I particularly hit it off with all these Brazilians. They tended to be easy-going, friendly, open, and down for whatever. I therefore expected that my first Brazilian issue would be nothing short of wonderful.
While the virus crisis is putting my main work on hold, I am trying to think of something other things to do, something to keep my brain busy. For those people saying that this is a good time to catch up on DIY, or to finally read some Dostoyevski, that doesn’t work for me. I need to feel relaxed to do stuff like that, and this uncertainty does not bring me relaxation.
One project idea I have is to compile a load of Elska selfies and to make some gallery site of them all. Elska selfies are photos readers send in of themselves showing off their favourite issues of Elska. Some of these are cute pics of guys relaxing in the park with a beer in one hand and an Elska in the other; and some of them are nothing short of filth — a recent pic I received revealed a copy of Elska London with jizz all over the cover. Wow! By the way, if you want to add your Elska selfie to the mix, you can email it to us.
Another project idea is to write a little book that details a trip I took to Iceland some months ago when I was trying to ease my nerves before an oncoming stress breakdown. That trip turned into a self-guided tour of Icelandic swimming pools, plus one nude shoot of a local lad that I shot on my mobile phone. It will be mainly narrative, with some snaps from my trip along with the nudes of that one Icelandic boy I met. I’ve already started writing it, but can’t yet decide if it should just be an e-book or if I should do a print run as well.
I do of course still feel anxiety over when I can resume my main Elska work. With no travel, I can't shoot more issues. And although the next two editions are already photographed, it's not the right time to release them, when shops that would be selling them are closed and shipping services are suffering big delays. I am determined to carry on though, with hopes of finally getting to Brazil in November, and perhaps another shoot trip before if it's possible.
By the way, if you or someone you know lives in São Paulo and would like to take part in Elska when we finally make it there, you can add your name and details to our list here: bit.ly/spcalling
Liam Campbell is editor and chief photographer of Elska Magazine, a project dedicated to travelling the world, meeting local gay dudes, and sharing their diverse bodies and voices.
