Embarking on a New Era of Elska
In just over a fortnight's time, my Elska project will reach a massive milestone — the release of the fiftieth edition. For a very long time, my goal had been to reach this number, and my intention was to retire Elska at that point. However, a big burst of inspiration caused me to rethink this plan, meaning that I will continue, but with some changes. I will be embarking on a new era of Elska.
Part of the spark that urged me to carry on came from the decision about where the fiftieth edition would be made. As I thought about the myriad possibilities, I kept coming back to the idea of Ukraine. What better country to make such an iconic number than the country where the first ever Elska was made? The trip seemed infeasible though because of the war— would I be able to even get into the country, and how? And once there, would I be able to find local men keen to be part of my work?
I decided to just go and see if the pieces would fall together naturally. As you will shortly see, when Elska no. 50 is released, the plan worked splendidly. From now on, new Elskas will follow this spontaneous spirit, just arriving to a city and seeing who I happen to meet. This is not only personally thrilling and fulfilling, but I believe it makes for a truer reading experience as well. The new era of Elska will bring me closer to my hope that an Elska reader feels like they could be doing these travels and meeting these men themselves.
The main difference between the 'old' and 'new' eras of Elska, beyond how I find my subjects, is to do with the writing. I am now taking the reins, and I will be producing a long-format narrative derived from extensive diaries kept after meeting each subject in the city. When these stories are combined with the photography, the result should resemble an artistic-meets-documentary exhibition of my time in a city, who I meet, and how they and the city make me feel.
My desire to do more writing has been blooming for quite a while… I had so much fun with writing in publications like Fifteen Icelandic Swimming Pools, Elska Casablanca, and Elska Ekstra Almaty. Furthermore, all the positive feedback I received about this writing gave me the confidence to actually do more of it. Elska will now be even more personal, more creative, and also more honest.
Whether you’re a new follower or have been with Elska since the beginning, I’d like to thank you from the deepest, warmest, soppiest depths of my heart for your support. I’m sure you’ll love the new era of Elska as much as I do, and that you will continue to follow me on my travels.
I'm planning to release the fiftieth edition of Elska on the 9th of January, 2025. If you'd like to be one of the very first people to get your hands on a copy, then please consider taking out an annual subscription. You can also support my work via Patreon. And if you ever happen to find me in your town, I'll never say no to an invite for a coffee. And if I have my camera, to a photoshoot as well.
Liam Campbell is the author, photographer, and editor of Elska, a publication dedicated to exploring the world via its men and sharing intimate photography and personal stories from these journeys.
