Elska, the bi-monthly gay photography and culture mag, releases its latest issue. Each edition is made in a different city, and this latest one was made in Lyon, France's most beautiful city. Elska Lyon introduces readers to over a dozen men from the local gay/queer community, photographed in their homes and in their neighborhoods, with their photospreads accompanied by personal stories.
Elska is known for presenting 'regular' men rather than professional models or celebrities, shot beautifully but without airbrushing, not hiding imperfections. This aspect of the publication distinguishes it from conventional magazines, especially in gay media. There's no advice, no celebrity gossip, no adverts - just compellingly real images and stories.
"Lots of people wrote to us saying that we need to do an issue in France", says Liam Campbell, chief photographer and editor of Elska, "but it was too hard to choose just one French city to focus on. So we ran a public vote and the winning city wasn't Paris or even Marseille, but Lyon. I hardly knew anything about the city but I discovered an intensely beautiful city full of proud, positive, and open people. The men here also had a very romantic side, making this perhaps the most seductive issue of all."
Part of the appeal of Elska is in its intimate imagery, and part is in its revealing stories. Typically written in the form of a diary entry, the participants discuss a range of topics, such as their adventures in love, their family life, their fantasies, their passions, and their struggles.
Elska Lyon is 172 pages. It is available in a classic collectible print version or in a downloadable e-version. A list of stockists and details of how to order online can be found on the Elska website.
