18 Photos Celebrate 4 Global Gay Years of Men in 'Elska'

The project was started by Britsh photo-artist Liam Campbell, who wanted to find a way to combine his love of photography and travel along with his academic research background where he focused on global queer culture. The publication that resulted from this mix reads a bit like a sexy anthropology journal, full of honest stories and imagery that invites readers into diverse communities in a most intimate way. Each issue is made in a different city and features a dozen or so local men who each get their own chapter containing a selection of photos shot at their homes and in their streets, along with a story they've written themselves. It's meant to let readers feel like they've travelled to the city along with the Elska team and gotten to know each of these men personally.

Since its inception in 2015, the publication has become known for its embracing of different types of men rather than focusing on models, celebrities, or porn stars. "In the beginning, having done only commercial photography work, I was used to the idea of shooting models, but when it came time to shoot my first Elska and seek my own models, I found it too difficult to select or deny people based on traditional standards of beauty" says Elska editor and chief photographer Liam Campbell. "So instead I lef it open to everyone, asking friends to spread the word and invite their friends to take part rather than contacting modelling agencies, making the only criteria to be in Elska that they live in the city being featured. Ultimately I found the results just as beautiful and even more compelling because these men were real people, not commodities. And the fact that they're not trying to promote something means the magazine as a whole comes across as refreshingly sincere and quite unique. Some people didn't get it, complaining that the men we featured were 'nothing special' and that their stories weren't sensational enough, but fortunately enough people believed in my vision, which is why Elska is still going afer four years."

Elska has also become known for featuring a variety of locations that includes both big queer Western metropolises like Berlin and London to lesser known about places like Dhaka (Bangladesh), Haifa (Israel) and Bogota (Colombia). "Gay people exist everywhere and I wanted to include them, and also highlight how much our experiences can be different yet also the same" Liam continues. "We all want to be free, to love and be loved, and to be seen. If I can help champion visibility for queer people around the world, then I can be proud of my work."

In the next year Elska will continue its mission to share the bodies and voices of gay communities everywhere, with the next five issues each being made on a different continent.

Elska is sold in select shops around the world and is also available for order online. In addition to the classic print mag, there is also a downloadable e-version and a range of behind-the-scenes companion zines called Elska Ekstra. A list of stockists and details of the subscription service can be found on the Elska website, www.elskamagazine.com.