Elska, Issue 50 – Odesa (Ukraine)

Elska is a bi-monthly male photography and culture art-zine on 130 pages of beautifully stroke-able matte paper. Each issue is shot in a different city with men from that city, including not only their photographs but their stories too. It’s a sort of cross between a quasi-intellectual queer pin-up and a sort of sexy anthropology journal.

In this issue:

This book marks our landmark fiftieth edition and is the first in a brand new era of Elska. For this notable number, we decided to return to the country where we began, Ukraine. (The first ever edition of Elska was made in Lviv.) This time we honed in on the beautiful Black Sea city of Odesa, which we introduce to you via some of its local men, presented through honest, intimate photography and personal storytelling.

The photographic component of this book focuses on several men who Liam met in Odesa. These images were shot in their city’s streets, dressed in their own everyday style; and also in their homes, less dressed or not dressed at all. Our Ukrainian elskans were exceptionally open, making this one of Elska’s most naked editions of all time. It also includes two ‘couple shoots’, a rare but always special treat.

The text component of this book closely follows Elska creator Liam Campbell’s time in Odesa. Every day, and after meeting each elskan (aka subject / participant), he took extensive notes in his diary. These notes were then compiled into a long-format narrative that invites you on this journey with him, meeting these lovely men and getting to know this wonderful city.

This trip to Odesa took place in the midst of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Alongside the frequent air raid sirens and soldier-hunting vans, there were also lovely park walks, relaxing café chill-outs, and some seaside frolicking at various Black Sea beaches. The men who participated in this edition were incredibly gracious and welcoming, proving that life goes on in spite of tragedy, as best as it can. Certainly we hope that Odesa is high up on your list to visit as soon as it is safe to do so, and we of course hope for the best for all our Ukrainian elskans.

‘Elska Odesa’ features twelve chapters, dedicated to the following local elskans: Yevhenii P, Oleksii V, Yaro P, Ihor M, Valentin P, Vitalii Ts, Sasha T, Yuri P, and Serhii Z.

We also recommend ordering our companion publication, ‘Elska Ekstra Odesa’, available separately or as part of the ‘bundle’. Inside you’ll find many hundreds of bonus outtake images of all our Odesa elskans, plus assorted additional anecdotes and behind the scenes tales.