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Helsinki Men Finnish First In New Issue Of Gay Travel Magazine

"I found the Finns to be extremely shy,” says "Elska" editor Liam Campbell.

Each issue of Elska magazine is set in a different international destination, giving readers a unique perspective on that city’s LGBT scene—and its gay men. The latest is set in Helsinki, with editor-photographer Liam Campbell profiling 13 Finns in both casual and intimate settings.

Liam Campbell/Elska

The 164-page September issue also delves into topics like relationship burnout, embracing femininity, difficulty being demonstrative, and even how mental illness can affect a relationship.

Elska hit another Nordic capital, Reykjavík, in 2016, but Campbell says the two cities couldn’t be more different.

Liam Campbell/Elska

“I found the Finns to be extremely shy and difficult to warm up, even during the peak of summer,” he revealed. “Despite being famous for sauna culture, where it is absolutely forbidden to not be naked, they were the most timid people I’ve encountered in any Elska city."

He calls the Helsinki issue the magazine's "most triumphant"—"because we managed to get the locals to participate at all, opening themselves up in their texts and baring all in their photo shoots.”

Liam Campbell/Elska

Liam Campbell/Elska

Liam Campbell/Elska

Liam Campbell/Elska

Liam Campbell/Elska

Liam Campbell/Elska

Liam Campbell/Elska

Liam Campbell/Elska

Also included in the magazine is Elska Dehors, a special insert with two more men photographed on a side trip to Szczecin, Poland. Their devil-may-care attitude gives an interesting contrast to the more buttoned-up Finns, despite Poland’s history of homophobia.

Campbell says he's considering setting an upcoming issue of Elska in Poland.

Order the latest issue of Elska online.

Liam Campbell/Elska

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