Magazine with bare Icelandic men sells like hotcakes

The Reykjavík issue of bi-monthly male photography, culture and travel publication ELSKA is getting its sixth reprint. Each issue is shot in a different city with local boys posing and telling their stories. To this date, the Reykjavík issue remains the most popular. We talked to editor and chief photographer Liam Campbell about the reprint and his upcoming plans for ELSKA.

Liam Campbell is the editor of ELSKA Magazine. Each issue is dedicated to a certain city and the men who live there. So far the Reykjavík issue has been the most popular and is currently being reprinted for the sixth time.

This is your sixth reprint of the ELSKA Reykjavík issue. What do you think makes the issue so popular?
“I’ve asked some people about why they think Elska Reykjavík is our top-selling edition, and some suggest it’s because Iceland has the best looking men, but truly I think it’s because Iceland is such a hot destination for gay travellers. We had a table at RuPaul’s Drag Con in New York last month and loads of people were coming up, looking at a table full of a dozen different Elska cities and picking up the Reykjavík one first. They’d say things like, “Oh I love Iceland” or “I really want to go there”. Then they’d buy the issue either to remind themselves of happy memories from a holiday there, or to give them inspiration for a future one.
Plus because we have an Icelandic name, I suppose people instinctively think that Elska Reykjavík is our flagship edition and they want that to be their first copy.”

You’ve changed some things for this edition. What can people expect?
“Elska Reykjavík was our third ever release and frankly back then we were a little unpolished. I wanted the latest reprint to reflect our current design, but I also felt like I could take the opportunity to replace many of the pictures so that people who have the original might find it worth buying the new one too. We also changed the cover, which is the most noticeable change.”

“I’ve asked some people about why they think Elska Reykjavík is our top-selling edition, and some suggest it’s because Iceland has the best looking men, but truly I think it’s because Iceland is such a hot destination for gay travellers.”

When will the issue be out and how can people buy it?
“The new version will be released today, on 1st November, the same date when we release our fourteenth issue, Elska Haifa (Israel). It can be ordered online from www.elskamagazine.com, and GayIceland readers can use the discount code KIRSIBER for 10 percent off.”

Are there any plans for a second Iceland issue?
“It really is something I’d love to do. I wouldn’t want to redo Reykjavík though, so the obvious choice would be Elska Akureyri. However I’m not sure we’d be able to find the 12-15 guys there willing to be photographed and write a story for us. If you’re out there though, get in touch and we’ll keep you on the radar.”

The Reykjavík Issue print has a new cover and includes other alterations.

You’ve acquired material from all over the world for the magazine. What sort of insights has this given you into the gay culture of different countries and areas?
“From making Elskas all over the world I’ve learned that gay culture is something real and legitimate. It has a universal quality, much of which is rooted in Western gay culture, but then each country adds its own nuances. I think that it’s the differences that make discovering each city and getting to know its local people most interesting, but it’s the universal aspect that makes us all feel like one community.

To give an example, with the most recent edition, shot in Israel, it seemed that being gay is a real asset toward bringing the country’s two biggest groups – Arabs and Jews – together. Even though at home with their families they’re speaking different languages, listening to different music, and eating different foods, when they’re out at a gay club, everyone’s mixing, chatting, and dancing together to Britney. While every Elska reveals something different about a culture, it also shows how we’re the same, and I find that to be very uplifting.”

“… with the most recent edition, shot in Israel, it seemed that being gay is a real asset toward bringing the country’s two biggest groups – Arabs and Jews – together … when they’re out at a gay club, everyone’s mixing, chatting, and dancing together to Britney.”

The cover of Elska Haifa (Israel).

Do you have any dream locations that you haven’t been able to make happen yet?
“The place that comes to mind first is Papeete in Tahiti. While partly I just fancy spending some time on a tropical island, it really does have probably the most vibrant gay culture in the Pacific (not counting Honolulu).

However, it would be a ridiculously expensive issue to make, probably prohibitively so.

I’d also really like to do a sub-Saharan African city like Dakar or Accra, but for the moment I fear it would be too dangerous, not so much for us but for the men who take part in the issue because of rampant homophobia on most of the African continent.”

What else is on the horizon for ELSKA magazine?
“Well, in 2018, after fourteen issues, we will finally be working in not one but three cities in the Southern Hemisphere.

Next week we’re heading to Colombia to shoot, and the Elska Bogotá will come out early in the new year.”

Á. Óskarsson
Á. Óskarsson

Á. Óskarsson offers a variety of products and services to sports centers, swimming pools, schools, kindergartens, and the general public. The company specializes in sport-related products, activity-focused games, and a wide range of solutions for sports facilities.

Á. Óskarsson has been involved in numerous big projects related to building sports facilities and has made it their benchmark to offer good quality products and equipment since the company was founded.

See links to social media in the upper left-hand corner

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Á. Óskarsson selur fjölbreytt vöruúrval fyrir íþróttahús, sundlaugar, skóla og leikskóla og einnig ýmsar vörur til einkaafnota. Fyrirtækið selur vörur til íþróttaiðkunnar og leikja ásamt því að bjóða upp á ýmsar lausnir fyrir íþróttamannvirki.

Á. Óskarsson hefur komið að fjölda stórra verkefna við byggingu íþróttamannvirkja og hefur frá stofnun kappkostað að bjóða vandaðar og endingargóðar vörur.

Tenglar á samfélagsmiðla eru í efra horninu vinstra megin.

Webpage/vefsetur

Blush

    Blush was founded in 2011 when it started selling high quality sex products. The goal from the beginning was to change the market and take the discussion about sex products to a higher level. Today Blush provides professional services in a pleasant environment that fulfills different needs, both for individuals and couples. Blush respects diversity and wants to set a good example in all of its messaging to target audiences. Sexual health and equality in sex is important and Blush wants to focus on those issues through education and open discussion. Blush works in a socially responsible manner for society, their customers and the environment.

    Check out Blush’s website: https://blush.is/

    Omnom Chocolate
    - award-winning chocolate maker

      Omnom Chocolate is an Icelandic craft chocolate company based in Reykjavík. We produce handcrafted chocolate from organic cacao beans sourced ethically and sustainably. We’ve developed direct relationships to create premium chocolate with fine flavor cacao beans.

      Our creative flavors are carefully crafted by meticulous chocolate makers. The cacao beans are roasted, winnowed, ground, and refined into melty-smooth chocolate.

      Omnom’s process is one of constant exploration, invention, and experimentation. If it doesn’t please us, if something isn’t absolutely delicious, there’s no reason to be doing it. So, we always start with our taste buds and follow our instincts. Our team searches for the finest ingredients in the world and new ways to improve chocolate. This obsession with knowing where our ingredients come from has led us around the corner to dairy farms in the Icelandic countryside and all the way to rainforest cacao farms of Nicaragua.

      In only a few short years, we’ve grown from our 50 sq. m. petrol station space and become an award-winning chocolate maker. Now, with our headquarters in 101 Reykjavík, our chocolate is sent out around Iceland and all over the world.

      At the end of the day, our goal is to make chocolate.

       

      Nasdaq

         

        Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence.

        With over 4,300 employees in 39 offices around the world, at Nasdaq we all contribute to the success of the company and its culture, and each one of us has the ability to make a difference. When it comes to our core mission and values, we embrace the role of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) as a fundamental driver of our corporate growth, workplace culture and market development. We strive to create a culture that embraces the power of different perspectives—a culture where people’s unique backgrounds and different experiences helps us fuel innovation and support our clients around the world.

        Our unique position at the center of the capital markets allows us to see firsthand how these values have redefined corporate culture and success, deepening and accelerating our own commitment to champion inclusive growth and prosperity, as we strive to create more equitable opportunities to help people of all backgrounds reach their full potential. Most notably, we published our diversity statistics for the first time in 2020. These metrics serve as a quantitative assessment of where we are today and help determine what strategies we need to adopt to enhance diversity in the workplace. We recognize that we have much work to do, but we are steadfast in our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive culture—one that reflects the communities in which we live, allows all employees to be their true, authentic selves and fosters individual growth and achievement.

        As we move forward together, we will continue advancing diverse ideas and perspectives that help fulfill the promise of a more inclusive and prosperous world. We aim to set the pace for rethinking capital markets and economies anywhere and everywhere. To learn more about the company, technology solutions and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn, on Twitter @Nasdaq, or at www.nasdaq.com.

        Blue Lagoon
        - One of the 25 Wonders of the World

        Named by National Geographic as one of the 25 Wonders of the World, the Blue Lagoon is a shimmering expanse of warmth, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Its unique geothermal seawater
        comes from 2.000 meters within the earth where seawater and freshwater converge in a tectonic realm of porous lava and searing heat. Propelled by extreme pressure, the water ascends to the earth’s surface, emerging enriched with silica, algae, and minerals—the elements that endow Blue Lagoon geothermal seawater with its radiant, healing properties.

        From its humble beginnings in the shadows of a geothermal power plant, Blue Lagoon has evolved into a world of wonder, now encompassing two hotels, three restaurants, three
        geothermal lagoons, a subterranean spa, a renowned line of skin care, a thriving research center, and a wealth of spa and refreshment facilities.

        Achieving harmony with the volcanic landscape, the lagoon and its surrounding architecture embody the unification of the man-made and the natural, and adhere to the highest principles of sustainability.

        The Blue Lagoon. A wonder of the world. A world of wonder.

        Landsbankinn
        - leading financial institution
        Landsbankinn

        Landsbankinn is a leading Icelandic financial institution. It offers a full range of financial services and is the market leader in the Icelandic financial service sector with the largest branch network.

        The present bank was established on 7 October 2008 but the history of its predecessor dates back to 1886. The bank is owned by the National Treasury of Iceland, which holds 98.2% of its share capital, and other shareholders who own 1.8%.

        Landsbankinn’s strategy is to provide comprehensive financial services that meet customer’s needs. It emphasizes providing exemplary service to customers, developing e-banking for their convenience, increasing the efficiency of support functions, modernizing its technology and ensuring effective utilization of its balance sheet.

        The bank’s vision is to be exemplary and its role is to be a trusted financial partner.

        Special emphasis is placed on promoting a performance-oriented culture in the bank. To follow up on the implementation of this strategy, the bank has defined key goals which are measured regularly to determine progress. These goals include, for example, customer satisfaction and loyalty, profitability, cost efficiency and the correlation between risk appetite and employee satisfaction.

        Landsbankinn wishes to lead the development of a sustainable society in Iceland by integrating economic, social and environmental concerns in its operations. The Bank aims to ensure that both its owners and society at large benefit from its activities.

        It intends to achieve this aim by building solid infrastructure and a strong team of 1.100 employees, by listening to its customers and by respecting and encouraging its employees to actively participate in their community. Landsbankinn was a founding member of Festa, a Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, and is a member of the UN Global Compact.

        Landsbankinn has been a proud sponsor of the Reykjavik Pride since it was first celebrated in Iceland.

        Dohop
        - get inspired
        Dohop

        Dohop allows people to find the cheapest flights available with just one click. Founded in Reykjavik in 2004, it is the only Icelandic company of its kind and quickly became the go-to tool for finding cheap flights among the locals. Dohop finds the best deals among hundreds of different airlines and online travel agencies, to make sure that the user is getting the cheapest price. Dohop also offers hotel and car rental search engines, so users can make all of their travel bookings from a single website.

        Dohop‘s specialty is finding so-called “self-connect” flight options, which can save travelers money by booking a ticket through two or more different airlines. The ability to look for these self-connect option is what sets Dohop apart from its competition, as it can save people hundreds of dollars on certain routes.

        More recently, Dohop has developed a unique product called Dohop Go!, which allows users to check for the cheapest available flights from their home airport. This tool is perfect for those who are looking for travel inspiration but are not willing to overpay for their flight ticket. Dohop Go! is now available in the Dohop Flights App, both for Android and iOS, along with its traditional flight, hotel, and car search engines. “

        VSÓ Ráðgjöf

           

          VSÓ Ráðgjöf er alhliða ráðgjafar- og verkfræðifyrirtæki sem leggur áherslu á trausta og faglega þjónustu sem tryggir viðskiptavinum hagkvæmustu lausnir hverju sinni, skilar raunverulegum árangri og stuðlar að samkeppnisforskoti.  Á skrifstofum VSÓ í Reykjavík og í Noregi starfar yfir 80 manna samhentur hópur verkfræðinga og annarra tæknimenntaðra starfsmanna.

          Macland
          - for all your Apple needs
          Macland

          From starting out as a proper startup with only a good idea and the need to change things, to becoming an established company with 6 employees. Starting from scratch and expanding organically has allowed us to love our expansion and take our customers on the ride with us.

          Macland is located at Laugavegur 23 (101, Downtown Reykjavik)
          For all your Apple needs. We are here.

          Ísey skyr
          - once tasted never forgotten

          Our Story
          Once upon a time, 1,100 years ago in fact, Nordic settlers began arriving in Iceland. They brought with them the skills and knowledge for producing skyr. As time passed, the know-how and recipe for this nutritious food slowly faded out elsewhere in the Nordic region. Luckily, the Icelandic skyr-making tradition continued.

          For centuries, Icelandic skyr formed a cornerstone of the national diet, helping to keep people strong in living conditions that were often harsh. On family farms countrywide, it was the women who nurtured this dairy and passing on both the recipe and the original Icelandic skyr cultures from mother to daughter.

          Ísey skyr builds on this remarkable legacy. It was some of those very same women, the recipients of their mothers’ expertise, who, around 90 years ago, taught Icelandic dairy scientists the art of skyr-making. The production process is more high-tech these days, and the quality standards more rigorous. However, the basic recipe and the use of original cultures to ferment the skimmed milk remain the same. Protein rich, fat-free, creamy and delicious – Ísey skyr is as relevant to consumers now as it was all those centuries ago.
          This is our secret and you are in on it

          You can read more about Ísey skyr on our website.

          Contact Us


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