20 Zine Ideas, Vinyl Lust, and the Heroes Among Us

Friday fun in the desert heat. Lots of heat. Lots of fun

I love Zines.

I have made a dozen of them, and I am addicted.

I have made a Zine about a rainstorm, one about the photos we find hiding in plain sight, and a few based on some of the models I have shot over the years.

With the price of zines remaining pretty affordable, I suggest you grab the reigns and get to work on a zine or two of your own.

Need some help with ideas?

Here are twenty zine ideas for you to think about.

1. “Urban Stills”: A zine focused on urban landscapes, from the bustling streets to the towering skyscrapers. It’s about portraying the soul of the city in the most unusual, gritty, and compelling manner.

2. “Humans of the World”: Inspired by the famous “Humans of New York”, it could feature portraits and narratives of everyday people from around the globe, captured in their natural environment, telling their unique stories.

3. “EcoImagery”: A zine dedicated to highlighting the urgency of environmental issues. It could use powerful, breathtaking images of nature, wildlife, and climate change effects.

4. “Foodie Frames”: Here’s for the gourmets. This zine could focus on food photography, celebrating cuisines from various cultures, maybe even pairing photos with recipes or the history of the dishes.

5. “Nostalgia Now”: This zine could be about recreating historical or vintage photos in the present, comparing past and present lifestyles, fashion, and cultures. A visual time machine!

6. “Dreamscapes”: A zine that bends reality, exploring the abstract and surreal in photography. Think double exposures, unique angles, or heavy post-processing for a psychedelic effect.

7. “Festival Focus”: A zine featuring major festivals from around the world, documenting the colours, costumes, rituals, and emotions that come with each celebration.

8. “Silhouettes and Shadows”: A zine playing with light and dark, capturing the drama of silhouettes and shadows in photography, from the golden hour landscapes to dramatic cityscapes.

9. “A Day in the Life”: A series of zines, each one following a different professional — a day with a firefighter, a nurse, a pilot, a chef, etc. This could give unique insights into different walks of life.

10. “Macro Cosmos”: A zine that zooms into the world of macro photography, showcasing the beauty in minute details, from the veins of a leaf to the eyes of a bug.

11. “City by Night”: This could be a series of nighttime cityscape shots capturing the charm and mysterious ambiance of the city after dark. It could be a comparative series featuring multiple cities or a deep dive into one particular location.

12. “Tattooed Portraits”: A zine that explores the personal stories and artwork behind tattoos. Each edition could feature different individuals, their tattoos, and the history and meanings behind them.

13. “Festivals Uncovered”: A vibrant and colorful exploration of festivals around the world. It could capture the essence, excitement, and spirit of these cultural events through vivid photographs.

14. “Aerial Perspective”: With the rise of drone photography, this zine could showcase stunning landscapes, cityscapes, and natural formations from an aerial viewpoint, offering a new perspective on familiar and unfamiliar locations.

15. “Forgotten Spaces”: Focusing on abandoned, forgotten, or lesser-known places, this zine could uncover hidden gems or tell stories of decay and reclamation in both urban and rural environments.

16. “Kitchen Confidential”: A culinary-themed zine, capturing the behind-the-scenes activities in different kitchens, from grand restaurants to family homes. It could also include portraits of the chefs and their signature dishes.

17. “In the Wild”: A nature-themed zine, portraying wildlife in their natural habitats. Each edition could focus on a specific species or a particular ecosystem.

18. “Color Theory”: A zine that takes a deep dive into color, its impact on mood and aesthetics, using a different color as the theme of each edition. It could cover a variety of subjects from architecture, fashion, to landscapes.

19. “Tiny Universes”: A macro photography zine that dives into the minute details of the world around us, offering readers a chance to appreciate the intricacies of nature, technology, or everyday objects.

20. “From Here to There”: A zine exploring the road between one place and another. Durango to Silverton, CO. Highway 89. Highway 66. Highway 50, or 60. One place to another and the journey is the subject.

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See you next time.

For the Premium Members, the Heroes Editorial Portrait and a new place to find vinyl records for us crazies.