This year’s annual Vice Photo Issue has been released. I eyed some girls come into my shop clutching a rather large magazine and just by the size and glossy back cover American Apparel ad, I knew it was time to go hunt down my favourite piece of printed press. That is the thing about Vice, you can’t just go out to a shop and purchase it. If you want it, you have to search for it. You need to know where to go since it’s usually only distributed into a city’s trendy shops and bars. I had the day off yesterday so I traveled over to Covent Garden in search of my very own. I was actually anxious that all the stores would have run out by then. Luckily, I found it pretty easily.

Two summer’s ago the issue was concentrated on photojournalism. A particular article about Russian children left orphaned by AIDS was so moving that I decided to paint a portrait of them. Last year’s issue was filled with interviews with some of the worlds most interesting photographers. It’s really nice to get to hear what they have to say. This year I find myself the owner of glossy magazine full of nipples. I know Vice love their nude pictures, but usually there is enough content to balance out the nakedness. With the exception of “ Jazz and Blues and Blues and Jazz” by Val Wilmer and “Russia Today” by Serguey Maximishin there was little that interested me.

I find myself a bit disappointed with this issue, but who am I to judge. Maybe I just need to have another look.