Over the past two editions, I’ve shared behind-the-scenes stories about photographing a rocket launch. But today, I want to switch things up and talk about something different: social media and zines.

Sure, people say, “Just post whatever you want,” but let’s be honest—on social media, it’s hard not to care about likes and comments.

Sometimes I’ll post a photo I absolutely love on Instagram, but it feels like it doesn’t even exist—no comments, no reactions. It’s like I’m trying to create a typhoon-level impact, but it ends up feeling like a calm, windless day.

Even though I tell myself, “I don’t care about engagement or reach numbers,” it’s so easy to get caught up in those stats. That’s just how social media is. I think a lot of people are feeling this burnout.

Last Sunday, I had a table at zine fest in Yokohama, a port city just south of Tokyo. While checking out all the amazing zines there, I couldn’t help but think, “If you’re tired of social media, maybe zines are the way to go.” 
So, I want to share a bit about that today.

(And at the end of this newsletter, there’s a special gift for all subscribers.)

Table of Contents

• 🍄 Zines Let You Shut Out the Haters

• 🧃 Pouring Your Passion into a Zine

• 🍿 Why Publishing is Illegal in Some Countries

• 🕺 Apologies! Enjoy 20% OFF for All Subscribers

🍄 Zines Let You Shut Out the Haters

Platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Threads are full of trolls. I honestly don’t get how people can be so mean to complete strangers. Healthy debates are one thing, but so many arguments online are just people talking past each other. It’s exhausting to read, and I can’t imagine how awful it must feel for the people directly involved.

One zine I picked up, FROM THE HELL MAGAZINE volume.2, was packed with raw, honest thoughts from someone clearly fed up with how people communicate. It was such a refreshing read.

If they had posted the same thoughts on social media (and maybe they did), they’d probably get some supportive comments, but also a lot of trolling or irrelevant replies.

That’s the beauty of zines: no algorithms, no hate—just your voice, reaching the people who truly care.
Zines are media not meant to reach everyone, but to connect with those who truly need to see them. They’re about creating meaningful connections, not chasing numbers. That’s what stood out to me at the event.

🧃 Pouring Your Passion into a Zine

Another zine I grabbed was this one.

The creator did everything themselves, from printing to binding. Every page is filled with intricate dots and lines. When I asked about it, she said, “I just really love dots, so I made a zine about them.”

Zines like this—ones filled with someone’s pure love for something—are the absolute best. When you’re that proud of what you’ve created, you don’t need likes or comments to validate it. Just making the zine is already fulfilling—like, “Wow, I made something amazing.”

And if someone picks up your zine? Even if they’re a total stranger, it feels like you’ve just made a new best friend.

🍿 Why Publishing is Illegal in Some Countries

A zine lets you share your true self—the parts of you that might have been hard to share before. Whether it’s your sexuality, niche interests, political views, or just your philosophy on life, zines give you a space to express it.
When those deeply personal thoughts are poured into a zine, they can be incredibly powerful. That’s the power of publishing.

This reminded me of the movie The Book of Eli with Denzel Washington. It’s set in a world where books have basically disappeared, and people are fighting over the last Bible. It really stuck with me how much power books can hold.

Recently, I had a chance to chat with some photographers visiting from China, and we talked about photo zines. I was shocked to learn how hard it is to make zines there. In China, publishing anything requires tons of approval, and even printing and binding something at home can be considered a crime.

It’s terrifying to think about not having the freedom to express yourself. How many unheard voices are out there?

In places where we do have the freedom to express, I think we have a responsibility to use it—to amplify the voices that can’t be heard otherwise. That’s been on my mind a lot this week.

So, what message do you want to share with the world?

🕺 Apologies! Enjoy 20% OFF for All Subscribers

That’s it for this week’s edition.

By the way, I realized my welcome email for new subscribers wasn’t being sent for the past two weeks…

That email usually includes a thank-you message and a coupon code for my store, FAR EAST DARKROOM, but it wasn’t going out. I’m so sorry about that!
FAR EAST DARKROOM is a community brand I started for next-gen photographers, where I sell zines and darkroom prints online.

To make it up to you, I’m giving everyone reading this newsletter a special coupon code. Use “LOVEZINE11” at checkout on FAR EAST DARKROOM to get 20% off all items.
This code is valid until the end of November, so if there’s a zine you’ve been eyeing, now’s a great time to grab it!

Thank you! See you again next Tuesday!