Photos by Chelsea Wallace.

“you can be so far away while feeling so incredibly close”

A 28-page poetry + photo zine by Kesler Ottley.

This project began as a personal challenge to put together a small zine of my poetry & photos. It’s been a massive boost to my knowledge of design, sequencing, and layout of a project of my own mixed-media. This will be a limited run of zines, but since it is the first physical product I’ve created - I’m allowing an unlimited amount to be purchased during the first 7-days of it’s release. Purchases will be cut off on August 28th at 11:59pm.

Creating this has allowed for me to delve into this deeply personal idea of my own proximity to the life I am leading. This idea is a feeling of being so far away, yet incredibly close. 

This zine includes: 

-30+ originally written poems

-11 original 35mm film photographs 

A preview of the cover & the first few pages can be found below.

Designed by myself with all personal photo & writing work. 

Digital copies of this project will be available starting on August 29th.

I’m 80% done with this project. Part of my brain is nudging me to unkindly remind me of all the times I gave up at 80%. Reminding me of all the times I just… couldn’t finish every aspect of projects. I couldn’t finish because… my brain wouldn’t let me. I’d cave. Tell myself I’m no good, and purely, give up.

Not this time.

This time I’m pushing myself through. I’m texting friends for support. I’m getting in bed early to combat the creeping, doubtful thoughts.

I’m elated to share with you what I’ve been working so hard on.

I’m also a bit terrified.

See you tomorrow.

-Kes