Here, in Volume 6 of Gigantic, we’ve chosen not to define the term but to explore it.

For our cover story, Michelle Groskopf offers a portrait of Stud Country, a queer line-dancing event that takes place in major cities across the U.S. Model Lily Stewart role-plays facets of her personality for photographer Todd Cole, leaving us to wonder who’s the real her. Jonpaul Douglass and Cody Cloud build an entire portrait session on a whim that is both vivid and willfully meaningless. Brad Torchia takes us into artist Pedro Reyes’ home and studio, and we invite Reyes to respond to the images with captions of his own making. Ashley Armitage shoots a fictional tour journal with the band Beach Bunny. And Samantha Sutcliffe photographs model Destiny Strudwick in Sutcliffe’s hometown, revealing as much about herself as her subject.

Beyond portraits, Marcus Smith shares a portfolio of collages inspired by the 2024 Olympic Games. Photographer Jonah Rosenberg documents the intensely physical works of choreographer Matty Davis. Christian Cody shoots a fashion editorial that will make you want to dress like a reporter, while Peyton Fulford’s photos of camping with her friends will make you want to rough it. And Ana Cuba captures the waning of summer at a Spanish beach town teeming with teens.

We close things out with a playlist by yours truly titled “I Like You.” Because I do.

—Kristina Feliciano

Photo © Ana Cuba.