A CONSTRUCTION worker on the Sunshine Coast has found a new passion behind the lens.
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With a love for utes instilled in him since childhood, Josh Bryce says his photography project was a whim designed to tribute a national emblem.
Setting off with next to no experience behind the camera, Josh’s nationwide hunt for unique utes and their owners will now stand the test of time in his very own coffee table book – U Beaut Aussie Utes.
“A couple of mates of mine have got some of those big BNS utes with the big bull bars and the ariels, and I have always really liked them,” Josh says.
“When one of them was doing some work on my ute, I asked him if anyone had ever produced a book on them.
“We had a look and couldn’t find anything, so I just thought; ‘well bugger it, I am going to do it.’”
After buying a camera and doing a photography course, Josh set off on his first adventure to Toowoomba’s annual Show.
“I remember pulling up and just thinking ‘bloody hell, I’m doing it’. I was really quite nervous when I was walking in there.
“I went up and approached a group who had their utes and their flags up and told them what I was doing. Right from the word go, everyone was really stoked on it.”
His first outing provided the confidence boost that saw him travel to the Northern Territory twice, Western Australian, Victoria, Canberra and all over New South Wales.
“It was lots of fun travelling around and I just met so many nice people. A lot of them are ringing me up now and offering me their places to stay for next time,” he says.
While Josh may have been confident in his endeavour, he says his wife was a little more doubtful.
“My wife is a swimwear designer and so she is always working with photographers.
“She was pretty hesitant when I told her what I was going to do. But when I can home from the Toowoomba shoot she said, ‘far out, they are actually pretty good’.”
While not quite ready to quit the day job just yet, Josh says he can see an alternate career path developing.
“My Ultimate goal is to make enough money off my books so I can purchase a block of land out Dalby way and have my own ute shows and 4WD events.
“But that’s sort of my ultimate goal, so I just have to get this one out of the way first!”
Featuring 186 utes in all shapes and forms - from old work utes, feral utes, vintage utes, street utes and 4x4 utes – Josh says despite their differences, they are all uniquely Australian.
“The way people do up these utes is also really unique to Australia. America may have the pickup trucks, but they’ve got nothing like this!”
To celebrate the launch of his new book, Josh will be hosting an event at the Nindigully pub on March 8. With live music, a ute show, mechanical bull, whip-cracking competition and first ever Outback Ironman teams challenge, the weekend will be a hit for the whole family.
*For more information go to the U Beaut Aussie Utes Facebook page, visit www.ubeautaussieutes.com.au or call josh on 0432398725.
*For the chance to win a copy of Josh’s book – U Beaut Aussie Utes – tell us in 25 words or less, why you love your ute. If possible, include a picture of you and your ute and email it to alison.francis@fairfaxmedia.com.au, or post to PO Box 586, Cleveland, 4163.
