Josh Ball
Dunsborough-based photographer Josh Ball is set to bring the success of his viral portrait series back to Western Australia after an inspiring journey through Slovenia. The series began in July 2023 when Ball approached intriguing individuals during his travels, capturing their essence through candid portraits and filmed interactions.
Ball, 37, has gained significant recognition on social media for his engaging work, which reflects a genuine effort to connect with people from diverse backgrounds. His portraits, along with the accompanying videos, have resonated widely, with one post featuring a 95-year-old farmer named Francka and her tractor, affectionately dubbed the “Ferrari,” achieving more than 3.5 million views. This particular post gained traction after being highlighted in the Slovenian newspaper Večer.
In addition to Francka, another notable portrait showcases elderly electrician Jože, who proudly posed with his chainsaw. This captivating image garnered 464,000 views, further amplifying Ball’s reach in a short span of time. Within just two weeks and nine posts on Instagram, his follower count surged from 10,700 to over 25,000.
Ball shared his motivation for the project, stating, “This started as a way for me to connect with locals while I was travelling, and it pushed me out of my comfort zone. Through my camera, strangers became friends, and their stories reached millions, proving that in a world of technology and noise, human connection is what we all crave.”
As he returns to Australia, Ball plans to replicate the portrait series locally, starting with a recent trip to Kalgoorlie. He tested the format in Chittering, where he met a young truck driver named Chevy at a service station. This post, featuring Chevy’s portrait, achieved over 320,000 views within just 36 hours, indicating that his unique approach resonates with audiences at home as well.
Ball’s work captures not only the faces of individuals but also the essence of human connection, bridging geographical divides through storytelling. His Instagram page serves as a platform for showcasing these moments, inviting viewers to engage with the lives and stories of others.
The success of Ball’s portrait series underscores the power of photography as a medium for connection, and as he continues to explore this concept in Western Australia, many will be eager to see the stories he uncovers next.
