In 1980, Swedish fashion and advertising photographer Hakan Ludwigson "escaped" the rat race of his usual work by traveling through Australia. There he came upon a community of "stockmen," cowboys who do grueling work in the Outback. Ludwigson was so fascinated with the culture that he vowed to chronicle it one day. That wish became his book "Balls and Bulldust," released in September. Pictured is stationhand Stuart Brown of Christchurch, New Zealand, drafting cattle in Victoria River Downs, Northern Territory.
In 1980, Swedish fashion and advertising photographer Hakan Ludwigson "escaped" the rat race of his usual work by traveling through Australia. There he came upon a community of "stockmen," cowboys who do grueling work in the Outback. Ludwigson was so fascinated with the culture that he vowed to chronicle it one day. That wish became his book "Balls and Bulldust," released in September. Pictured is stationhand Stuart Brown of Christchurch, New Zealand, drafting cattle in Victoria River Downs, Northern Territory.
Hkan Ludwigson/Steidle
Jackaroos and jillaroos are young people who work on a sheep or cattle station to gain experience. Here, jackaroo Malcolm Chillmon, 20, from Chippendale, New South Wales; jillaroo Susan Gilmore of Brisbane, Queensland; and stationhand Mark Ashlin of Gulgung, New South Wales, rest in the shade of a station at Victoria River Downs, Northern Territory.
Jackaroos and jillaroos are young people who work on a sheep or cattle station to gain experience. Here, jackaroo Malcolm Chillmon, 20, from Chippendale, New South Wales; jillaroo Susan Gilmore of Brisbane, Queensland; and stationhand Mark Ashlin of Gulgung, New South Wales, rest in the shade of a station at Victoria River Downs, Northern Territory.
Håkan Ludwigson/Steidle
Some of the stationhands grew up farming while others came from the city to experience a new and challenging way of life. "They come here for the cowboy romance, but after months in the heat and dust, they give up," a Northern Territory station manager told Ludwigson. "Some may stay for a couple of seasons." Andrew Simkind, 29, of Sydney, who had been a stockman for four years, at Victoria River Downs station in the Northern Territory.
Some of the stationhands grew up farming while others came from the city to experience a new and challenging way of life. "They come here for the cowboy romance, but after months in the heat and dust, they give up," a Northern Territory station manager told Ludwigson. "Some may stay for a couple of seasons." Andrew Simkind, 29, of Sydney, who had been a stockman for four years, at Victoria River Downs station in the Northern Territory.
Hkan Ludwigson/Steidle
"In Australian literature women in the outback are understandably described as tough personalities with lots of guts. We spent most of our time on stock camps and the few 'jillaroos' we met and photographed there had to put up with the same hard life as the men," Ludwigson wrote in an email. "But they had a good influence on the some times foul language around the campfire." Pictured is Vicki Irene, 21, a station cook in Bradshaw, Northern Territory.
"In Australian literature women in the outback are understandably described as tough personalities with lots of guts. We spent most of our time on stock camps and the few 'jillaroos' we met and photographed there had to put up with the same hard life as the men," Ludwigson wrote in an email. "But they had a good influence on the some times foul language around the campfire." Pictured is Vicki Irene, 21, a station cook in Bradshaw, Northern Territory.
Hkan Ludwigson/Steidle
Workers muster cattle at Pigeon Hole outstation at a station in Victoria River Downs, Northern Territory. "Everything in the outback is very functional. It´s good, hardworking people in a harsh environment," Ludwigson wrote. "Very little effort is spent on just making something esthetically appealing. In the end I became aware how important that visual inspiration is to me."
Workers muster cattle at Pigeon Hole outstation at a station in Victoria River Downs, Northern Territory. "Everything in the outback is very functional. It´s good, hardworking people in a harsh environment," Ludwigson wrote. "Very little effort is spent on just making something esthetically appealing. In the end I became aware how important that visual inspiration is to me."
Håkan Ludwigson/Steidle
Stockmen spend much of their time castrating bulls, an activity that takes guts, thus the title of the book: "Balls and Bulldust," Ludwigson says. "Bulldust is the red dust that is ever present in this part of the Australian outback. It's stirred up by thousands head of cattle or road trains. It hangs in the air for hours." Here, bulls are mustered on Barkly Tableland at a station in Rockhampton Downs, Northern Territory.
Stockmen spend much of their time castrating bulls, an activity that takes guts, thus the title of the book: "Balls and Bulldust," Ludwigson says. "Bulldust is the red dust that is ever present in this part of the Australian outback. It's stirred up by thousands head of cattle or road trains. It hangs in the air for hours." Here, bulls are mustered on Barkly Tableland at a station in Rockhampton Downs, Northern Territory.
Hkan Ludwigson/Steidle
Though inspiration struck during Ludwigson's first trip to Australia in 1980, he went back to photograph the outback in earnest in 1985. He spent three months shooting photos for the book. The kitchen of a station in Moroak, Northern Territory, is shown here.
Though inspiration struck during Ludwigson's first trip to Australia in 1980, he went back to photograph the outback in earnest in 1985. He spent three months shooting photos for the book. The kitchen of a station in Moroak, Northern Territory, is shown here.
Håkan Ludwigson/Steidle
"I guess I saw a bit of myself in them. I had left my rat race searching for, well, something else. I strongly felt that one day I just had to go back devoting<br />time and effort to portray these men and women," Ludwigson wrote. Here, farm hands go to work in Rockhampton Downs, Northern Territory.
"I guess I saw a bit of myself in them. I had left my rat race searching for, well, something else. I strongly felt that one day I just had to go back devoting
time and effort to portray these men and women," Ludwigson wrote. Here, farm hands go to work in Rockhampton Downs, Northern Territory.
Hkan Ludwigson/Steidle
A camp bed and a stockman's belongings in Rockhampton Downs, Northern Territory, are lit up in golden sunlight. "It is often blistering hot, terribly dusty and distances are huge. On the other hand, sleeping in a swag with the star packed sky of the southern hemisphere above you makes up for all of that," Ludwigson said.
A camp bed and a stockman's belongings in Rockhampton Downs, Northern Territory, are lit up in golden sunlight. "It is often blistering hot, terribly dusty and distances are huge. On the other hand, sleeping in a swag with the star packed sky of the southern hemisphere above you makes up for all of that," Ludwigson said.
Hkan Ludwigson/Steidle
A cowboy does some saddle bronc training on a makeshift mechanical bull in Rockhampton Downs, Northern Territory.
A cowboy does some saddle bronc training on a makeshift mechanical bull in Rockhampton Downs, Northern Territory.
Håkan Ludwigson/Steidle
Stockman Steve Hawe, 28, and Vicki Irene, who was five months pregnant with their child. Hawe had worked on eight stations, beginning at the age of 16.
Stockman Steve Hawe, 28, and Vicki Irene, who was five months pregnant with their child. Hawe had worked on eight stations, beginning at the age of 16.
Håkan Ludwigson/Steidle
"Heli-mustering," or herding from the air, is one way of keep cattle in line. These herders in Killarney, Northern Territory, stuck a fishing rod out of the helicopter because from the air, it is possible to spot seabass in the nearby rivers and swoop by for a quick catch. <strong> </strong>
"Heli-mustering," or herding from the air, is one way of keep cattle in line. These herders in Killarney, Northern Territory, stuck a fishing rod out of the helicopter because from the air, it is possible to spot seabass in the nearby rivers and swoop by for a quick catch.
Håkan Ludwigson/Steidle
Men relax after a rodeo at Mataranka Bushman's Carnival in the Northern Territory. "My pictures are praised to show the real life of Australian cattlemen which I am very proud of," Ludwigson said.
Men relax after a rodeo at Mataranka Bushman's Carnival in the Northern Territory. "My pictures are praised to show the real life of Australian cattlemen which I am very proud of," Ludwigson said.
Håkan Ludwigson/Steidle
Wallaby Japila, photographed in 1980 at Yarralin Aboriginal Land, Northern Territory.
Wallaby Japila, photographed in 1980 at Yarralin Aboriginal Land, Northern Territory.
Håkan Ludwigson/Steidle