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Not many 10-year-olds have a clear vision of what they want their future to look like, and even fewer know how to actually make it happen as an adult. Australian photographer and filmmaker Jr Ross (short for Jonathan Ross) is the rare exception who manifested his childhood dream of working for Mercedes-Benz.
“It all began 18 years ago, when at the age of 10, I sent a letter to Dieter Zetsche’s office with the help of my parents, asking the then CEO of Mercedes-Benz how to take his job one day,” explains Jr.
Dieter Zetsche’s office wrote back with solid advice: study physics and engineering and enter the company through the research and development department. Years later, Jr went on to study automotive engineering; however, his pathway to Mercedes-Benz took a different route when he started photographing cars during the pandemic.
“I spent a lot of time photographing any of the cars around me, including my own,” says Jr.
His newfound hobby soon evolved into a full-fledged career. Jr began working as a photographer for Mercedes-Benz dealerships around Melbourne, and was eventually engaged by Mercedes-Benz Australia to do a professional shoot of a Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 4MATIC SUV.
“…I love being part of the journey of such an iconic brand,” says Jr.
The suite of images from this shoot garnered the attention of the team in Affalterbach, who invited Jr to join the #MBsocialcar team – a small collective of global photographers who created content for Mercedes-Benz. This invitation marked a commemorative milestone for the automotive photographer, who was able to officially fulfill his childhood dream. The #MBsocialcar project was eventually replaced with #MBcreator, leading Jr to work on countless shoots both locally and around the world.
“I love the history of Mercedes-Benz and seeing how it has evolved, even in my lifetime,” says Jr. “From the cars of the ’90s and the first factory AMGs, to the digital era and a fully electric fleet on its way – I love being part of the journey of such an iconic brand.”
Uniquely Australian
Shooting Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Australia is a creative challenge the photographer relishes.
“What makes the Australian landscape so special is its unique ability to dramatically change composition in such a relatively short distance,” he says.
From shooting the GLS 450 SUV on a rooftop in Melbourne’s CBD, to the Mercedes-AMG G 63 in the Winton Wetlands, and the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ Sedan on the Black Spur, each location seems to be a world away from the next – despite what the odometer reads.
“All three of these unique locations are within a few hundred kilometres of each other and easily accessible in a day trip,” says Jr.
“I love Australia’s vast emptiness. Being able to photograph an uninterrupted view across the mountains or valleys, without a single trace of civilisation, is something that a lot of us Aussies take for granted.”
Authentic storytelling
As a lifestyle and automotive photographer who largely shoots outdoors, Jr’s aim is to work collaboratively with nature, creating a sense of harmony between the car and the surrounding landscape. For Jr, the key to a successful shoot is matching the right Mercedes-Benz vehicle to the right location.
“There is always the perfect scenery for every vehicle in the Mercedes-Benz line-up, so the first step is to take the vehicle into its natural habitat,” he explains. “For example, taking the Mercedes-AMG SL 63 4MATIC+ onto the winding mountain roads of Spain or the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sedan for a trip along Austria’s highest road.”
On shoot day, Jr’s perspective behind the lens is entirely unique. He’s more than just meticulous about cars; he properly understands them. With the mind of an engineer and the precision of a photographer, he captures the beauty and form of the Mercedes-Benz fleet in equal measure.
“I’m a big believer in capturing the sunrise light and putting the sun behind the vehicle. This makes it appear powerful and showcases the lines of the vehicle as the designer intended,” he says.
“In every single one of my photoshoots, I come up with a unique story with the car as the clear hero,” says Jr.
Jr also approaches each shoot with one clear objective: storytelling.
“In every single one of my photoshoots, I come up with a unique story with the car as the clear hero,” explains Jr. “The key to this is to create a clear beginning, middle, and ending, designed to captivate an audience while showcasing the vehicle in a relatable and authentic way.
“If we look at the GLS I captured in Victoria’s High Country, the storyline was about using the vehicle to explore some of the familiar faces in the alps, including the wild brumbies.”
Similarly, while shooting the G-Class in Norway, Jr was keen to take the vehicle off-road to find the northern lights. He travelled “deep into the Norwegian wilderness, crossing fjords, going through tunnels and across mountains” until he did.
Jr has worked on projects in six different countries (and counting). Since moving from Australia to Germany, he has travelled around Europe and shot at the International Motor Show (IAA MOBILITY) in Munich.
One of his most memorable shoots was capturing the all new Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé in the Spanish desert.
“For the recent launch campaign of the AMG GT in Spain, I had the opportunity to work with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 team in capturing the global launch images, with Lewis Hamilton, Toto and Susie Wolff, George Russell, and Mick Schumacher,” he says. “It was one of my highlights to capture the entire team alongside the vehicle in the Spanish desert.”
Photographing the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster in Germany was another unforgettable experience for Jr.
“Just outside Munich, towards Stuttgart, you can find a restoration centre specializing in 300 SLs. I had the opportunity to photograph some beautiful Gullwings, including Frank Sinatra’s very own 300 SL from 1955,” he says.
“It also happened to be my birthday – and what a present it was driving around at sunrise in such beautiful cars.”
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