I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to meet and photograph Richard Neely and Allyson Dalton recently only hours after they were rescued from 19 hours adrift off Australia's Whitsunday coast after being left behind on a scuba diving trip.
I shot this as an exclusive for Britain's Sunday Mirror newspaper and the pics went to publications around the world within 24 hours of their publication in the Sunday Mirror.
Rich and Ally became instant celebrities due to their harrowing ordeal in the Pacific and jetted off to the US to make appearances on US talk and breakfast television.
Today they returned to Townsville to thank their rescuers, and it was a great opportunity to enjoy a beer with them and talk about their ordeal and the trappings of instant fame!
While working on the Gold Coast earlier this week I was invited along to cover the opening of an Ed Hardy store at the Chevron Renaissance, Surfers Paradise. I hadn't seen much Ed Hardy stuff before but was pretty impressed with their clientele. Apart from Tara Reid (who was in attendance at the opening) their clothing is worn by the likes of Madonna, David Beckham, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. My pics below show Tara Reid, Tania Zaetta and Deni Hines at the launch.
See my pics of the opening at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/3988320
In total contrast to her recent appearances on the set of "Australia", the Baz Luhrmann film currently in production in Australia, Nicole Kidman has been chosen as the 'face' of Nintendo's latest advertising campaign for its "More Brain Training". Kidman will be seen in worldwide TV spots starting this week.
In one of the closing scenes of "Australia" Nicole Kidman's character "Lady Sarah Ashley" screams "Nullah!" as she and Hugh Jackman's character fall to the ground near the the prone body of Brandon Walters character "Nullah". Around them fires are burning in the war torn Darwin/Bowen set. Is this an indication that Nullah dies at the end of the movie? Make of it what you will, I doubt anyone will even remember this once the movies hits cinemas sometime in the distant future!
See pics of this scene at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2849094#166033900
News Limited's new entertainment show Confidential premiere's tonight on FOX8. Presented by Sophie Falkiner, Mike Hammond and Jonathan Pease it is set to be Australia's version of Entertainment Tonight. The program will be doing a wrap-up tonight covering the past few weeks of filming of "Australia" in Bowen, Qld.
With her riding instructor Craig Emerton watching closely Nicole put the finishing touches on the cattle drive scene yesterday. Things have got a bit quieter around town over the last day or two - seems as though Bowen locals just see it as another day at the office now but with the added bonus of having a quick peek at a Hollywood star during their lunch breaks!
Last night I went to the Queens Beach hotel for Monday night footy and a counter meal and who should be there but Bryan Brown and Ben Mendelsohn. They were having a great time too and seemed just as at home in country pub as any local.
Now, David Wenham's riding skills must be a little lacking compared to Nic, Hugh or Brandon. I'm yet to see Davo without a stackhat! Either he has a wild horse or he's taking to riding a bit slower than everyone else.
See my "Australia" gallery at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2849094
MOVIE heart-throb Hugh Jackman took to the waves of Horseshoe Bay with children Oscar, 7, and Ava, 22 months, yesterday.The outing helped blow out the cobwebs following the massive party he and co-star Nicole Kidman hosted on Saturday night.
The two stars of the Baz Luhrmann epic Australia threw a thank you party for the 500-strong cast and crew at Bowen's Grand View Hotel.
It included a surprise performance by Kidman's husband Keith Urban, who was joined on stage at the hotel by a mix of local musicians that the singer dubbed the Bowen Carney Boys after the Carney cattle company featured in the film.
Urban played from 8.45pm until just before midnight. "It was an amazing performance," Grand View's assistant manager Mike Burgess said.
After a day off yesterday, the third week of filming will resume today.
Source: Amy Harris/The Courier-Mail
Ok, maybe I used a bit of creative licence with my headline but the stampede of cows down George St and Herbert St Bowen may as well have been in Pamplona. There were some pretty scary horns amongst the herd and as they swarmed past me I hoped like crazy that they didn't break through the barriers. Nic and Hugh kept their distance, playing it safe, and will undoubtably be edited in for the final release.
Speculation is still running through town about a possible concert by Nic's hubby Keith Urban at the Grand View Hotel tonight but to be honest, I doubt it. My feeling is that it would be somewhere where all the cast and crew could attend and the beer garden of the Grand View would be WAY too small. Anyway, let's see what happens!
See my "Australia" gallery at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2849094
Today just seemed to drag on and on and on. After a few too many ales celebrating Queensland's win in the State of Origin I wasn't really in the mood for a long day. However it was a bit of a treat to win a 'battle of the wits' with publicists and security for long enough to come up with some quality images! Action centred around Carneys Cattle Co. with Bryan Brown yelling from the balcony and Hugh and Nicole doing their best imitations of seasoned horse riders. They sure looked the part and didn't fail to impress with their riding talents!
From what I hear shooting is falling behind schedule however I'm sure they will make that up over the coming weeks.
And while I have the chance, if you are ever in Bowen MAKE SURE you stop in at Jochheim's Bakery for a pie or a coffee. Jayne & Paddy run what must easily be the busiest pie shop in Australia and it is a Bowen landmark. And thanks to Erin for my 17 latte's in 4 days! (A free Hunky Hugh pie for that plug wouldn't go astray!)
See my "Australia" gallery at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2849094
Looking like Larry "J.R" Hagman Bryan Brown made his first appearance on the balcony of the Carney Cattle Company headquarters today. The scene allowed Brown to have quite a number of slugs of whatever Baz Luhrmann had put in his bottle of Kanga Bitter. Cheers Bryan!
See my "Australia" pictures at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2849094
Seems like groundhog day each day now, scenes are filmed over and over and over and ....... But I guess that is how it goes in the movie business. Conner Cruise cruised the streets of Bowen on horseback for the second day in a row - no doubt he will give him Mum a run for her money when they get together for a race. Now that is one horserace I would LOVE to photograph! Hugh Jackman spent a few hours shooting a dusty scene on horseback outside the Territory Hotel and gave me the opportunity to shoot something TOTALLY DIFFERENT to what I have been doing (but I still did something saleable!)
See my "Australia" pictures at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2849094
Friday night saw the commencement of night filming on the set of "Australia". Action concentrated around the Pearl Picture Gardens with a large crane holding thousands of litres of water soaking the set in a simulated rainstorm.
Today was a pretty good day around the set - Nicole and Hugh took 20 minutes out of their day to sign autographs and pose for pictures with Bowen volunteers and locals. No, I'm not from Bowen and can't afford to volunteer but no stopping me getting a pic with Nic!
See some of my pics from Bowenwood at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2849094
Bowen locals had the opportunity to meet the stars during a "Traditional Welcome" ceremony on the set of "Australia". I was given the opportunity of looking around the set and seeing the incredible detail that has gone into the creation. Chinese gardens, outdoor picture theatres, a traditional brothel, cattle yards and pearl trading businesses are only part of a mass of streets that make up the set. The centrepiece of the movie is The Territory Hotel, which was the scene of yesterday's ceremony and will be the opening scene in the movie - Nicole Kidman's character arrives off a ship and walks up the jetty into the township just as Hugh Jackman's character is punched through the window of The Territory Hotel. Great introduction to Australia!
See some of my pics of the movie so far at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2849094
Was given a nice treat today, a special look at the set of the new Baz Luhrmann movie "Australia" currently in production in Bowen, Australia. Had the opportunity to photograph Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in costume and get a general overview of what is a stunning set creation. Can't wait to see the final product!! Had to take the opportunity to have a pic with Bowen's No.1 celebrity and all-round nice guy, mayor Mike Brunker.
See the story at http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21726759-2,00.html
I spent a couple of nights in Bowen this past week looking at how the town is changing and its preparation for the upcoming Baz Luhrmann movie "Australia" starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. Got a nice two page spread in the Sunday Mail and this front page exclusive of Baz on Flagstaff Hill, Bowen. I thought I would grab a coffee from the cafe on top of Flagstaff Hill before I drove home and Baz happened to be there having a production meeting. He was busy as a beaver but managed to spare a couple of minutes out of his schedule for a few photos. Well done Baz!
This afternoon I spent an hour or so with actress Tara Reid photographing her exclusively on the private beach at Gerry Harvey’s resort “The Byron” at Byron Bay, NSW. She truly was a nice girl. Thanks Tara!
Got a nice spread in OK Magazine today of Jason Donovan and partner Angela with children Jemma and Zac relaxing after Jason's appearance on UK reality show "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!". Jason is a great guy and very 'down to earth'. Thanks heaps Jason!
Tough job today! I spent an afternoon with UK model Hofit Golan at her condo at the Palazzo Versace, Surfers Paradise. She was super to work with and we were both pretty really happy with the results. Thanks heaps babe!
See the pics at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2162563
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