Nicole Kidman and I make a lovely couple!

Tidying up some cupboards today and I stumbled upon this piece of movie memorabilia. Ahhh, the days Nic & I spent together, the afternoon sunsets, long walks on the beach, romantic dinners... (It's just ashame she didn't realise I was there too!) :-)

It's a bit tattered but it's the Bowen Independent from May 17, 2007 and of course my matching pic below it.

What I love about Australia

Just saw this gallery on News.com.au and it reminded me of all the cool things that are great about Australia! :-) - http://www.news.com.au/travel/gallery/0,23607,5037578-5007153,00.html

Australia, The Movie trailer released

The first trailer for the upcoming Baz Luhrmann film has been released. It is available in 480P, 720P and 1080P at this link. It looks FANTASTIC!!!

See all my pics from the movie set at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2849094_SoQ3t

JT & Charlie on the announcement of Kangaroo selection

I shot this today at a press conference launching JT's new "Electrifying" memorabilia piece.  JT spoke about the memorabilia and then both he and Webb talked about their inclusion into the Kangaroos squad to take on New Zealand in the Centenary test.

Davis Cup tie wraps up in Townsville

Well, just as I predicted a few days ago it was a 5-0 drubbing of Thailand at the hands of Lleyton Hewitt, Peter Luczak, Chris Guccione and Paul Henley.  The win guarantees Australia a spot in the September playoffs, with the strong win sparing them a showdown with Serbia, who last year bundled the Aussies out 4-1.

See all my pics from the tie at www.cameronlaird.com/daviscup

Lleyton leads the Aussie charge

Lleyton Hewitt will lead Australia against Thailand in a Davis Cup tie to be played over the weekend. My prediction.... Australia in three matches - last two will be dead rubbers.

Lleyton certainly looked to be taking this tie seriously though when I shot him this morning.

Google Maps zip through suburban Townsville, Australia

I was sitting at my desk about 1/2 hour ago when a hatchback with Google Maps signage and a contraption on the roof zipped past. Never one to miss a story on my doorstep I chased him down the road and around the corner and photographed the car for my newspaper clients. Had a quick chat to the friendly driver and had a peek at his gadgetry inside the car. Basically it consisted of a midi tower PC in the trunk with a GPS processing unit, a Dell LCD monitor in the front screwed to a plank of wood, a GPS receiver and a pole with 5 cameras sticking up on the roof from the centre of a roofrack.

Whilst I have seen Google Maps of my local area it is nice to see that it is being updated and that "Streetview" is going to be included soon! I thought only "big" streets like 5th Ave, NY and Rodeo Drive made it into "Streetview". Too cool!

del.icio.us Tags: google,maps,streetview,mapping,gps,townsville,queensland,australia

David Gulpilil freezes his butt off!

What a shocking day to be stuck up a tower in just a traditional loincloth. It was absolutely FREEZING today in Bowen with a wind chill factor many degrees below what many Bowen locals have ever felt. David Gulpilil was provided with a fleece dressing gown, insulated foil blankets and a water bottle but it did little to help. I was disappointed I left my beanie at home, and then I saw Gulpilil up the tower. Instantly I felt warmer!

See my "Australia" pics at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2849094

Happy 40th Nic!

Well, this is all I can show you of Nicole Kidman's 40th birthday party. Flagstaff Hill was the location for the birthday bash and it was guarded like the famous hill on Iwo Jima. Maybe minus the .50 calibre machine guns but still a precision military style exercise. Anyway, Bowen locals enjoyed the fireworks and while we couldn't see it from town I can tell you that a pyrotechnic sign "Happy Birthday Nicole" blazed in the Three Sixty carpark. Anyway, Happy Birthday Nicole!

See my "Australia" pics at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2849094

Hugh Jackman speaks with Brisbane's Nova 106.9

A few days ago Nova 106.9's awesome breakfast crew of Meshel, Ash & Kip went to Bowen to report on "Australia" the movie. Following a tip from mayor Mike "Hollywood" Brunker Ash caught up with Hugh after a morning workout at the gym. Source: The Courier-Mail - Click here to Listen

Baz at work

Bazmark II has put out this image by onset photographer James Fisher of "Australia" director Baz Luhrmann at work. Hope all you Baz fans enjoy this fresh pic!

See all my "Australia" pics at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2849094

Two try Ty

After jumping out to an 18-0 lead against the Sharks, that post origin collapse that seems to happen every season happened again. The Sharks quickly closed in and with only 2 minutes left in the clash Cronulla were up by four. I'm not sure what I saw in that last play but by the look in the eyes of the backline players I KNEW something was on. Sure enough Ty Williams scored right under the posts to give the Cowboys a stunning 2 point win 26-24. Awesome!

See my pics of the game at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2572467#158647289

Video - The Making of Baz Luhrmann's Australia

I found this video on YouTube showing some of the production behind "Australia", the Baz Luhrmann film featuring Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Bryan Brown, David Wenham and many more quality Australian actors.

Baz to Q & A in Bowen

Baz Luhrmann will speak during a Queensland Week function at Horseshoe Bay on Sunday morning at 10am. He is set to talk about his career and the production of "Australia" in Bowen. See you there!

See all my Australia pics at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2849094

Cow v Hilux

Seems as though I'm not the only one who thought the Cow v Hilux incident was pretty damn funny! Brisbane's The Courier-Mail reported the incident using my photographs - Click the image above for the full story or read online at http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,21824622-10388,00.html

See all my "Australia" pics at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2849094

Would you leave your car there?

Now, I'm not sure about you but there is no way I'd be leaving my car in the middle of the road if hundreds of horny (haha) cattle were barrelling down the road towards it. What about the driver of this spanking new Toyota Aurion? I'm guessing it is a hire car and I would love to see if it was covered by insurance if it had have been dented (like a car was yesterday). Imagine fronting up to Hertz - "Umm, the car has a couple of big dents in the side" - "How did that happen" - "Well, it was headbutted by a hundred cows in the middle of a Bowen street"...

See my "Australia", the movie pics at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2849094

Kidman 1 - Wenham 0

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

Hugh hits Horseshoe

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

See my "Australia" pics at http://www.cameronlaird.com/gallery/2849094

Bowen's 'Running of the Bulls'

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

Nic and Hugh together on horseback.....at last!

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