Lucas Oleniuk : 2010 in review

Lucas Oleniuk - Staff Photographer

Before arriving in Port-au-Prince to cover the earthquake on January 14, 2010 I prepared myself for an unimaginable horror. It was good thing that I did.  After I witnessed the profound scale of damage, death and sadness it became my paramount goal to document the tragedy in a way that could not be ignored.  The world needed to know that, in a state of chaos, these people were fighting for survival and they needed help.  Maybe more importantly, they needed a little bit of hope.  

I'm proud that the Star was around to get that message out to governments, police, doctors and donors here at home.

The story of Haiti remained a difficult one to cover for the rest of the year.  I watched hundreds of thousands of refugees struggle to survive.  I witnessed cholera deliver a below-the-belt punch to a country already on its knees.  And then, as the year ended, I observed a fraudulent election deprive the masses of their democratic rights.

My heart goes out to the country and to those who are still struggling to survive.

The scene at the Petionville golf course in Port-au-Prince on January, 17, 2010.  Days after Haiti's earthquake killed an estimated 230,000 people the golf course became a refugee camp for nearly 50,000 people.

2010 and Rick Eglinton

Rick Eglinton - Staff Photographer

Sweden's lead Anna Le Moine reacts after winning the gold medal defeating Canada 7-6 during Olympic women's curling finals action at the Olympic Centre on Friday, Feb. 26, 2010 at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

2010 with Colin McConnell

Colin McConnell - Staff Photographer

March 21, 2010 Aaron Hill belly surfs on tarp during a rain delay at Spring Training.

Tannis Toohey's 2010

Tannis Toohey -Staff Photographer

July 5, 2010 - Colm Manning, 10, finds a way to beat the summer heat by playing in the Jimmie Simpson wading pool while Toronto is under a severe heat alert, and its citizens are taking to the shade and water parks to cool off. 

Bernard Weil looks back 2010

Bernard Weil - Chief Photographer

Toronto Star Chief Photographer Bernard Weil's foreshadowing image of Georgian men's singles luger Nodar Kumaritashvili's empty sled racing at over 100km/h into the last turn during his only practice run, stands as a testament to his life as an Olympian. Kumaritashvili's crashed further up the track on this run, but his sled continued on course without him. Weil was the only photographer to capture this image. Two days later, Kumaritashvili was killed on his very next run when he lost control in the final turn of the course and was thrown off his luge and over the sidewall of the track, striking an unprotected steel support pole at the end of the run. It was to be his Olympic debut.

How Carlos saw 2010

Here are a couple of my favourites from the year.

Carlos Osorio -  Staff Photographer

 

August 20, 2010  

Andrew Halmay. A Rob Ford supporter.

Story Here

2010 through the lens of David Cooper.

David Cooper is the Energizer Bunny of photojournalism at the Star. 

He started with the Toronto Telegram and was a Day Oner at the Toronto Sun before he came over to the Star.

"Coop" brings an unbelievable enthusiasm to One Yonge Street and his approach to photography every shift.

                                                                                                                -Steve Russell

David Cooper - Chief Photographer

November 2 2010 - The controversial 13-acre plot of land that was supposed to be a Home Depot on the waterfront and that sparked massive resistance by politicians and residents has been sold to a consortium of developers from New York and Toronto, the Star has learned. Cooper used a tripod and shot a series of pictures that he stitched together.

Rene Johnston finds his favourites from 2010

Rene Johnston - Staff Photographer

April 30 2010.  Fashion shoot involving military inspired clothing. The location is Joe Rockheads Climbing Gym on Fraser in Liberty Village. 

Steve Russell's favourites of 2010

Steve Russell - Staff Photographer

Each year is busy, but, toss an Olympics and the G20 on top of that and there was a lot of stuff to shoot!

Olympics

February 12, 2010  A snowboarder enters through the rings during the Opening Ceremonies for  the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games at BC Place.

Looking back at 2010

Rick Madonik, Staff Photographer

 

After filtering through my year of pictures the one thing which surprised me most was the number of sports pictures which made my list of personal favorites. In years past, my "yearenders" usually have a balance between news, sports and features, but this year is dominated by Sports. Some of that, obviously, has to do with the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, but I was surprised to find when I picked what I liked best from the year, there was little outside of sports I felt made the grade.

Over the next week or so, this blog, as well as photo galleries featured on the main web site (thestar.com) will feature a variety of "year's best" as selected by the photo staff. I invite you to take a look at various selections. 

What it looks like when you win Gold at Olympics

Canada's Sydney Crosby (left), Joe Thornton (centre) and team captain Scott Neidermayer celebrate winning Gold in overtime against USA in Men's Hockey at Canada Hockey Place.