The shortest month was not short of great pictures!
KEITH BEATY - Jack Gidlow and Eleanor Palmer are 92 and 88, but that doesn't stop them from going dancing at the legion hall every Friday night.
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February 2011
02/28/2011
02/27/2011
Raptors go from up 16 to down 18.
Steve Russell - Staff Photographer
For the first half it was a different team from the one that took the floor friday night. They took every aspect of that game against the Suns and turned it into a 18 - 2 lead against the Dallas Mavericks.
It was awesome to watch, the problem was, once Toronto had that 18-2 lead the game was 112-78 after that.
A Raptor player hangs onto the mesh during player introductions.
02/25/2011
Steve Nash and Vince Carter on the same team might have confused the fans
Steve Russell - Staff Photographer
Secretly before the game the moment I was hopeing for was that Steve Nash and Vince Carter would be on the floor at the same time and begin to pass the ball back and forth. I was hoping the fans would cheer each time Nash got the ball and boo everytime Vince touched it, it never happened.
Vince was greeted with boos but not like before, maybe because it was his third team since leaving the Raptors or maybe because we love Steve Nash or maybe because the Raptors were never really in the game that was a lot more lopsided than the 110-92 spanking they got!
Steve Nash returns to the ACC!
Continue reading "Steve Nash and Vince Carter on the same team might have confused the fans" »
02/21/2011
Jim Rankin reports from where it all began with a Fruit Vendor who had too much.
Jim Rankin / Reporter-photographer in Tunisia
As part of the Star’s continuing coverage of the unrest in the Arab world, I was assigned to go to Tunisia, where it all began with one man and a match. You can read my full story and watch a narrated video of my still here but I thought I’d share some of the pictures here, with a bit of background on the assignment.
My job was to turn around a 3,000-word story in a week on how the Tunisian revolution happened and what’s next, file updates and photo’s to the Star’s live Arab World Today blog and pull together a multimedia piece.
In a word, it was fun. And safe.
Unlike other countries like Bahrain and Yemen, where people are dying, Tunisia had shed the blood necessary to topple a leader by the time I arrived and the people are moving on toward an uncertain, yet exciting future.
Tunisians were still giddy with their new-found freedoms. The country – with the Mediterranean Sea to the north and Sahara Desert to the south – is stunningly beautiful and now on my radar as a future vacation destination. As for the people, they are lovely.
Here’s a sampling of my week in Tunisia.
A woman strolls past graffiti thanking Facebook for its role in the revolution. I shot this with my trusty Nikon 20 mm, f2.8. Note slight vignetting in the corners.
Islamists and supporters protest the continued detention of political prisoners in the streets of Tunis, the capital. There are almost daily protests, demanding everything from better working conditions to students demanding an end to police interference with teachers.
A long lens shot of the same protest. I used two Nikon bodies and a Canon point and shoot while there, the latter in the event that using a large DSLR attracted unwanted attention. I didn’t have that problem.
Again, same protest, in close with the 20 mm lens. The sign, in Arabic, says: "Where is the promise of the general amnesty?" Its in reference to political prisoners who are supposed to be freed but continue to be detained. Many of them belong to an Islamist party that was outlawed under the previous regime.
A minor scuffle breaks out during a protest by Islamists and supporters, who are demanding the release of political prisoners. Tunisia is a secular state. The Islamists make up a small minority.
A police officer pleads with protesters to leave a busload of police with riot gear alone. There was some pushing but nothing serious broke out. It was getting dark when I shot this. ISO 3200, f2.8, 1/500th of a sec.
A group demands fair treatment for police who were ordered to crackdown on civilian protesters prior to the revolution.
Tunisians visit an abandoned villa belonging to relatives of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Many homes belonging to the family were abandoned, as family members fled the country. Tunisia believes the family left with untold riches and wants the money back. This home was torched and gutted.
Sonia Rafrafi, 45, and mother Dalili Rafrafi, 77, tour the abandoned villa.
The villa’s swimming pool.
An unusual lull in the normally bustling Media suuq in Tunis. Life is returning to normal in this North African country of 10 million.
Boys play tennis in a vacant lot in central Tunis.
L'amour at a cafe on Avenue Habib Bourguiba, a main street in Tunis that resembles Champs-Elysees in Paris.
Hitching a free ride on a street train in Tunis.
Father and daughter on a busy central street in Tunis.
Tunisians celebrate the news that Egypt's Hosni Mubarak is stepping down. It was a special night in Tunis. Thousands took to the street to show their support of Egyptians. I had the BBC on in my hotel room and was filing when the news broke. In a matter of minutes, I could hear the streets of Tunis erupting into car horns and cheering.
Men embrace in the streets upon hearing the news Mubarak was leaving.
A peace sign in support of Egyptians.
A wall inside the home of Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old fruit vendor set himself on fire on Dec. 17. He is considered a martyr and the spark that started the revolution. His face adorns a calendar hung in the entrance way. I visited his mother and family on the 40th day following his death, the final day of mourning. They invited me in but apologized that there would be no interviews or photographs of them on that special day. They offered tea and fruit and his mom spoke of her lost son, a good son who never left his mother alone.
02/19/2011
UPDATED: The Story behind the Toronto Star front page picture by Lucas Oleniuk in Bahrain
Lucas Oleniuk - Staff Photographer
I was following a group of Shiite protesters, about 1,500 of them, marching downtown to Pearl Square from the town of Budaiya on the outskirts of Manama on Friday evening.They had heard they would meet a pro-government rally in the centre of Manama, so they expected to be met by police.
The protesters turned down a street near Pearl Square - the scene of earlier clashes between protesters and police - and about half a kilometre away, you could see there was a blockade. We got to about 300 metres from where the government security forces were standing, some dressed in military fatigues, others in plain clothes.
There was a small barricade in front of them, a line of about eight fences that said "police" - their line in the sand.
There were about 30 protesters ahead of me and behind me the rest of the crowd, more than a thousand more.
Some protesters brought flowers to present to police, but there's a sentiment of martyrdom that does not escape these people right now. They are ready to be met with force. They are ready to be fired on.
I approached carefully, expecting the police would unleash tear gas, or give a warning to stop. We crossed the police barricade, and about 20 seconds later, they started firing. The barrage of fire lasted a good 10 seconds. I thought police were firing live ammunition over our heads, then people started falling.
The photograph on the front page comes from a burst of frames I shot after first lifting my camera to my eye. I ran, photographing the fleeing protesters, but when I looked back and saw an injured man lying on the ground, I stopped to take pictures of him and others carrying him to safety (above).
Some protesters returned afterward, ready to be fired on again.
What was I thinking? Well, I had these tight back muscles, because I was hoping nothing hit me in the back. There was a lot of adrenalin going through me: What should I look for? How can I portray this?
I took to safety quickly. It's risky being here, so to come away from it without an image that represents what happened is my biggest fear.
Holding flowers a Shiite anti-regime demonstrator turns to run as a large group of demonstrators drew fire from Bahraina security forces near Manama when they tried to march downtown to the Pearl Square from the town of Budaiya Friday evening. A state sanctioned pro-regime rally was underway in downtown Manama when the clash occured.
The next frame shows the demonstrators and and the odd angle of Oleniuk's camera as they run.
A protestor, unconscious and not breathing, was rushed away from Bahraini security forces after being shot in the head moments earlier. A group of Shiite anti-regime demonstrators drew fire from Bahrain security forces near Manama when they tried to march downtown to the Pearl Square from the town of Budaiya Friday evening. A state sanctioned pro-regime rally was underway in downtown Manama when the clash occurred.
Shots have been fired, man falls. Bahraini security forces fired upon a group of protestors, some of whome, were transporting a man with severe abdominal wounds to an ambulance.
Part of the Centre spread in the Saturday Star on Lucas Oleniuk's picture.
Video of the incident that Lucas was involved in. You can see Lucas sprinting with camera to his eye at about 53 seconds in!
A day later the demonstrators followed by Lucas Oleniuk enter Pearl Square
02/15/2011
An assignment at Blue Mountain flashed me back to Vancouver!
Steve Russell - Staff Photographer
Yogi Berra once said, "This is like deja vu all over again." and for me it was!
I never imagined that one year after the Vancouver Olympics that I would find myself on the bottom of a mountain shooting skiers.
A year ago Cypress was my office, I covered Heil's Moguls silver on a rainy opening day, Maelle Ricker dominating the field in Snowboard Cross to win gold, Mike Robertson's silver in Snowboard Cross and Jasey Jay Anderson striking gold finally in the Parallel giant snowboard slalom on a foggy last day.
It was a nice surprise to open my assignment on friday and see that I was going to shoot the Rockstar Ski Cross Grand Prix at Blue Mountain in Collingwood.The best part was that Canadian Chris Delbosco ended up winning!
A skiier makes their way down a hill next to the Rockstar Ski Cross Grand Prix at Blue Mountain in Collingwood. February 11, 2011.
Canadian fans were out in force at the Rockstar Ski Cross Grand Prix.
Kelsey Serwa of Canada wins the small final, for fifth place.
Nick Zoricic of Canada leads his heat of four to finish first in the small final for fifth overall.
Fans cheer for the beginning of the big final.
Canadian Chris Delbosco leads over the final jump to win the Final.
Canadian Chris Delbosco wins the Final at the Rockstar Ski Cross Grand Prix at Blue Mountain.
Flashback to Cypress Mountain one year ago.
February 9, 2010, Helichopters bring in snow from the Alpine areas to the snowboard course at Cypress Mountain in Vancouver.
February 13, 2010 Hannah Kearney is congratulated Shannon Bahrke as Jennifer Heil reacts to finishing in the Silver Medal position in the Freestlye Moguls at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
February 15, 2010 Mike Robertson, #3 in the Men's Snowboard Cross pulls away early on the mountain to win his semi-final. He went on to win a silver in the final at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
February 15, 2010 Canada's Robert Fagan fought off pushes from Austria's Lukas Gruener In the Men's Snowboard Cross small final (consolation for 5-8) at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
February 15, 2010 Gate Judge Bill Drake watches a heat of racers pass through his area In the Men's Snowboard Cross at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games at the Cypress Mountain.
February 16, 2010 Italian Raffaella Brutto wipes out on the final jump in the women's Snowboard Cross at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Gameson Cypress Mountain.
February 16, 2010 Quarterfinal Heat 2 lead by Olivia Nobs (4) of Switzerland followed by Helene Olafsen of Norway and Faye Gulini (12) of the USA in the women's Snowboard Cross at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games on Cypress Mountain.
February 16, 2010 Canadian Maelle Ricker makes the final jump to win the Gold Medal in the women's Snowboard Cross.
February 16, 2010 Canadian Maelle Ricker wins the Gold Medal in the women's Snowboard Cross.
February 27, 2010 A snowboard coach takes the chairlift up before Jasey Jay Anderson wins the Gold medal in the Parallel giant Slalom at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games at the Cypress Mountain.
February 27, 2010 A reporter takes cover from the cold rain as the Parallel giant Slalom runs at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games at the Cypress Mountain.
February 27, 2010 Jasey Jay Anderson wins the Gold medal in the Parallel giant Slalom at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
February 27, 2010 Jasey Jay Anderson wins the Gold medal over Benjamin Karl from Austria in the Parallel giant Slalom at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games at the Cypress Mountain in Vancouver.
Steve Russell Olympic Blogs,
Spinning heads of figure skaters
The Toronto Star Photographer's favourites
02/13/2011
Hazel turns 90
Carlos Osorio - Staff Photographer
Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion turns 90-years-old on February 14th. She celebrated with her constituents at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga. Here are a couple of photos from the mayor's party.
The mayor awaits her guests.
The mayor joins in with Habeeba's Dance Troupe.
She also danced with the Hawaiian Pacific Magic Dance Group.
The mayor was presented with a big birthday cupcake.
The mayor smiles as she receives a hug.
One of the many birthday cards given to the mayor.
The mayor speaks to the crowd near the end of the party.
02/05/2011
Canadians Rally for Egypt.
Carlos Osorio - Staff Photographer
Today at Queens Park over 600 people took part in a peaceful rally in support of the Egyptians in Tahrir Square. Here, like in Egypt, the message was the same: Hosni Mubarak must step down.
Eman Ibrahim pauses for a moment during the rally.
Hana Zaghloul, 7, chants along with the adults.
The people walked along College St. to Yonge St. and then back to Queens Park via Wellesley St.
People held signs that read "No Mubarak" on one side and "Yes Democracy" on the other.
As the march moved along College Street a man in a streetcar gave a thumbs up.
Amal Moustafa chants while holding an Egyptian flag.
Sherin Elagan lets her voice be heard during the rally.
Mohamad Fouda waves an Egyptian flag while on the shoulders of Ahmed Ebrahim as the march moves along College Street.
Ragaa Abdelfattah listens to the speeches.
02/04/2011
Luckily, the streak ends at 13 for the Toronto Raptors
Steve Russell - Staff Photographer
Even though I'm not a Leafs fan I still want to see them do well. It means that the photo department will have interesting things to do. A playoff run will put a photographer or two on the road with the team and two or three might cover home games.
The same goes for the Raptors, except I'm a fan! It hurt me to to see the team go through their latest losing streak. But I was glad I was able to be on the floor to shoot them snap that streak!
Sonny Weems tosses his warm-ups to the training staff before the game!
Toronto Raptors point guard Jose Calderon (8) scoops a loose ball away from Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love as the Toronto Raptors look to snap a 13-game losing streak.
Toronto Raptors centre Andrea Bargnani (7) makes a great play in the corner to save a pair of fans' beers.
Toronto Raptors power forward Amir Johnson (15) dunks in the first half.
Toronto Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan looks for the foul as he is helped up by Toronto Raptors power forward Amir Johnson in the second half.
The fans were happy as the Toronto Raptors break their 13-game losing streak with a 111-100 win over the 11-38 Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jay Triano calls for a foul as the Toronto Raptors break their 13-game losing streak with a 111-100.
Toronto Raptors shooting guard Sonny Weems (24) scores on a fast break in the second half.
Toronto Raptors power forward Amir Johnson (15) looks for the hoop under Minnesota Timberwolves centre Darko Milicic (31).
Minnesota Timberwolves centre Anthony Tolliver has a neckful of Toronto Raptors power forward Amir Johnson as he boxes him out on a foul shot.
Toronto Raptors centre Andrea Bargnani gets a shot around Minnesota Timberwolves centre Darko Milicic to score two of his 30 in the game.
Toronto Raptors Andrea Bargnani (7), DeMar DeRozan (10) and point guard Jose Calderon (8) wait for the ball to be inbounded.
Toronto Raptors point guard Jose Calderon tells his teammates to clam down with two minutes left in the game as the Toronto Raptors break their 13-game losing streak with a 111-100 win over the 11-38 Minnesota Timberwolves.
Toronto Raptors power forward Amir Johnson makes a key basket for the Toronto Raptors in the final two minutes.
Toronto Raptors point guard Jose Calderon celebrates Amir Johnson's basket.
Toronto Raptors power forward Amir Johnson's head makes a run each time he scores!
Toronto Raptors small forward Julian Wright (14) celebrates his dunk with a teammate with 24 seconds left in the game.
Toronto Raptors power forward Amir Johnson (15) enjoys the win as the Toronto Raptors break their 13-game losing streak with a 111-100 win over the 11-38 Minnesota Timberwolves.
The skinny on....er....in the game.
I thought that Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Corey Brewer had skinny legs, even with his leggings......
But then I saw Toronto Raptors 7'1" centre Solomon Alabi's legs!
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