Air Yoga

Steve Russell - Staff Photographer

It was one of the coolest things I've covered this year.

I'm always enthralled when I cover something I could never be good at, like yoga.

But to combine that with aerial silks!

I'm always amazed at the ingenuity of people. 

Allan North, centre, begins the warm-up with the cat-cow pose for Zero-Gravity Aerial Yoga. Pickering's Suzanne Hennig has come up with Zero-Gravity Aerial Yoga (ZGA), a yoga/acrobatic/ fitness program designed to increase overall health, physical strength and flexibility while having fun.

The class does the dancer pose with the help of the suspended silks at Zero-Gravity Aerial Yoga.

The silk is used to support a Linda Moore's feet at Zero-Gravity Aerial Yoga. The "silks" differ from those used by aerial artists only in the bottom, those for aerial acrobatics are open on the bottom while those used for yoga are closed, forming a hanging silk loop.

Allan North suspended by the silks performs the inverted cobbler pose at Zero-Gravity Aerial Yoga. Pickering's Suzanne Hennig has come up with Zero-Gravity Aerial Yoga (ZGA) through her experiences and expertise as a Yoga Teacher and with top aerial artist Rebecca Leonard. 

A suspended bound angle pose at Zero-Gravity Aerial Yoga. 

Allan North does the side plank during Zero-Gravity Aerial Yoga.

Meaghan Morse, left, goes into a shoulder stand during  Zero-Gravity Aerial Yoga.

Desiree Norlock does a shoulder stand during  Zero-Gravity Aerial Yoga.

Desiree Norlock does a knee to chest pose during  Zero-Gravity Aerial Yoga.

The silk is used to support a Linda Moore in the easy seated pose.

Meaghan Morse relaxes in a cacoon of silk.

Meaghan Morse goes into the eagle pose during  Zero-Gravity Aerial Yoga.

The class goes into the eagle pose.

The class uses silks to manouver themselves into various adapted yoga poses. 

Sarah McCarty experiences a little pain trying out a new pose during Zero-Gravity Aerial Yoga.

 

 

Memorial Cup Memories

Steve Russell - Staff Photographer

A rare visit to the Toronto area for the junior hockey tournament offers up a chance to cover a sporting event where every game means something.

Here are a few of my favourite pictures from my coverage of the tournament.

Arena staff wait for the pregame flood before placing the nets.

He grills, he scores

by Bernard Weil, Chief Photographer/Multimedia

It's not every day one gets to dine with a famous former Toronto Maple Leaf hockey player. Such was the case when Photo Editor Tim Finlan handed me an assignment to photograph hockey legend Borje Salming, who was in town to promote his cookbook Grilling with Salming, at Toronto Star Food Editor Jennifer Bain's home. 

When I arrived, the first thing I noticed was the pint sized barbecue, similar to one my son Tyler bought me for Christmas. Jennifer just purchased it for the shoot but voiced her concern that it might be too small. I knew it would not be an issue. As it turned out, Salming was unfazed by the puny grill and with legendary greatness, just shy of a hat trick, prepared a main dish of Chinook salmon from British Columbia and finished with grilled pineapple over coconut gelato and maple syrup.

 

“One thing I did learn on the ice . . . is that you can’t win without taking risks,” writes Salming in his cookbook. “The same rule applies to barbecuing: you must take some chances.”

 

Up close and personal with the "chicks"

Rick Madonik, Staff Photographer

Sunshine, the first of the four falcons presented, tastes water for the first time. The water was used to help calm the birds down.

Forgotten Fort

Rick Madonik, Staff Photographer

Fort York staffer, Ewan Wardle, fires off a Light Infantry Pattern musket during a demonstartion at historic Fort York.

As a native Torontonian (OK, technically, North Yorker) I find there are few places in the city I haven't been before. That's not to say I've been everywhere, but having grown up here and having worked here for the vast majority of my career, its not a stretch to say I've seen most corners of the city. This past week, I ended up twice at Fort York, a historic Canadian settlement which houses Toronto's oldest building and was the scene of battle in the War of 1812.

Ironically, this week's visits equal the number of times I've visited Fort York in my entire life. I do remember going as a kid (as most Grade VIII students from Toronto School Board do visit) and I vaguely remember shooting an assignment there about 10 years ago. Other than that, in spite of it's location and picture possibilities, I haven't found myself there. Until this past week.

With an open page for pictures from Victoria Day events for the Tuesday paper, the photo department has been visiting a number of places over the weekend for a "wrap up" presentation. Fort York, because it is a holiday, has some special features on - the one I was interested in was musket firing.

Honestly, I thought there would be at least a small group of muskets, but in fact there was only one - handled by Fort York staffer Ewan Wardle. Once an hour, on the half hour, Wardle attracted those visiting the Fort with a single volley. As people congregated he explained his costume (7th Battalion, 60th Regiment) and the 12-15 second process to arm, load and fire the musket.

Although I only needed one picture to fit into the theme for the page, there were a bunch of pictures which I liked but were destined to not find a home in the paper. So, they find their home right here!

Ewan Wardle, speaks to the assembled crowd as he explains the firing of his Light Infantry Pattern musket.

Ewan Wardle, shows the crowd how to prepare his Light Infantry Pattern musket for firing during a demonstartion at historic Fort York.

Fort York staffer, Ewan Wardle, following a demonstration of firing his Light Infantry Pattern musket leads a group of kids in a "charge" of enemy positions.

Four-year-old Felipe Ramirez, 4, of Toronto, hams it up while learning how to "charge" during a demonstartion at historic Fort York.

A group of kids learn how to  "charge" enemy positions at historic Fort York.

Staff from Fort York, dressed in period costume, enter historic Fort York. Fort York had a number of events on today, including a dance recital and musket firing, for the holiday. Today is Victoria Day.

A woman, dressed in period costume, walks between buildings at historic Fort York.

Argonaut sails into retirement

Rick Madonik, Staff Photographer

Argo defensive tackle Adriano Belli, in a sailor's suit, stands at on the bow of Kajama, and blows a kiss. 

Toronto Argo defensive tackle Adriano Belli recently retired from the CFL aboard the Tall Ship Kajama, a fitting end for a "boatman."

Belli, a Toronto native, played in the NFL, XFL and CFL over an 11 year career. Belli is one of those guys with a dual personality. Known on the field as nasty, and annoying, he is widely known off-the-field as kind and funny. Belli also was nicknamed "the kissing bandit" for his propensity to kiss people on the cheek.

For his retirement party, Belli donned a sailor's suit and held a party on the ship during a three hour cruise. Family, friends, teammates, former coaches, cheerleaders, were all on hand to wish Belli good fortune in the future.

The retirement speech was full of humor and gratitude. Belli, ever the centre of attention, played his role well and was one of those players we (photographers) will miss. He was a character both on, and off, the field. He wasn't afraid to be himself and he certainly liked the attention.

Belli, in a sailor's suit, kisses Argo cheerleader Anna (right) as Krissi (right) looks on as he makes his way to the bow of the ship to announce his retirement from the Toronto Argonauts.

Belli gives Mayor Rob Ford a hug and kiss just before announcing his retirement from the Toronto Argonauts. 

Belli stands with a painting presented to him which was painted by a fan.

Belli speaks with the media after announcing his retirement from the Toronto Argonauts.

Watching the Liberals lose

Rick Madonik, Staff Photographer

RCMP survey the room where Liberal Leader Michael Iggnatief will speak later at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto following the election results. The room was not open to the public until 9:30 pm.

The room which was reserved for election night results for Michael Ignatieff, was, by far, the quietest night of election return coverage I’ve ever witnessed.

The doors to the actual room remained closed until 9:30 pm, but once open, there was a trickle of people who entered. The quiet, and the mood, of the room, definitely foreshadowed what was about to befall the big Red Machine.

As the numbers rolled in, a small crowd began to gather. As folks stood about and witnessed the returns, their faces told the story. Everywhere we (the media) looked people seem transfixed - their expressions glum.

When Ignatieff did enter the room, he came to the stage with a mighty smile, but the smile seemed a bit forced and his body language told a different story. When he chose to speak was also a bit unusual. No one had yet been declared winner in the riding, but Ignatieff took to the stage to profess his wish to stay on. For those of us who have watched politics for a while, it was a bold statement. Surely, the Party would not be happy with the results of the campaign. Some would call immediately for his resignation.

When it was revealed later Ignatieff lost his seat, the writing was on the wall. The following morning, Ignatieff resigned as Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

With a new majority government for Stephen Harper, as well as losing Official Opposition status for his own party, AND having lost his own bit for reelection, Ignatieff's experiment in federal politics came to a quick, and swift, end.

 Liberal staffers arrange signs outside the room Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.

Liberal Party staffer John Moser stands by signage of leader Michael Ignatieff as staff prepare for the speech later in the evening.

Three people watch TV in the room at the Sheraton where Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff would later deliver his concession speech. 

Liberal supporter Robb Collis watches results at Sheraton Centre where Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff's campaign came to an end.

Buttons sit upon tables unused as a small crowd gathers at the Sheraton where Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff would soon appear.

 Faces in the small crowd show the mood in Liberal land.

 Laura Hodgins (right) and her sister Jennifer watch results at Sheraton Centre.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff arrives in the room at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto after election results.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff speaks at the Sheraton Centre.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff leaves  the Sheraton Centre in Toronto accompanied by wife Zsuzsanna Zsohar.

UFC129 through the fence!

Rene Johnston - Staff Photographer

It has been a long time since I shot something totally new and through a fence at that!

The UFC 129 at the Rogers Center was by Toronto standards was huge. 55,000-plus screaming fans that got there early and drank a lot of beer.

Shooting photos was like going back 10 years when the autofocus was not that good and very slow. Also not very reliable.

The walls of the octagon causes major auto focus problems as the chain link fence in front of the subjects, who were moving very fast and could make a photograph at any second. The autofocus tends grab the fence often.

So it was back to the future and the focus ring on my Canon 70-200 and 24-70 zoom lenses got a workout, the first in a long time. The long lens for close up and waist above action and the short zoom for the wide stuff that included kicks to the head!

Actually, one could not really shoot automatic on exposure either because the backgrounds are completely black which will mess with the best camera's metering systems.

It was great to have the butterflies and not really knowing how things were going to play out again. I found it funny as I showed up very early to see veteran shooters from the other local stables eager and working out problems on the fly just like we did when we went to venues for the first time and did not have secret parking spots yet!

A ring girl shows the third round card outside the octagon on Saturday.