David Cooper 2012 favourites

David Cooper - Chief Photographer - @whatzname07

Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista playfully sticks his tongue out at photographers during photo day at spring training in Dunedin March 2, 2012.

Lucas Oleniuk: The Year In Review

Lucas Oleniuk - Staff Photographer - @LucasOleniuk

The year was a mixed bag of stories and travels that introduced me to a varied cast of characters and put me in some intersting locations.  

One location I will remember well is the edge of runaway 24R at Toronto’s Pearson Airport. That is where I produced this collage portraying the airport’s busiest day of the year.

Read the story behind the image and have a look at Randy Risling's accompanying video:

In the Photographers Words

 

Steve Russell's favourite pictures of 2012

Steve Russell - Staff Photographer - @RussellPhotos

These are my favourite pictures and links to some of my favourite assignments.

Ten metre platform diver Meaghan Benfeito trains at Montreal 1976 Olympic Pool, April 2, 2012. Benfeito and diving partner Rosaline Filion won bronze in 10 metre platform synchronized diving in London.

2012 Richard Lautens' favourite photos

Richard Lautens - Staff Photographer - @rlautens

It's so hard to choose my favourite photos of the year.  Favourite photos are not always the best photos but ones I feel a real connection with for a variety of reasons.   I have my favourites of the bunch-do you?

After a major strike by mine workers, 46 people were killed in the ensuing clash between security, police and the workers.  The father of a slain miner, Mxolisi Sompeta is seen in their small family home in the village of Kwadick in South Africa.

Bernard Weil 2012 Favourites

Bernard Weil, Chief Photographer, Multimedia - @bernardweil

Fourteen month old Jesse Arrigo and his mom Kristin lie quietly in a hyperbaric chamber at the Ontario Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Centre in Toronto. Jesse survived a near drowning in a backyard garden pond earlier this year. From what the family has learned they are looking not at months, but years of therapies that are not covered by OHIP.

Colin McConnell's 2012

Colin McConnell - Staff Photographer

Lionel Richie, taken at the Four Seasons Hotel, was in town promoting his new comeback country music album called Tuksegee.

Rick Madonik - 2012 year ender

Rick Madonik - Staff Photographer - @Rmadonik

 

Its that time of year again, when we each search out the pictures of the last year and revisit what we liked best, or had the most impact, from stories we've been involved with throughout the year.

Please remember to vote for your favorite picture in order to qualify for a prize offer.

 

 NIAGRA FALLS, ONTARIO -  Nik Wallenda, of the famous Willenda family, attempts to cross Niagra Falls on a tight rope (cable) from Goat Island, New York, to Niagra Falls, Ontario as seen from atop the Skylon Tower, on June 15, 2012.

 

TORONTO, ONTARIO - Four of the famed Canadian Snowbirds pass each other in opposing directions, two headed east, two headed west. The 63rd annual Canadian International Air Show, a featured act of the annual CNE, took off Saturday, September 1, 2012 with three solid hours of air demonstrations. The show featured the Royal Canadian Air Forces Snowbird demonstration team.

 

2012 by Tara Walton

Tara Walton - Staff Photographer - @Taralynwalton

Stella enjoys a warm May afternoon laying on the front lawn of their east end Toronto home, with both her Mommies and her brother Sam, May 30, 2012.  At two years old Stella was diagnosed with a inoperable brain tumour, doctors had given her three months to live. More on Stella here.

Tell us you favourites and win.

Dear Readers,

Over the next two weeks, each day we will be running a portfolio of each photographer's favourite pictures from the past year.

To participate in the contest simply identify your favourite picture in comment section on the bottom of the blog or reply to the @TOstarphoto twitter feed or respond each day on the Toronto Star Photo Department facebook page.

Each comment will count as one "ballot" (max one ballot per day per person) 

At the end of the two weeks we will draw for the prizes.

 Top prize will be a $250 Henry's School of Imaging gift certificate.

There will be other prizes ranging from a T-shirt to other Toronto Star swag!

Please check in every day to see our favourite work.

Thank you from the Toronto Star Photographers.

And because it would be weird to have a photo blog without any pictures, here is a small sample of some of the pictures.

DAVID COOPER - Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista playfully sticks his tongue out at photographers during photo day at spring training in Dunedin.

All I want for Christmas is a Lego ME!

Steve Russell - Staff Photographer - @RussellPhotos

Sometimes people compliment me on my creativity, I'm flattered but the truth is I'm at the mercy of the creativity of the people that I photograph.

That was true last summer when we were visiting the cottage of a friend and their super creative seven-year old.

I was chilling when Fynn cut in on my summer reading by presenting me with a Lego me. 

The glasses, hair, smile, square-ish body with a round head! It was an incredible likeness of me!

I tried to get back to my book, but Fynn's imagination tore me from the pages of the book and into a world I was more familiar with. My career in Lego.

Lego me and real me look a lot alike, real me is less yellow.