Return to work

Rick Madonik, Staff Photographer

Last Friday I returned to work, after an abscence of almost two months. Maybe some of you noticed, but wouldn't be offended in the least, if you didn't. (I expect I will one day write about why I was off, but for the moment its safe to say it was work related.)

I was a bit apprehensive about returning, if only because I hadn't been in "the swing" of things for a while. It usually takes a few days, a few events, to get my head back "into it" when it comes to the daily requirements. For sports, it also takes a bit of time to regain the timing, and anticipation of play, that is needed.

Although I wanted to "ease" back into it - and working weekends and nights usually helps that equation - I found myself doing just about a bit of everything in the first week. From sports coverage (Leafs, Raptors and Rock), to breaking news (train derailment and TTC shooting), to portraiture (hero kid) to general news (Toronto Hydro demonstration, subway flood, Mayor Rob Ford talk radio show) and even a bit of a feature hunt (Icefest). It was a smorgasbord of assignments, and after a week back on the job, it kinda feels like I never left.

Via Rail train derailment in Burlington, Feb 26, 2012

 

Toronto Star Photo department, good news and great pictures in the shortest month.

February, the shortest month did not leave the Toronto Star photo department short of good news or great pictures.

The Photo Department is now under the direction of a new Visuals Editor, Taras Slawnych. We are pretty excited about that.

We have also won four Society for News Design awards of excellence for photography. So before we get into the February highlights, here are the four winners:

LUCAS OLENIUK - 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. Read about the story behind this image here!

Eight crazy days at the Toronto International Auto Show.

Steve Russell - Staff Photographer - @RussellPhotos

For the final three days the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto will have to get along with out me.

I've put my time in, for the past eight days I've been The Star's Auto Show shooter.

I have been living the life of Bill Murray in Ground Hog Day,

Every day has started off the same way,

ALARM. Snooze. ALARM. Snooze. ALARM. Wake. Shower. Eat. Kiss kids. Drive. Park. Gear Up. Enter. Walk Past the Bugatti, Bentley, Bentley, Bentley, Fisker. Toronto Star mobile newsroom. Sit. Read Wheels daily show tabloid. Wonder how I'm going to fill the photo holes again.

The Wheels section of the Star decided to put out a daily tabloid section during of the Toronto International Auto Show, kind of a a show newspaper! That meant that I, along with a pair of reporters, had to fill 24 pages each day.

How do I take pictures of the same event differently each day was my dilemma.

Every single technique was used over the week as was every lens in my bag including a tilt-shift.

Trying to make different and engaging pictures was hard but was nowhere near the challenge that negotiating the holiday weekend crowds. 

Things that I hope to do without over the next couple days, new car smell, slamming door and trucks and PC Decadent Cookies!

I had to walk by this car every day. (disclaimer, not my legs pictured above) The 2.1 Bugatti Veyron, 2.1 refers to its price not its engine, the car sells for 2.1 million dollars. It is on display in the Auto Exotica exhibit in the North Building at the Toronto International Auto Show.

January 2012 in review!

Our favourites from the first month of 2012.

KEITH BEATY -  Bridal dress shot for the cover of Special Section's Wedding Planner Issue.

 

Jim Wilkes -30-

After more than 36 years at The Star as a reporter/photographer, Jim Wilkes is taking early retirement at age 60. He leaves today.

In that time, he's won more than 75 awards for writing and photography and has helped mentor many of the profession's young stars.

He has covered stories around the world and around the corner, bringing a personal perspective to events of the day.

The following is a selection of some of his photos from over the years.

1975 – Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau at a campaign stop in Port Hope.

Tannis Toohey 2011

Tannis Toohey - Staff Photographer

December 9, 2010 It was festive down on Queen street even with the lack of snow as David Godsoe carries a Christmas tree out from the Toronto Beaches Lions Club Christmas tree lot.

 February 12, 2011 - Amal Albaz, 16, sings and chants at a Toronto rally celebrating the resignation of President Mubarak and the freedom of Egypt, held at Yonge and Dundas Square.

February 6, 2011 - Families take advantage of Glen Stewart Park's two rinks, one for skating and the other for playing hockey Sunday morning. 

July 20, 2011 - Not everyone is trying to escape the heat, some still like a good suntan, and cool breeze down at the beach in Toronto.

 Toronto Argonaut Joe Eppele planned to climb the CN Tower in a Sasquatch suit (because he is from Squamish, BC) to raise money for the World Wildlife Fund.  Regulations state he can't climb in the suit, but can wear it around before and after his climb.  April 12, 2011

January 17, 2011 - Robert Jones' head tailor, Servino Stillo, sizes up a silly posing Matt Dusk as he tries on a Palizileri Cerimonia tuxedo for the Motionball Gala.

February 23, 2011 - Portrait of Toronto Maple Leaf, Joffrey Lupul in street clothes, GQ style, for story about his buying new clothes in Toronto, after his trade from L.A. 

March 7, 2011 - Portrait photo of Donny Osmond for Richard Ouzounian Big Interview feature.

Portrait of AGO director Matthew Teitelbaum, who curated Paterson Ewen's retrospecitve at the museum.  April 7, 2011

Nicholas Mellamphy poses for The Toronto Star's 30 Best Dressed List. May 27, 2011

Ariel Stagni 'ollies over the hip' in the newly opened Eighth Street Community skatepark in Etobicoke. Seen at lower right is J.J. Harrison, wearing a white t-shirt and white and red shorts.  July 16, 2011

Gaelan Connell gives a battle cry and final strong kick across the finish line of the Toronto Goodlife Half Marathon. May 15, 2011

Ayisha Spence, (middle leaning over crime scene tape) doubles over in tears, and Lesley Parker, (right), react with cries and screams of disbelief as they watch the removal of the body of Clifenton Ford, 38, victim of an early morning shooting at G's Chill & Grill on  Eglinton Ave. East near Midland. Both women have children fathered by Clifenton Ford, 38, Spence has 2 and Parker has 4. Ford was shot and killed this morning at 2:20am. March 28, 2011

Darren Smith removes Ivan, a North American bald eagle, from his truck to return to his perch after free flying at the north end of the airport.  Smith is one of a whole team of Wildlife Control experts are utilized by Pearson Airport to use falcons, hawks, a one bald eagle and a dog to keep birds out of the engines of airplanes at Pearson. March 25, 2011 

Tally, a female Harris Hawk flies out fast from the passenger side window in what they call "car hawking" - where the trainer drives the perimeter of the airfield looking for unwelcome wildlife and rolls the window down when they or Tally see something she can scare off.  Darren Smith is one of a whole team of Wildlife Control experts utilized by Pearson Airport to use falcons, hawks, a one bald eagle and a dog to keep birds out of the engines of airplanes at Pearson. March 25, 2011

Portrait of Cathy Anagnostopoulos, middle, in her hospital room at Princess Margaret Hospital, with  her husband Nick and their three children, Angela, 11 and Gregory, 10, and Alexander, 15 . In mid-February Cathy was a part-time pharmacist, raising her three children and kickboxing. She'd been having headaches. In the span of one week, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia. She will need a stem cell transplant, but doesn't have a match in her family. The family is making a public appeal for people to join the registry -- which only takes a mouth swab and what is essentially a donation of blood. April 7, 2011

 

Rick Eglinton 2011

Rick Eglinton - Staff Photographer

 Argos Quaterback Cleo Lemon still holds the ball but loses his helmet after being knocked down by Bombers Joe Lobendahn during first quarter action. July 23, 2011.

Jim Rankin 2011

Jim Rankin - Reporter/Photographer                                                                                                                @jleerankin

TUNIS, Tunisia - Graffiti in downtown Tunis thanks Facebook and the role social media played in the revolution. 

Carlos Osorio Favourites from 2011

Carlos Osorio - Staff Photographer                                                                                                             @carlososorio

 

A model wears a creation from the Mélissa Nepton show during Toronto Fashion Week on October 20, 2011. 

Richard Lautens 2011

Richard Lautens - Staff Photohrapher

Rachel Heap-Lalonde looks on as Alice Heap sleeps and Dan Heap gets ready to get into bed. The sad housing situation of former Spadina MP Dan Heap and his wife, Alice who have no secure residence and are sick. They rely on family to camp out in their room at night to help them. October 12, 2011.