Summer Olympics past as I look to Olympics future

Steve Russell - Staff Photographer - @RussellPhotos

Tonight I board an airplane to make my way to cover my third Summer Games.

While I look forward to the challenge, I worry about the assignment. Just like and athlete before a big event I feel the butterflies.

Here are some of my favourite pictures from my two previous Olympic experiences, Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008.

Some of the pictures are not the greatest but they are special to me.

The Harbour Bridge climb at Sydney Harbour takes three hours and allows you a different view of the Harbour. Climber are taken to the summit of the bridge, almost 150 metres over the water.

Best of June 2012

 

RICHARD LAUTENS - 95 year-old Ida Herbert (she turns 96 in August) teaches her first ever yoga class in Toronto.  She held a class for the 30 or so students at Breeze studio in the Junction.

Our favourites from May

 

TARA WALTON - Ottawa's Helene Campbell poses for photos in her Toronto apartment Monday May 28, 2012 where she is recovering from a double lung transplant.  In April Campbell underwent a double lung transplant at Toronto General Hospital.  During her time on the waiting list Helene became Canada's greatest advocate for organ donation, sparking hundreds to sign up through the power of twitter.

Yonge and Eglinton no longer intersect!

One Yonge Street and Rick Eglinton that is.

Two-time National Newspaper Award winner Rick Eglinton retires this week from the Toronto Star at One Yonge Street.

Here is some of his work over his 26 years at the Toronto Star.

Joe Carter jumps for joy after three-run homer in 1993 World Series win. Rick Eglinton won the National Newspaper Award for Sports Photography for this picture.

 

Our April 2012 Favourites!

 

LUCAS OLENIUK - Jasmin Razak, centre, joined her fellow community members to discuss how the Regent Park revitalization effort has affected lives.  Razak, a long-time Regent Park resident, recently moved from an old building to a new building.

Best of March

Once again, The Star photo department (as edited by Steve Russell) offers up the Best Pictures of the Month. From city politics to news to features to sports, Star photogs cover a variety of assignments bringing their unique eye to the photograph.

TARA WALTON - A Toronto Police Officer stands watch over a taped off area on the edge of Toronto's Don Valley Golf Course Thursday March 1, 2012 near the 401 and Yonge Street .  Human remains were found in the area on Tuesday and are rumoured to be those of missing girl Mariam Makhniashvili, who disappeared Monday September 14, 2009 before school.  

Raptors fade in the Heat!

Rick Madonik, Staff Photographer

The Miami Heat blew into Toronto early this morning after playing last night and still came away with a W despite a close game for the majority of the game. The Raptors began weakly giving up 8 unanswered points but then fought their way back into the game with it pretty much even by half time. But the 4th quarter is where it began to falter, and the Miami triade of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade proved convincing.

For some reason, the Raptors play well against the better teams, but have a lousy time of it against teams much weaker than the statistical leaders. DeMar DeRozan and Andrea Bargnani lead the way, but the efforts were blocked as Miami took the lead in the 4th quarter and never looked back. As a point of order, Chris Bosh threw down a big slam at the end of the game, looked to the crowd with one of his classic looks, and the game ended 113-101.

Miam's big man, LeBron James drives to the hoop unimpeded as the Raptors stand flatfooted behind his advance during 1st half half action.

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.