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.

Our favourites from October 2012

Just in time for Halloween!

CARLOS OSORIO - Zombies during the Toronto Zombie Walk which began at Nathan Phillip Square and paraded around the downtown on October 20, 2012.

Our September favourites.

 

RICHARD LAUTENS - Devontae Thomas plays in the park before his second birthday party, he was wounded in the Danzig Street shooting earlier in the summer.

RICHARD LAUTENS - Devontae holds hands with a couple of party-goers just before the party starts with his scar on his head clearly visible.

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.  

Toronto Maple Leafs lose Randy Carlyle's first home game.

Steve Russell - Staff Photographer - @RussellPhotos

As a photographer covering a sporting event nothing beats covering a team the first few games after a coaching change. It seems that all the players are putting it on the line. The game seems faster and more physical. Almost a taste of play-off intensity.

The Leafs first home game with Randy Carlyle on the bench was no different.

Loads of hitting and three scraps. I think in the last 10 games I've covered there might have been three fights.

Besides a rolling out a new coach, other types of games that generate that same kind of feel are a big trade, coming off an embarassing loss and of course a team with an arch-nemisis type player (think Alfredsson)

Every pre-game, Tyler Bozak knocks over the pryamid of pucks in the warm-up as the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Boston Bruins at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. 

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!

Behind the scenes at the ACC

Tara Walton - Staff Photographer

Just a few snaps from behind the scenes of Tuesday's game against the Florida Panthers.

A member of the Leafs ice crew.