Seeking a Leader: The 2013 Papal Conclave

As a result of Pope Benedict XVI’s surprise resignation as leader of the Catholic Church the process to select a new Pope began on Tuesday, March 12, 2013.

From within the Sistine Chapel, 115 Cardinals from around the world would conduct a centuries-old voting process called a conclave to choose the next Pope.

For the first time in nearly 600 years the Catholic Church would elect a new leader after a resignation. 

I arrived at the Vatican on the Friday before the conclave to document this historic event.

Over the next four days I turned my lens to the scene of the conclave, the cast of characters who would decide the direction of the church and the faithful who flocked St. Peter’s Square en masse to meet their new leader.

-Lucas Oleniuk - @LucasOleniuk

One of 115 Cardinals would emerge from the conclave as the new Pope.  His image will become synonymous with the Catholic Church for centuries to come.

 

2012 - Keith Beaty

Keith Beaty - Staff Photographer - @keithbeaty

Bridal dress for cover of Special Section's Wedding Planner Issue.

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 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.

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.

 

2011 by Andrew Francis Wallace

Andrew Francis Wallace - Staff Photographer

September 9, 2011 - Sailboats race on Lake Ontario as part of the 2011 Beneteau First 36.7 North American Championship. 

Best of August

Rick Madonik, Staff Photographer

A look back at the month of August. Generally, a slower month as summer winds down, but this year weather related events and Jack Layton's death - and State Funeral - dominated the news. Here's a look back and both published, and unpublished, photos from The Toronto Star photo department.

JACK LAYTON - 1950-2011

08/25/11 - Olivia Chow, with her hands on her husband's casket, after it is placed in the rotunda of Toronto City Hall. (RICK MADONIK)

Lucas Oleniuk : 2010 in review

Lucas Oleniuk - Staff Photographer

Before arriving in Port-au-Prince to cover the earthquake on January 14, 2010 I prepared myself for an unimaginable horror. It was good thing that I did.  After I witnessed the profound scale of damage, death and sadness it became my paramount goal to document the tragedy in a way that could not be ignored.  The world needed to know that, in a state of chaos, these people were fighting for survival and they needed help.  Maybe more importantly, they needed a little bit of hope.  

I'm proud that the Star was around to get that message out to governments, police, doctors and donors here at home.

The story of Haiti remained a difficult one to cover for the rest of the year.  I watched hundreds of thousands of refugees struggle to survive.  I witnessed cholera deliver a below-the-belt punch to a country already on its knees.  And then, as the year ended, I observed a fraudulent election deprive the masses of their democratic rights.

My heart goes out to the country and to those who are still struggling to survive.

The scene at the Petionville golf course in Port-au-Prince on January, 17, 2010.  Days after Haiti's earthquake killed an estimated 230,000 people the golf course became a refugee camp for nearly 50,000 people.

Steve Russell's favourites of 2010

Steve Russell - Staff Photographer

Each year is busy, but, toss an Olympics and the G20 on top of that and there was a lot of stuff to shoot!

Olympics

February 12, 2010  A snowboarder enters through the rings during the Opening Ceremonies for  the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games at BC Place.

Looking back at 2010

Rick Madonik, Staff Photographer

 

After filtering through my year of pictures the one thing which surprised me most was the number of sports pictures which made my list of personal favorites. In years past, my "yearenders" usually have a balance between news, sports and features, but this year is dominated by Sports. Some of that, obviously, has to do with the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, but I was surprised to find when I picked what I liked best from the year, there was little outside of sports I felt made the grade.

Over the next week or so, this blog, as well as photo galleries featured on the main web site (thestar.com) will feature a variety of "year's best" as selected by the photo staff. I invite you to take a look at various selections. 

What it looks like when you win Gold at Olympics

Canada's Sydney Crosby (left), Joe Thornton (centre) and team captain Scott Neidermayer celebrate winning Gold in overtime against USA in Men's Hockey at Canada Hockey Place.