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.

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.

Football, Football, Football and other pictures from November!

November featured a lot of football, but here is what happened off the gridiron first.

ANDREW FRANCIS WALLACE - Canadian geese follow a golfer as he walks the 18th fairway at Lakeview Golf Course in Mississauga, November 11, 2012.

The Grey Cup

Toronto Argonauts celebrate winning the Grey Cup after the team is presented with the trophy. LUCAS OLENIUK
 

Rick Madonik, Staff Photographer, @RMadonik

There's no doubt, news photographers always want to be where the action is. Whether its sports, news or entertainment, photogs want to be in a position to capture defining moments and scenes of great emotion. It is, after all, what life is all about.

Our newest incarnation of a boss (we've had six in the last 12 years) is a former picture editor. Since he took the helm of photo - and multimedia - earlier this year, Taras Slawynch, or T as he likes to sign his emails, has shown a lot of passion. He’s brought direction to a department that needed a rudder. This is the 2nd time in the last 5 months we've assembled the vast majority of the 15 staff shooters to converge upon a single "event."

The first installment was Nik Wallenda's walk over Niagara Falls. Last Sunday, we tackled the Grey Cup.

The verdict is in, Mayor Rob Ford is......

Steve Russell - Staff Photographer - @RussellPhotos

.....the coach of a pretty good high school football team.

Every year or so, well every year because of Toronto FC, we go to cover a game with the priority on covering the coach.

Raptors, Toronto FC, Leafs, Argonauts, we have trained our lenses on all their coaches, but until Thursday afternoon I couldn't recall a high school game when I had kept my lens on the coach as much.

The coach, of course, is Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. The mayor was coaching his team in the TDSSAA Senior Boys Metro Bowl Qualifier against Northern Secondary School.

Mayor Ford was in court in the morning defending a libel suit against him and on the field at Birchmount Stadium in the afternoon trying to take the next step to the Metro Bowl.

 

Mayor Rob Ford talks to Chris Fickel, a special assistant in his office and football team volunteer.

Mats Sundin, 1346 NHL games - 564 goals - 785 assists - 1349 points + 1886 pictures.

Steve Russell - Staff Photographer - @RussellPhotos

Here is the Hall of Fame line on Mats Sundin, 

1346 NHL games, 564 goals, 785 assists, 1349 points and 1886 pictures in the Toronto Star photo archive.

Add to this 91 play-off games with 38 goals and 44 assists.

A search of the Toronto Star Archive for Mats + Sundin gives us 1886 hits, here is a selection of 47 of our favourites.

Inductee Mats Sundin shows off his Hall of Fame ring November 12, 2012. Tonight, he and three other NHL greats will be officially inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. -RICK MADONIK

The Toronto Raptors come up a bucket short in opener

Carlos Osorio (@carlososorio) & Steve Russell (@RussellPhotos) 

STEVE RUSSELL - Not everyone had picked up theur season credential as the Toronto Raptors open their 2012-13 season against the Indiana Pacers at Air Canada Centre.

 

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.