Sunday, November 30, 2008

Fireworks And Lights To Kick Off The Season!




The City of Toronto's kicked off its month long series of events called Cavalcade of Lights Saturday night! It wouldn't be the holidays without lights and lighting displays. This year over 20 neighborhoods and tourist attractions will be lit up with holiday cheer! There are also fireworks and free concerts on the first three Saturdays in December at Nathan Phillips Square. The first of which I photographed against the Christmas lit CN Tower which I guess can now claim worlds largest Christmas decoration!!!

Note: All images and text (not specified) is copyrighted by Christopher Cushman. This site does not specify or denote the sexual orientation of any model and as such please post your comments accordingly.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Dance Through Life in the Toronto Star!

Great news as we get a mention in the paper and on-line edition of the Toronto Star this weekend. We are featured in the entertainment sections massive holiday gift guide!

Here is the online version sans the guys flying...

Here is the actual link to the Toronto Star, You will have to scroll down to the dance section.

Note: All images and text (not specified) is copyrighted by Christopher Cushman. This site does not specify or denote the sexual orientation of any model and as such please post your comments accordingly.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

A Glorious Take On The Messiah

Just a reminder that Ballet Creole's Glorious Soulful Messiah is next Friday and Saturday! Tickets are available at the Fleck Dance Theater(formally the Premier Dance Theater at Harbor Front) You can purchase your Tickets here!


Note: All images and text (not specified) is copyrighted by Christopher Cushman.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Much To Be Thankful For!


(Kieth Haring's balloon debuts in this years Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade)

What a tremendous year I have had! To say that I am blessed could be an understatement and I wanted to take a moment to just reflect publicly these blessings. To start I am blessed with relative health and the well being of a good job and a roof over my head and clearly this is something to be thankful for going into the end of this year. Photography as you might tell is such a big part of my life and this year I was able to move my craft in so many significant ways. My first Book Dance Through Life was published and while still early has received allot of positive attention! Additionally I was able photograph the Poster and Card for the holiday presentation of Ballet Creole's Glorious Soulful Messiah which was such an honor! So many thanks to my friend Kevin Ormsby, Patrick Parson and all of the dancers from Ballet Creole! And to all of the other dancers who participated in our book!

I've also been able to contribute to Toronto's Expose Magazine at several amazing events this year including Fashion Cares Gala, The Bell Gala, and Pen Gala just to name a few!!! So mush thanks to Cindy and staff of Expose!

I am also blessed with great friends and family who have all contributed in significant ways in 2008. Your support of me and my life is so important you just don't know...
Special shout outs to Black Cat, Polly and Murchy for bring me into their worlds and allowing me to photograph some amazing events like Summer Splash 08! To Travoy and the entire House of Monroe! Wow you guys are awesome! Nigel,Dave,Abdi & Rinaldo,Andre (both of them;-)!),Prince,Fidel,Kenny,Kareem,Kyle,Arlando,Paul...yikes and all the rest of my kids! Erin my manager, Brian my mentor... Lasaunji (my crack reporter in the field and need I say best Judy!),Jerris, Dewayne and Derrick for making a home for me when I am home! To Curtis for still KICK'n it in Detroit and everyone else who has crossed my path in 2008! If I missed your name its not because I don't love ya!

To my Blogoshere friends, Joe, Ocean, Frank, Nijadude(Mo Ni Fe e Temi!) and the over 50,000 visitors from all over the world. Your stories,comments and emails inspire me to move forward with my dreams.

Finally I just wanted to say how much I'm looking forward to 2009! I know that times are looking to change in ways we may not like in the coming months but I want to remind everyone that many of us elected a new President on the ideal of Hope and Positive Change with the rally cry of Yes We Can! Remember that energy and thought can work for you as well! It works you have seen it and you know its true. Things may look bad but its all in how you face it that makes the difference in life! So Yes You Can.... God Bless the United States and Canada and God speed Barack! We got ya back!
Let me leave you with this:



Note: All images and text (not specified) is copyrighted by Christopher Cushman. This site does not specify or denote the sexual orientation of any model and as such please post your comments accordingly.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

A New Blog

To those of you who know me you know that photography is not my only claim to fame. I started as an illustrator/designer in the creative field. You also know that there is a big part of my life that can best be described as Nerdy in the extreme. To celebrate this aspect of my life I have established a second blog!

This blog will trace my professional involvement with Star Trek, Star Wars and other Sci-Fi endeavors over the past 19 years. With a new Star Trek movie about to drop I also will be providing my thoughts about the new JJ Abrams movie. If you are at all interested in this genre feel free to visit my new site Trek Geek
For those who follow this blog...fear not...its not going anywhere!

Note: All images and text (not specified) is copyrighted by Christopher Cushman. This site does not specify or denote the sexual orientation of any model and as such please post your comments accordingly.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Now This Makes Sense!

Given all of the craziness happening in and around California's Prop 8 loss I thought this apparent lesson in collective spirit was in order. Why is it that children seem to be able to get it right!?! It's a rhetorical question... no need to answer.

Note: All images and text (not specified) is copyrighted by Christopher Cushman. This site does not specify or denote the sexual orientation of any model and as such please post your comments accordingly.

Jensen in DC


Jensen receiving a plaque durring a three day Jensen Atwood Appreciation weekend in DC at the end of October.


I want a drink of what she's having!!!!

Looks like a fun weekend!

Note: All images courtesy of Lasaunji Colston EN's Ace reporter in the field! This site does not specify or denote the sexual orientation of any model and as such please post your comments accordingly.

Sunday, November 09, 2008

Detroit 67

Never been a fan of Sam Robertson. Its not that he isn't talented, it's because his genre of rock isn't what I am listening to much these days. But recently a friend from Detroit turned me on to a politically and racially charged song that speaks to the lingering effects of the race riots of 1967. A subject covered here previously. I was shocked at how close to the mark Sam hit at the feelings and emotions attached to that era especially given that he was born in Quebec in 1974. I wondered where his motivation and clear understanding of that time and place originated from? And I still do. I was seven when the riots broke out in Detroit and I have clear memories of that time and grew up with the after effects on that most difficult time in our history. So Sam you hit the mark and I'm a fan.


Note: All images and text (not specified) is copyrighted by Christopher Cushman. This site does not specify or denote the sexual orientation of any model and as such please post your comments accordingly.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

First Copy of Dance Through Life/ First Ballet Creole Poster!!!


I took today off to absorb and reflect on the events of the past 24 hours, about noon the post knocked at the door with the first copy of our new book in hand! I nervously signed and then opened the package... My first whole book... I have said it before but there is just no describing the feeling you get when you have the finished product from your creative endeavors and hold it in your hand...

Kevin came by and we had to document the moment appropriately with a final picture!

The blessings continued as Kevin brought the finished poster and card for the fall winter Ballet Creole season! I had taken the photo a couple months ago in a Catholic Church located on College Avenue in Toronto. Its been a very satisfying few days... and I am blessed with a good friend in Kevin! Thanks my friend!
Note: All images and text (not specified) is copyrighted by Christopher Cushman. This site does not specify or denote the sexual orientation of any model and as such please post your comments accordingly.

Holt Renfrew Kicks Off The Holiday Season With Macy Gray and Patti LaBelle!










Note: All images and text (not specified) is copyrighted by Christopher Cushman. This site does not specify or denote the sexual orientation of any model and as such please post your comments accordingly.

"Change Has Come To America" Yes We Did!



In my short 48 years I have been witness to some amazing moments in human history. Events both good and bad.... I have seen man land and walk on the moon, I have seen the Berlin Wall fall, I have seen presidents and preachers assassinated for what they believed in. I have seen war and peace. Tonight I can add one more thing to my list of moments. The election of an African American to the Presidency of the United States of America. Obama, 47, will now begin his transition to the White House. He will be sworn in at the 44th president on January 20, 2009.

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America -- I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you -- we as a people will get there,"

"This is your victory." "To those Americans whose support I have yet to earn -- I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president too,"

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

"We have never been a collection of individuals, a collection of red states and blue states," Obama said. "We are and will always the be the United States of America."

"It's the answer that led those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day. It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment change has come to America."

This is your victory. And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime -- two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.

To those -- to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.

This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.


Note: All Images tonight are from various artists and photographers who have inspired me with their work.

Monday, November 03, 2008

22nd Annual Fashion sCares!

Fashion Cares 2008 is the 22nd gala to support ACT (Aids Committee of Toronto). This years event coincided with Halloween and as such was dubbed Fashion sCares! The Halloween motif included and Alfred Hitchcock inspired fashion show... and a costume contest.... The event hopes to raise more than 1 million dollars this year.

Kevin and I covering the event

Kevin walking the red carpet!

Cedric getting ready for the opening act!


Took lots of pics from the event and will post after they post at the magazine...Till then a taste of the music from the event...


Note: All images and text (not specified) is copyrighted by Christopher Cushman. This site does not specify or denote the sexual orientation of any model and as such please post your comments accordingly.

Sunday, November 02, 2008

Published! Dance Through Life


Dance Through Life was a true labor of love for Kevin and myself as well all of the dancers who participated. What started as a simple dance shoot two years ago has blossomed into a awesome book that speaks to non-dancers and dancers alike as it depicts our common humanity. Dance Through Life is a dance photography project dedicated to capture the Art of Dance within the parameters of everyday life. The project hopes to capture the innate relationships between dance and everyday life. Images of dance performed in non-traditional locales hopefully demystifying dance as being inaccessible and drawing the obvious metaphor that while all can not express life with such movement and physicality, we all love and move with our own signature grace. Therefore we all dance!

All of the dancers donated many hours to rein-vision dance as a more accessible art form in Toronto. Profits from this project will go towards various youth dance initiatives in the greater Toronto area where the money is desperately needed to support new and emerging dance artists. You can help by purchasing a copy of Dance Through Life at this link: Dance Through Life

The following pictures were shot at various times during the last two years to document the process of creating the book.








Note: All images and text (not specified) is copyrighted by Christopher Cushman. This site does not specify or denote the sexual orientation of any model and as such please post your comments accordingly.