Phil Cantor Photography

Jack Block, Professor 1924-2010

2010-02-07T16:26:00.002-05:00

Jack Block, my mother's brother, my uncle, died a few weeks ago. He was a Professor Emeritus at the University of California at Berkeley and was famous in psychology circles for one of the longest running longitudinal studies (studying the same focus group over many years, in this case 32 years). He was famous in my family as a strong, handsome man of erudite tastes and a sharp intellect.

His obituary in the New York Times follows.

Jack Block, Who Studied Young Children Into Adulthood, Dies at 85

By MARGALIT FOX
Published: February 6, 2010, The New York Times

Jack Block, a prominent psychologist of personality who in 1968 began studying a group of California preschoolers and for decades kept watch as they moved from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood, died on Jan. 13 at his home in El Cerrito, Calif. He was 85.

The cause was complications of a spinal cord injury he suffered 10 years ago, his daughter Susan Block said.

At his death, Professor Block was an emeritus professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, where he had taught from 1957 until his retirement in 1991.

Professor Block’s project began with more than 100 3-year-olds in the San Francisco area. He studied them again when they were 4, 5, 7, 11, 14, 18, 23 and, finally, 32, when the study ended. Much of the work was conducted with his wife, Jeanne Humphrey Block, a collaborator until her death in 1981.

While other longitudinal studies examined the effects of I.Q. or social class on later life, the one by the Blocks focused on psychological makeup. At bottom, the questions they asked were these: What makes people turn out as they do, and to what extent can adult personality be predicted by childhood temperament?

“It was probably the only one of its kind that started with such young children,” Per F. Gjerde, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, said of the Blocks’ study. Nowadays, Professor Gjerde said, “you would start at birth, but in 1968, age 3 was a very, very early beginning.”

Investigating the ways in which subjects’ early lives informed their later ones, the Blocks looked at issues like childhood responses to parental divorce, adolescent drug use and adult political affiliation.

In a 1986 study, for instance, they examined members of the original group whose parents eventually divorced. Conducted with Professor Gjerde, the study upended the received wisdom that divorce in and of itself causes disruptive behavior in children.

Instead, the authors found, children from the divorced families — in particular the boys — had displayed antisocial behavior years before the divorce took place. In other words, the boys’ behavior, with the stresses on family life it entailed, could have been a cause of divorce as well as a consequence.

A 1990 study, by Professor Block and Jonathan Shedler, found that teenagers who experimented with drugs in a limited way tended to be better adjusted than those who either used drugs habitually or abstained entirely.

Jacob Block, always called Jack, was born in Brooklyn on April 28, 1924. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College and a Ph.D. in psychology from Stanford in 1951.

Besides his daughter Susan, Professor Block is survived by two other daughters, Jody Block and Carol Block; a son, David; and four grandchildren.

His books include “Lives Through Time” (Bancroft, 1971; with Norma Haan).

One of Professor Block’s studies drew particular notice in the news media. Published in The Journal of Research in Personality in 2006, it found that subjects who at 3 years old had seemed thin-skinned, rigid, inhibited and vulnerable tended at 23 to be political conservatives. On the other hand, 3-year-olds characterized as self-reliant, energetic, somewhat dominating and resilient were inclined to become liberals.

Pundits’ responses to the study ranged from enthusiastic approval to caustic dismissal, depending on the politics of the critic.

After Cezanne

2010-01-03T17:21:00.005-05:00

Over the holiday weeks, I had the pleasure of seeing two wonderful art exhibits, which have both since closed. "Cezanne and the Modernists" at the Montclair Art Museum was an aggregation of the effect that Cezanne had on his contemporary painters, sculptors and photographers, as well as those that followed him. He was one of the first of the abstractionists, and the major innovators of the abstract modern style. He affected everybody, including Picasso, Braque, and Arshile Gorky.

In fact, the second show I went to was the Arshile Gorky retrospective at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Armenian-born American artist came of age after Cezanne's death, but his early work was heavily influenced by his French predecessor. Even though he was dead, Gorky was said to have "dialogued" with Cezanne by studying and painting (I say copying) Cezanne's actual work.

Now it is my turn. I found a cutting board laid out with fruit by my pal Arthur Liebersohn, so I dialogued with Cezanne, too.

Mummer's Parade, Philadelphia

2010-01-03T16:15:00.005-05:00

I have always wanted to see the Mummer's Parade and this year I finally made it. It is held every New Year's Day in the center of Philadelphia and has been around for over 100 years. Around 10,000 heavily costumed participants march the three miles up Broad Street from South Philly to City Hall. Reminiscent of New Orlean's Mardi Gras, the marchers work all year making elaborate costumes (many of which are quite politically incorrect). The march is made up of the various clubs that spend thousands of dollars every year to build floats and design costumes. There does not seem to be any other purpose for the parade (such as a fundraiser for needy children) other than to have a good time and to perform in make-up and costume.

As the parade wound down, I found my way to the staging area where all the guys were packing up and breaking down their costumes, adding another chapter to the picture story.

I was struck by the wonderfully gaudy colors and the friendliness of the marchers, who all enjoyed having their picture taken.

A Major Award for Phil Cantor

2009-12-26T00:02:00.006-05:00

I recently was chosen by the readers of theKnot.com, the foremost wedding website as one of the "BEST OF WEDDINGS" for Photography for 2010 for northern New Jersey. An independent research company conducted a secret survey of theKnot's subscribers about their favorite wedding professionals...I didn't even know the survey was being done!

I am pleased that all of my hard work and the work of my photographers was honored in this way. As one of the first three photographers bringing the Photojournalistic style to New Jersey, this award is further validation that the PJ style strikes such a resonant chord with Garden State couples.

Thank you very much to all my wedding clients who voted for me and to the editors of theKnot for selecting me.

The official announcement is scheduled for January 22, 2010.

First Snow Fall 2009

2009-12-06T22:54:00.005-05:00

I awoke to snow on the ground this Sunday morning, so I dug out my cross-country skis and headed for a golf course in Wayne, NJ. Unfortunately, it turned out that the report of enough snow to ski on was wishful thinking, so I got my hiking boots and camera and went up to the beautiful Eagle Rock Reservation in West Orange. The branches were heavy with snow, often bending over to block the trail. When the sun came out and hit these leaves, it made for a magical scene of snow on green leaves and red berries in the background.

I'm still hoping for enough snow next week so I can get my "ski legs".

Fall Hike in the New Jersey Highlands

2009-11-24T21:41:00.005-05:00

On Sunday, Nov 22, I lead a group of friends to the top of the High Point of the Wyanokies, one of my favorite hikes in northern New Jersey. I've probably climbed this mountain about 6 or 7 times. The woods was a carpet of leaves and the weather was mild enough to walk without a jacket. From the top, there was a 360 degree view of the Wanaque Reservoir, nearby summits, and Manhattan clearly visible 40 miles away.

The wonderful photo was shot by Ken Kotowski

One of my main missions on this hike was to break in my brand-new boots. The week before my trusty old Salomon boots essentially disintegrated on the Overlook Rock trail. What was so odd was that I didn't notice any excessive wear on the boots prior to the hike and during the hike, BOTH boot fell apart within 30 minutes.

The bottoms fell off and I had to hike back to the car with absolutely no traction and stopping to pull twigs and rocks from between my toes because of the big hole in the bottom of the sole.

HALLOWEEN Portraits for Food Pantry

2009-11-01T19:24:00.002-05:00

On Halloween day, a parade of cowboys, Snow Whites, vampires and monkeys came through the studio for their annual Halloween Portrait. I had a blast getting all these scary characters to smile for my camera. And, the best part is that it was all for a good cause. All the proceeds from this special went to Human Needs Food Pantry, which has been serving Montclair since 1982.

HALLOWEEN Portraits for Food Pantry

2009-10-30T21:00:00.001-05:00

Parents of trick-or-treaters are invited to bring their costumed kids Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 to Phil Cantor Photography for a Halloween Portrait.

There will be a charge of $39 for the short portrait session. All proceeds will go to Montclair’s Human Needs Food Pantry. Contributions are tax deductible.

In addition to a gift portrait, a copy of each of the scary little creatures will be posted on the Internet so that relatives and friends in faraway places can share in the oohing and aahing. Call 973-783-1065 to schedule your kid’s shoot.

Patients of Courage assignment

2009-09-29T20:23:00.004-05:00

Tonight I just returned from the third leg of my current assignment for Ethicon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. Ethicon is the leading manufacturer of surgical sutures: those specialized needle and thread combinations that surgeons require.

Ethicon has commissioned me to photograph patients who are too busy with important projects to let major reconstructive surgery interfere with their remarkable work. Uday Hateem, having survived an assassination attempt in Iraq where he worked as a translator for Coalition forces, now volunteers as a translator for severely injured Iraqi children at the Shriner's Hospital in Philadelphia for reconstructive surgery.

Janet Smith is a volunteer piano accompanist for her local high school's choir in Canton, Ohio. She did not let a cancer diagnosis and multiple surgeries stop her from getting back to work ASAP.

Abigail Hardin is a 19 year old college sophomore in Tuscaloosa, Alabama who travels around the state reading the book she wrote for children about a hippopotamus who had a birthmark on his face (just like Abigail).

The photographs will be used by Ethicon at the Association of Plastic Surgeons national convention in Seattle at the end of October.

GRAND OPENING of Phil's New Studio

2009-09-18T10:02:00.006-05:00

Montclair photographer, PHIL CANTOR, celebrated the Grand Opening of his photography studio relocated to the historic Murdoch-Fairchild Building on Thursday, September 17, 2009. Montclair Mayor Jerry Fried, assisted by Town Councillors Rich Murnick, Kathryn Weller, Renee Baskerville, and Cary Africk and Business Improvement District President Erik Maran cut the red satin ribbon offically opening the renovated studio. The photography studio features the largest shooting area in Montclair, with 17 foot ceilings, a shooting balcony, a fireplace, two dressing rooms, and, rare for Montclair, lots of on-street parking close-by. The new studio is located at 26 Lackawanna Plaza. You'll know the block: neighbors include Bobbi Brown Studio, Bikram Yoga, 3Sixty Spin, and the YMCA Family Center.

CLICK BELOW TO SEE PHOTOS FROM THE GRAND OPENING

Photography by Ken Kotowski

Grand Opening of new studio LIVE FEED

2009-09-17T16:53:00.001-05:00

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A beautiful spring wedding

2009-06-13T10:53:00.005-05:00

Janet Lee and Robert Loree were married on Sunday, June 7 at the unique Crossed Keys Inn in Andover, New Jersey. Janet and Bob lucked out on the weather...it was definitely one of those rare days of absolutely perfect weather. The two doctors were surrounded by friends and families for a picture-perfect ceremony and party.

Graduation Spring

2009-05-20T10:42:00.000-05:00

My eldest son, Nate, graduated from Washington University in St. Louis on May 15, 2009. The ceremonies were moving and fun and the air was filled with youth, expectation, and possibilities. I made a slideshow that has captured the feeling of the day.

Tribeca Film Festival

2009-04-27T11:11:00.010-05:00

One of the benefits of living near New York is the proximity of cultural institutions. My son, Ethan, is an aficionado of movies, so this past weekend we went to the Tribeca Film Festival to see a new documentary called "The Burning Season." (http://www.theburningseasonmovie.com/). It is the story of a young Australian entrepreneur named Dorjee Sun who wants to establish a carbon trading scheme to save the rain forests around the world. After the movie, the entire audience was invited to a party where Ethan got to meet and chat with Dorjee.

While we were hanging around the movie theatre, we also game across the grand opening of "Rudo y Cursi" and their charismatic young stars Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna, who also starred together in "Y Tu Mama, tambien" from a few years ago. Both Ethan and I are great fans of this movie the work of Alfonso and Carlos Cuaron who wrote or directed these movies.

Needless to say, Ethan was very happy.

Cantor debuts at Yankee Stadium

2009-03-21T11:28:00.005-05:00

For a baseball fan, Yankee Stadium is The Temple of Baseball. In fact, it is referred to as The Stadium. So, when I got called by graphic designer, Jeff Seaver (www.seaver.com) to shoot at the NEW Yankee Stadium, I thought I'd hit a home run!

The Stadium is grandiose. Limestone and marble with a MUCH larger than life feeling. There is nothing 'homey' about Yankee Stadium. Giant entry doors, a Great Hall with 3 story banners of Yankee legends. Chrome and steel everywhere. And, a brand-new Martini Bar!

My client fabricated and installed the majority of all the HANDRAILS in the stadium. I know it sounds mundane, but the hot-dipped galvanized pipes and the absolutely gorgeouse stainless steel rails keep fans moving safely up and down stairs and, more importantly, from falling on the field!

Jennifer Petracca and Doug Rothacker

2009-01-22T19:52:00.002-05:00

On December 20, Jen and Doug were married at St. Mary's Church in Pompton Lakes surrounded by a wall of giant indoor Christmas trees. The church and service were decorated for the holidays as well as for the wedding. Jen's nephew played a guitar solo during the service (as well as an amazing guitar riff at the party!). Speaking of the party, the reception was held at the Mayfair Farms in West Orange and it didn't take too long for the place to start rocking.

Inauguration 2009

2009-01-19T11:59:00.003-05:00

No matter what side you are on, the inauguration of Barack Obama is a new opportunity for our country to regain its stature in the world and in the hearts and minds of Americans. I am quite moved by this video of Pete Seeger, his grandson Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, and Bruce Springsteen; Musicians of three generations with the Lincoln Memorial as a backdrop, singing "This Land is Our Land" on Sunday, January 18, 2009 as the Inauguration festivities begin.

Crossed Keys Inn on cover of NJ Bride Magazine

2009-01-15T23:06:00.002-05:00

The folks at Crossed Keys Inn in Andover, NJ must be really happy today. The latest issue of New Jersey Bride Magazine hit the stands with the Inn on its cover. There's an 18 page section on bridal fashion all shot at one of the premier places for outdoor and tented weddings in northern New Jersey. I know the place very well having shot there more than any other photographer and every where you look there is a great place to take wonderful photojournalistic and creative photographs.

I have to say that it is a great place to get married. In fact, Phil Leo, one of my Senior Photographers, was married there in 2007.

Judith and Tom, part deux

2009-01-07T01:11:00.001-05:00

Anne Becker and Joel Schwartzberg

2008-12-08T21:50:00.007-05:00

The historic Frenchtown Inn was the setting for the November wedding of Anne and Joel. Anne is a teacher at the Montclair Kimberley Academy and Joel is the Director of New Media at NOW, the long running program on PBS.

The Inn, next to the Delaware River in western New Jersey, was an intimate setting for their wedding as they were surrounded by their family and friends.

Towards the end of the evening, Joel's 9-year old son captivated the gathering with a toast to his father and his bride that was as well composed and as mature as any best-man's speech that this photographer has witnessed. On second thought, his speech was MORE mature than 75% of best-man speeches!

Tom Lonergan and Judith Russell

2008-12-08T20:20:00.015-05:00

In late November, two favorite people of mine got married at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Montclair, NJ. Tom is the Executive Director of the Montclair Business Improvement District (one the best run BID's in northern New Jersey) and Judith is a psychologist at Rikers Island.

I'm on the Board of Directors of the BID, so I am one of the many bosses Tom usually has to bow down to. But on his wedding day, Tom was the KING and Judith RULED!

Lots of BID folks were in attendance (see below), the dancing was wild, the food great, and the couple were gorgeous. Their party was held at The Atrium in West Orange, NJ.

Pete Seeger

2008-09-16T20:18:00.008-05:00

Yesterday, I was able to check off a portrait on my Life List. For a very long time, I have wanted to photograph Pete Seeger, one of America's greatest heroes. Born in 1919, he has been at the forefront of the peace movement, the environmental movement, the civil rights movement, and equal rights. Not to mention, he is considered one of the fathers of the Folk Song revival and he wrote, or co-wrote, "Where have all the flowers gone," "Guantanamera," "Turn, turn, turn," and "If I had a hammer."

New York State's Working Families Party is celebrating its 10th Anniversary on September 18 and they asked me to videotape a message from Pete, who would not be able to attend. Of course, I would take still portraits as well.

I had planned on taking my father along with me on this shoot, for no reason particularly, other than I thought they would get along. Sadly, my father died before I could set it up. So, I took my son, Ethan, and poetically, it balanced perfectly since Ethan is a budding filmmaker.

His home in Dutchess County is up a steep gravel road and reminded me of the many handbuilt homes of my friends in the Catskills. In fact, Pete and I talked a while about the mistakes we each made building our own homes. His homesite had a sweeping view of the Hudson River and one comes away knowing why he has spent three decades championing the cleanup of the River.

Pete Seeger is approachable and calm, dignified and contemplative. He has remained true to his mission to make a difference in the world.

Dan Cantor, Pete Seeger, and Phil Cantor
September 15, 2008

WFP-A Message from Pete Seeger from Ethan Cantor on Vimeo.

Two Good Ones in a Row

2008-07-21T15:27:00.003-05:00

My last two weddings were both at the Madison Hotel (I should have just booked a room!). On Saturday, July 12th, Jamie married Eric and on Sunday July 20, Stephanie married David. Despite being at the same venue each one was wonderfully unique.

Jamie and Eric had such a fun and interesting family-Eric's uncled married them- and it was such a treat photographing their energy.

____________________________

David and Stephanie's wedding had some incredible dancing, they can really move! It was a ton of fun, not to mention the Neil Diamond impersonator.

Alice Star Markham Cantor is Bat Mitzvah

2008-04-07T17:41:00.005-05:00

Alice was Bat Mitzvahed this past Saturday at the Prospect Park Picnic House in Brooklyn. She was poised and practiced and gave a marvelous speech about the meaning of biblical Esther.

The ceremony was wonderful: over 30 family members and friends spoke or read poetry. Cantor Doug Cotler, a cousin of Alice's, officiated on the guitar and Alice charmed everyone, including Doug, with her amazing voice.

-----------Oh yeah, Alice is this photographer's niece.

Sammy's Bar Mitzvah

2008-03-29T16:02:00.001-05:00

Sammy Mellman's Bar Mitzvah is March 29, 2008. He is the son of musician Bob Mellman and artist Janice Belove. I first met Sammy, not in my role as photographer, but rather as a baseball umpire for the town of Montclair. Unfortunately, Sammy struck out the first time he came to bat when I was behind the plate. The next time he hit a double. Not bad!

Congratulations to Sammy and the Mellman family.