Cool idea - I'm looking forward to participating in this site!

[Matt Storlie]

Hello, everyone! I'm a YML listener and photo enthusiast, and am looking forward to being a part of this social network! I'll have fun exploring the site when I'm not busy with my new job or chasing after my 18-month old son! :) Matt

[Shawn King]

18-months? I smell many baby pictures coming up! :)

[Matt Storlie]

Oh, yes, definitely! As a teaser, here is a link to one of my Web Galleries out on my .Mac site with a few b&w pictures of our pride and joy - enjoy! :)

Jonah Matthew Storlie

By the way, yesterday I received an 8x11 hardbound book via Apple's iPhoto service that I put together for my wife, Anne, of Jonah's first 18 months - and it is absolutely beautiful! We're already working on another book with pictures of Jonah with all of his family and friends. Apple still has a 20% discount through this Friday (2/29) on books and calendars ordered through their site. I just love how Apple manages to make me look like more of a professional than I think I am with all of their products! [;-o

[Shawn King]

LOL He's gorgeous! I'm curious as to why they are all in B&W. Interesting choice on some of them.

[Matt Storlie]

Thanks, Shawn! :) We were just being artsy and messing around in iPhoto with the pictures to see what they would look like in b&w - all of them were taken in color - because we were printing them off to put up in the house. We weren't sure if we were going to do them all in color or b&w - ultimately we went with color. So this was more of an experiment. But I'm sure I'll be putting more pictures out on our website in the future in full color! lol

[Shawn King]

Cool! I'm not saying they looked bad in B&W - matter of fact, the last one looked *great* in B&W - I'm always curious why/how folks use B&W.

[Matt Storlie]

I use b&w sparingly, but love the format myself. I usually shoot with my old Nikon SLR and a red filter. But, these photos were all just converted to b&w within iPhoto. And with that last one, I used a blurring effect in iPhoto around the edges of the photo to really highlight him and his sleeping buddy teddy bear, "Otto"! [;-o

[Rick Matteson]

Matt,

Jonah is a b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l baby! The photos aren't too shabby either! (It /does/ help to have such a photogenic subject.)

The only thing I miss in the B&W shots is the color of Jonah's eyes. They must be very beautiful.

[Matt Storlie]

Thanks, Rick! We happen to agree, but of course we are very biased!! Check out the photo of Jonah that I posted earlier this afternoon. Although you can't see his eyes real closely, they are hazel in color (mine are brown and Anne's are blue - go figure - a recessive gene!). We are very blessed to have him in our lives! :)

He is incredibly photogenic, and is very used to Daddy taking pictures of him! It is so funny - as soon as he hears the shutter click - he instantly puts a big grin on his face for the camera! [;-o