There was a time about two weeks ago when the Snapz editors were wondering if people in Youngstown

There was a time about two weeks ago when the Snapz editors were wondering if people in Youngstown just might love their pets more than their kids.

Let’s clarify that.

We wondered if readers loved to take photos of their pets more than their kids.

Yeah, that’s the ticket.

After all, were were inundated with fabulous photos of pets full of personality last month.

But looking at the e-mail and the snail mail, we were wondering what happened.

That’s when you cut loose with all the good stuff. The computer in-box was filling up fast. The offerings through the mail picked up. And suddenly we had even more pictures of delightful youngsters than we’d had for the earlier submission categories.

Whew!

So, give yourselves a pat on the back. But don’t think you have time to rest! Next up, we want to see your favorite photos of special cars you’ve owned.

These prime-time rides can be lovingly restored classics or any kind of vehicle that holds a special place in your heart. (We know somebody who still has a soft spot for an Opel Kadet wagon from the 60s.)

Bring them out: The photos of those great rides, with you and your friends enjoying themselves, too. Perfect lighting is wonderful. But a mud-covered 4x4 is just as cool.

pointers

Here are some things to think about when you’re submitting photos for reproduction in the newspaper.

1. Keep the file size large. We can always reduce a photo on the computer, but making it larger is really iffy. Typically, a picture will be less than half the size in the paper that it appears on a Web page.

2. Be sure you have permission to send in the photo.

3. Have fun. People love to see smiling faces and active people.

upcoming months

May: Pride in Rides. Show us your favorite vehicles, regardless of how many wheels. They just need to have their own source of power!

June: Puddle Jumpers. How much fun can you have in the rain?

July: Great Gardeners. Whether it’s grandma’s flowers or the grandkids’ vegetable patch, we want to see some action shots as well as pictures of the results.

So, keep snapping. And we’ll keep running your Snapz!