My name is Michael Montalto and I’m a professional photographer & technologist based out of the greater Chicago area. I grew up on Chicago’s south side in the a neighborhood called Bridgeport and now live in the southwest suburbs.  I am the very lucky father of two smart, handsome, and curious young boys named Kyle & Luke.  They are my greatest source of pride, my biggest challenge, and my most fulfilling reward.  I look forward to including them regularly in my posts and am passionate about teaching them to discover and follow all of their dreams.

The goal for The State of mMerica is to share.  I want to share my work, personal projects, thoughts, feelings, experiences and ideas. I hope to chronicle the above, and I also hope to build a community that fosters learning and growth.  Inspiration is often drawn from the ideas of others, and I believe it is my responsibility as a member of the creative community to support, encourage, and inspire others as often as I can.   I’m forever grateful to those who mentored and motivated me to pursue my dream of becoming a photographer.

I’m known for being intensely driven, real, and deeply passionate about the things that interest me. It’s probably the part of my reputation that I’m most proud of!  It led me to this journey of artistic creation and the joy of creative expression.

I’m a photographer because for me, peace is found behind the camera.

Let’s make extraordinary happen!

-mM