I am new here, saying hello...

[LinzRiverBalmer]

Hello to all, this seems like a friendly bunch with good things to offer so I figured I'd give it a go.

Happy to have found this site by way of Doug Brown's website, via Keith Bauer's website.

I'm another Albuquerque lifer.

Amateur at photography myself, but come from a family ingrained in the business.

my father is Dean Balmer, now and always a pro photographer, now doing videos with a small group.

My parents owned a pre-press business back before everyone could do computers themselves.

So I grew up around color books, 4 color separations, and really picky super artists.

Birds, raptors in particular are special to me, partly in spirit, partly the way I grew up. When you grow up around Hawks Aloft folks its hard not to love birds in general.

I'm a former equestrian, mostly jumping. Former white water rafter.

Over the past several years my health has declined so photos took over for not being able to do everything I want.

Love to learn, but these days have my limits.

I do most everything hand held, but I only use bridge or advanced point and shoots, I can't handle the weight of extra lenses and gear for DSLR capabilities.

to the detriment and complete confusion of family and friends I have entered photos in our fair for the past 3 years.

First year garnered nothing but well taught lessons.

2012 resulted in a first place in the sunrise sunset category with a Sandhill Crane shot at Bosque Del Apache.

This year got me a 3rd in a huge animal category with a hummingbird shot.

i love Macro, Avian, Equine photography, but tinker in everything.

I am a purist and don't do much post processing, though I have a few images I'm playing around with.

Would love some critiques, but have this problem that I like to keep photos a secret if I'm planning to use them in a contest.

So I might start with one in the willing to learn critique section.... Then see what happens.

nice to meet everyone :)

[Marina Scarr]

It's a pleasure to meet you and welcome to BPN. We are both former equestrians. :). Back in the day I was a 3 day eventer and show jumper. There is a 2 week equestrian event here each year which I enjoy photographing but my fav subject is birds. You have come to the right place for learning. Looking forward to seeing some of your images. Getting the first one up there is the toughest but it will be woryh it bc you will learn so much.

FYI ownership may ask you to change your user name to your actual name since I believe this is one of those sites which prefers using actual names (although I like the one you picked.)

[LinzRiverBalmer]

Hello Marina,

thank you very much.

I am attempting to upload a file but having trouble finding the manage attachments section stated in how to post.

as for my name, thanks for letting me know..... But that is my real name, I always shorten my first which is Lindsay to Linz. Middle and last are correct.

i was in a raft at 3 months, that's where the River comes in....lol

[Christopher Miller]

Welcome to BPN, Linz! I also use a bridge camera, Olympus SP-550 UZ, instead of a DSLR. What kind of camera do you use?

Because you are a forum participant, you'll need to host your photo on another site, like Flickr for example, and then use the "Insert Image" button to add it the post. Alternatively you could become a BPN member; it only costs $20 a year and will allow you to use the BPN servers to host images among other benefits.

Looking forward to your participation!

[LinzRiverBalmer]

Thank you Christopher!

i figured it out and have one pending approval.

i will become a member as soon as I have my computer back and can fully participate. I'm a bit limited on my mothers iPad, and only have it part time.

cameras.....

we are canon people or Fuji..... So my first digital was a Fuji.

followed by 2 canon powershots, the original S1 IS and then S2 IS

then 2 years ago I got a Sony cybershot dsc hx 100/v with a Carl Zeiss lens and fell in love. It's had numerous problems, been sent back twice but its my go to camera for dirty or water logged events.

dad was not happy about a Sony, but I have tremors really bad and the steady shot on the Sony is far superior, I'm told because they use their television technology in the cameras.

it also has killer in camera HDR

last year Sony had it for 3 months while we were on a trip so I purchased a Nikon Coolpix P510..... Love love love.

dad insisted on getting the Canon Powershot S40 HS for the trip..... Great pictures but hard for me to handle so selling to a friend.

birthday gift this year is the newest Sony the cybershot dsc hx 300, the zoom is incredible, still the best in steady shot. so far happy girl.

i don't do anything simple so I will walk around well roll in wheelchair with multiple cameras in tow.

thanks for the welcome

[James Shadle]

Welcome to BPN!!
I look forward to your participation.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Hi Linz,I thought I already said hello via smart phone but not so smart as obviously it didn't go thru. Welcome and I love the name BTW. Congratulations on your accomplishments thus far and I encourage you to participate here and possibly even become a member as I feel there is so much support here and great advice from some extremely talented photographers. I too rode English as a kid but I spent most of my time on the opposite side of the jumps face in the sand. My horse seemed to like that trick of stop before the jump and see what happens to Cheryl LOL. Looking forward to your posts

[LinzRiverBalmer]

Hi Cheryl and James...

thank you for the welcome, and I just paid for my membership. Still no computer, maybe next week, so a bit limited.

but I'm on a time crunch for some input and to learn a few things before a competition, so here goes nothing.

Cheryl, I know the sand routine, my Dad has some awesome shots of me as a kid face planting.

hopefully I will have better luck here....lol

[Daniel Cadieux]

Hi there Linz, welcome to BPN (and thank you for the membership support)!! You'll soon find out, if not already have, that this is the best place on the net for bird photography...you'll learn tons here, we all do

[Sandy Witvoet]

Hi Linz.... We've already "connected" via ETL.... but great to have you on board! I owned horses for 30+ years.

[Don Lacy]

Hi Llinz and welcome to BPN if you have any processing questions feel free to post them in the digital forum or PM me and I will do my best to help you out.

[Doug Brown]

Welcome Linz! It's good to see a fellow ABQ resident here on BPN! Look forward to seeing your image posts!

[LinzRiverBalmer]

Thank you all very much.

i will be able to do much more once I get my computer back.

father has had it for over a month, problem in the restore that was probably always there.

luckily he fixes computers, though mostly macs, so saved everything for me.

however now the dell hard drive is crashing his Mac, so he's on the phone with non helpful people.

its a pain but maybe I will get a newer better computer out the deal.

so, Don, those post process questions may hit your inbox at some point....lol

Doug, you as well, I was born an raised here, love it. Only place I like more, the Boundary Waters of Minnesota where my Dad was raised

[Grace Scalzo]

Welcome, Linz. I can't say that I was ever an equestrian...grew up on a farm and rode a mean pony, mostly bareback. Does that count? Anyhow, Looking forward to getting to know you better. This is a great place to learn all kinds of good photography stuff.

[LinzRiverBalmer]

Grace in my opinion.... Bareback matters and counts more than anything else.

for all you horsey people and non check out www.freeridenz.com, or her YouTube videos, her name is Alycia Burton.