The Plano Photography Club aims to promote enjoyment, mastery, and further development of photography through cooperation, effort, and good fellowship. Serving Plano and the surrounding areas, we welcome photographers of all skill levels.

Review this slide presentation to learn more about the club. Then join us at our next monthly meeting and get to know the friendly folks in the Plano Photography Club.

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION | BECOME A MEMBER | RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP

Parvin Stiles

October is a photographer’s dream! From the State Fair of Texas' neon lights and wild crowds to the vibrant Dallas Arboretum, chili cook-offs, and, of course, our fall trip to North Carolina, there’s no shortage of epic photo ops!

The Arboretum is a pumpkin paradise again this year, featuring over 110,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash that transform the garden into a visual masterpiece celebrating Mexican culture, contemporary art, and the harvest season. They’ve reimagined seven iconic regions of Mexico—and yes, your camera is going to work overtime.

And here’s a quirky twist: when the festival ends, the Dallas Zoo rolls in like pumpkin ninjas, swooping up the pumpkins for their animals. It's a yearly tradition! These pumpkins are grown in Floydada, in the panhandle, also known as the Pumpkin Capital of Texas, by the Pyle family. A true Texas story!

Now, for our October 16th club meeting, our own master photographer, Larry Petterborg, will be on double duty. At 6 PM in the library, he’s kicking off a 2-part training series titled "Criticizing Photographs." Then, at 7 PM, he’ll share "Shots from Field Trips Over the Years," showcasing his amazing images from local field trips. Meanwhile, Carol Barlow, also a master photographer, will lead an orientation class at 6 PM in Room 1.

But wait, there’s more! Our long-awaited fall trip to North Carolina is finally here! From October 20-24, we’ll be based in Asheville, exploring the iconic Blue Ridge Parkway, visiting myriad waterfalls, and capturing epic views with the Smoky Mountains as our backdrop. Who knows, we might even run into Yogi and Boo-Boo Bear along the way!

For those not heading to North Carolina, no worries—check out the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering in the Fort Worth Stockyards from October 25-26! The Chuck Wagon Cook-off is fun to photograph, where visitors can wander through the camps (but sorry, no eating—only the judges get that privilege). The best part? The cook-off event might just be free to the public!

So, grab your camera and get ready for a fall photography adventure—Dallas and beyond are bursting with moments that’ll fill your frame and your heart!

Photo Credit: State Fair of Texas

Ready to flex your creativity?

Here’s a fun DIY challenge for all club members: take your camera (or even your phone) to the State Fair of Texas (September 26 - October 19, 2025) and see what kind of eye-catching shots you can find.

This is a perfect chance to wander at your own pace, experiment, and let your imagination guide you.

Here’s how to get started:

• Pick Your Day(s)/Time: Head out solo or pair up with a friend—whatever feels right for you!
• Hunt for Inspiration: Look for quirky details, fun street scenes, neon lights, wild food, and anything else that grabs your attention.
• Try Something New: Play with different angles, try unique camera settings, or focus on a theme (like “textures,” “faces,” or “patterns”).
• Share What You Find: After your adventure, gather your best photos and share them for inclusion in a gallery on the club website. Everyone’s unique perspective will make for a great show!

Whether you go to the fair every year or it’s your first time, there’s always something cool to discover. Take it at your own speed, have fun with the process, and don’t be afraid to get creative.

Let’s see what amazing DIY fair images we can collect as a club!

Questions? Contact club Activity Chair Mary Ruehle.

Have you attended the State Fair of Texas so far this year? If so, we would like to feature your best images in the slide gallery at right.

To submit photos for that gallery, here are the guidelines:

• SEND UP TO SEVEN (7) of your best pictures to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com.
• The maximum dimension (long edge) for submitted images is 4096 pixels; the maximum individual file size is 10 MB.
• Please include YOUR NAME and the TOPIC in the file name(s) (e.g., BillBragg_StateFair_1.jpg).

The submission deadline is Wednesday, OCTOBER 22, 2025.

We look forward to seeing your photos.

Did you attend the Plano Balloon Festival from September 18-21, 2025?

If so, we want to feature your favorite images from the event in the slide gallery displayed on the right.

Here are the guidelines for submitting pictures for that gallery:

• SEND UP TO SEVEN (7) of your best photos to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com.
• The maximum dimension (long edge) for submitted images is 4096 pixels; the maximum individual file size is 10 MB.
• Please include YOUR NAME and the TOPIC in the file name(s) (e.g., FelixNadar_Balloons_1.jpg).
• The submission deadline is SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2025.

This gallery is now CLOSED. Thanks to everyone for your submissions.

Larry Petterborg

Bio:  Larry joined the Plano Photography Club before moving to Dallas in 1999 and is currently also a member of the Heard Nature Photographers Club, the Dallas Camera Club, Friends of Hagerman NWR Nature Photography Club, and PSA.

Following a two-year term (2020-2022) as President of the Dallas club, Larry assumed the role of Director of Field Trips. In that capacity, he plans and coordinates at least one activity a month for club members.

Generally, the club goes on two (Spring and Fall) out-of-town/overnight trips a year. During the other ten months, the field trips are close to home, generally on weekends, making it easy for club members to participate.

Program Description: This presentation will showcase images captured over the past several years during Dallas Camera Club field trips in and around the DFW area.

The emphasis of the program will be on sharing and discussing photographs captured at venues close to home. While it is great to travel to far-off exotic locales for photography, there are plenty of places nearby to capture fun and interesting images.

Examples of Larry's Photography

The Plano Photography Club's September contest is a PRINT competition with the theme OPEN. Please review the print contest procedures before submitting your print.

Electronic entries must be uploaded to the PPC Competition Site by 11:59 PM CT on Thursday, October 16, 2025. SUBMIT CONTEST IMAGE

NOTE: You must be a Plano Photography Club member to submit contest images.

Award recipients in the Plano Photography Club August photo contest were announced during the club's monthly meeting on Thursday, September 18, 2025.

Detailed results are listed below; honored photographs are visible on the right.

Congratulations to the awardees, and thank you to all competitors.

• 1st: I've Looked at Clouds For a Long Time Now... - Terence Jesper
• 2nd: Sunrise in Honduras - Christy Garcia
• 3rd: TGIF - Robert Meehan
• HM: Peaceful Inspiration - Ann Tilger
• HM: NO!!! I'm Not Eating Your Grass - David Valdez

• 1st: Cherries - John Copes (2nd Place Overall)
• 2nd: Time Stood Still on the Hill - Athul Sudheesh
• 3rd: Fragile Beauty - Dennis Hahn
• HM: Desk Plant - Steven Wilson
• HM: Wichita Mountains Sunset - Frank Barnhart

• 1st: Urban Flow - Jin Li (Best of Show)
• 2nd: A Little Late-Night Exploration - Alan Abair (Honorable Mention Overall)
• 3rd: Tufted Coquette - Jodi Smith
• HM: Calla Lilies On White - Richard Kidner
• HM: Not a Model, a Hospice Nurse - Heidi Heisel

• 1st: Moraine Lake, Banff NP - Clive Fernando (3rd Place Overall)
• 2nd: Historic Gem on Route 66 - Janice Goetz
• 3rd: Between Falling and Flying - Eddie Yu
• HM: Stormy Clouds - WenChi Lee
• HM: Log Pod Mangartom at Sunset - Linda Grigsby

Full-Screen Slideshow | Gallery | Judge's Commentary

Standings: All Levels | Entry Level | Intermediate Level | Advanced Level | Master Level