If you attended the North Texas Irish Festival (NTIF) photo activity any day during the weekend of February 28 - March 2, we hope you had a great time and were able to take some memorable photos.
As is common with club member activities, we would like to feature your images from the event in the slide gallery you see on the right.
We look forward to seeing your pictures.
The Great Junk Hunt
The Great Junk Hunt is bringing its unique shopping experience to Texas for the first time on March 14-15, 2025, and members of the Plano Photography Club are invited to check it out on Saturday, March 15.
The event brings together curated vendors offering unique treasures in a 90,000-square-foot venue. Enjoy a lively atmosphere with cocktails, live music, and a vast array of vintage and repurposed items.
You'll discover a wide range of styles, including farmhouse, industrial, rustic, shabby chic, and handmade goods.
The Great Junk Hunt Dallas promises an exciting experience where shoppers can find one-of-a-kind items and photographers can create one-of-a-kind photos.
And to make it even more fun, we are holding a photo scavenger hunt during our visit: the letters will be J U N K H U N T. Those are the photos we'll be requesting to post on the club website.
Location: Dallas Fair Park | Centennial Hall, 3929 Grand Avenue, Dallas, TX, 75210 | Directions | Parking
Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM (meet at Gate 2 off Haskell Avenue)
Admission: Saturday Early Bird (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM) $12 | General Admission (anytime after 10:00 AM) $10 | Credit Cards Only at the Venue (No Cash Accepted)
Parking: $15
BUY TICKETS TO THE GREAT JUNK HUNT DALLAS
Group Lunch Location: Pepe's & Mito's Mexican Cafe | 2911 Elm Street, Dallas, TX, 75226 | 214-741-1901 | Directions
Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025
Time: Table Reservation at noon CT
Parking: 3012 Elm Street, Dallas, TX, 75226 (next door to McMurray Metals Co.) | Directions | $5
Location: Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden (8525 Garland Road, Dallas, TX 75218)
Date: Friday, March 21, 2025
Time: 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM CT
During this time window, any member of the Plano Photography Club attending with our group may walk and photograph the grounds of the Arboretum. Tripods will be allowed.
Irwin Lightstone has once again used his connections (Thanks Irwin!) to get us access to the Dallas Arboretum early in the morning to photograph tulips and all the other beautiful plants on display.
Details
- REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED for this event (click the Registration button below)
- There is no limit on the number of PPC members who can attend
- Attendees must park in the lot accessible at the Gate 1 entrance (located at the intersection of Garland Road and Whittier)
- Attendees MUST be physically present at the Main Entrance of the Arboretum by 7:00 AM; please plan to arrive a few minutes early so that members can enter as a group
- Attendees will be admitted onto the grounds as a group; any individual who arrives at the Main Entrance after the group enters the Arboretum may be denied admission
- Attendees will be allowed to use their tripods until 9:00 AM (when the Arboretum opens to the public); no tripods may be used after that time
- Attendees may remain at the Arboretum after 9:00 AM and continue taking photographs for as long as they wish, subject to item (6) above
- There are no official lunch or brunch plans, but some people will almost certainly get together after the shoot; this will be decided on-site
As a condition of providing access under these terms to the Plano Photography Club, the Dallas Arboretum is requesting copies of five (5) photographs captured by each attendee. Details will be communicated when we collect images for display on the club website.
REGISTER FOR THE DALLAS ARBORETUM PHOTO SHOOT
Registration closes on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 9:00 PM CT.
If you have questions before the event or when you arrive onsite at the Arboretum, contact Activity Chair Mary Ruehle (email).
Spring is Coming - A Promise!
Parvin Stiles
Isn’t it amazing how the weather can go from the teens in the third week of February to the 70s in the fourth? I’m ready for Spring so I can get out there and capture all its beauty through my lens!
The Spring Equinox is Thursday, March 20, at 4:01 AM Central Time - perfect timing because it's also the day of our general meeting! Guests are totally welcome! At 6:00 PM, Carol Barlow will conduct an orientation class for new and prospective members in Room 1. Simultaneously, Larry Petterborg will be in the library talking about "Preparing for Competition: What Judges Look For." And at 7:00 PM, we start our regular meeting with guest speaker Jeremy Woodhouse, who will share an inspiring program titled “Beyond the Snapshot.” Trust me, you won’t want to miss it!
And that’s just the beginning – we have some seriously fun activities lined up! First, we’re heading to Texas Rose Horse Park on March 1 to photograph the elegance and grace of riders and horses in motion. It’s going to be a beautiful sight to capture! On the same weekend, you may want to join in the fun at the "Eat, Drink, and Be Irish" event during the North Texas Irish Festival and snap some lively moments.
But wait - there’s more!
The Great Junk Hunt at Dallas Fair Park (March 15) is a perfect chance to practice still-life photography, all while enjoying the hustle and bustle of the bargain shoppers.
Let’s not forget the Dallas Arboretum in Spring - it's breathtaking! We plan to meet at the main gate as a group on March 21 at 7:00 AM. A huge thank you to our member Irwin Lightstone, who has arranged special entry for us. And because I love a good challenge, I’m going to throw one out there: How many tulips can you line up in a row?
Finally, I’m excited for our Spring trip to the Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma, April 14-16. Think bisons, elks, prairie dogs - but NO moose! So you can relax, you won’t get charged by a giant angry moose, I promise! Now picture yourself surrounded by mountains, prairies, shrubs, rocks, I mean like giant granite rocks, having a ton of photo opportunities. It doesn’t get any better than that, and then all just a few minutes away from civilization and juicy restaurants. Think bison dodging prairie dogs while you’re snapping shots of nature at its finest, maybe winning a photo contest, receiving great accolades, becoming rich and famous, who knows!
But for me? It’s all about the fun, the photos, and hanging out with friends!
Winning Images from the January 2025 Club Contest
Topic: Open (Electronic)
(Click any image to see it full-screen)
Award recipients in the Plano Photography Club January contest were announced during the monthly club meeting on Thursday, February 20, 2025.
Detailed results are listed below; honored photographs are visible on the right. Congratulations to the awardees and thanks to all competitors.
Entry
- 1st: Happy Hump Day - Jonathan Biser (Honorable Mention Overall)
- 2nd: Bow practice - Dennis Hahn
- 3rd: Security Guard - Janet Yiu
- HM: Portrait in bamboo - David Valdez
- HM: One Lightbulb - Lisa Wilkins
Intermediate
- 1st: The troll tongue or Trolltunga, Norway - Chung Oey
- 2nd: Heart to Heart Connection - Jodi Smith
- 3rd: Lightning Storm Patagonia, Arizona - Rachel Allen
- HM: Jazz Hands - Robert Turnage
- HM: Strawberry Parasol - John Copes
Advanced
- 1st: Focused fedora - Mark Bernthal (Best of Show)
- 2nd: Girl on Fire - Eddie Yu (3rd Place overall)
- 3rd: Backyard Firewood - Sanjay Kaul
- HM: Mother Love Baby Mandrill - Siu Wong
- HM: Shades - Fred Manchester
Master
- 1st: Bitchu Matsuyama Castle of Clouds - Linda Grigsby (2nd Place overall)
- 2nd: Ride Like The Wind - Anita Oakley
- 3rd: Someone to Lean On - Dennis Fritsche
- HM: McKinney Blacksmith - Larry Petterborg
- HM: Waiting for the Perfect Moment - Janice Goetz
Full-Screen Slideshow | Gallery | Judge's Commentary
Standings: All Classes | Entry | Intermediate | Advanced | Master
Plantation Inn
As was announced at the January club meeting, we're heading to the Wichita Mountains this spring.
Our field trip is set for April 14-16, 2025, and we'll be based at The Plantation Inn in Medicine Park, Oklahoma (map).
Built on the original foundation of the old Oklahoma Press Association's Clubhouse and re-created from old photographs to look like the original building, The Plantation Inn has the charm of yesteryear with all the modern conveniences.
The Inn has 20 rooms (a mix of upstairs and downstairs) and reservations just opened up for the week of our trip.
If you're interested, don't wait to book your room.
RESERVE A ROOM AT THE PLANTATION INN
We're still finalizing some trip details, but stay tuned - we'll share more info in the coming weeks.
Got questions? Reach out to Mary Ruehle, our Activities Chair, and she'll get you the information you need.
The following Plano Photography Club member(s) received recognition in the February 2025 Gulf States Camera Club Council photo competition:
Color Projected
- 1st Honorable Mention: The Dying Light Beneath The Rim, Grand Canyon - Fred Manchester
Monochrome Projected
- 2nd Honorable Mention: Smooth Sax Man - Lynn Barrett
To see the winning images and a full list of award recipients, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.
Training (6:00 PM CT) - Preparing for Competition: What Judges Look For (Larry Petterborg) | New and Prospective Member Orientation (Carol Barlow)
Program (7:00 PM CT) - Jeremy Woodhouse: Beyond The Snapshot
Jeremy Woodhouse
Bio: Jeremy Woodhouse is a British-born photographer known for his breathtaking landscape, wildlife, cultural and travel photography. With a career spanning over twenty-five years, Woodhouse has traveled to 100 countries across the globe, capturing vivid and dynamic images that showcase the beauty and diversity of the world's natural and cultural landscapes. His work is characterized by its vibrant colors, intricate details, and ability to evoke a strong sense of place.
Jeremy’s journey into photography began with a passion for adventure and exploration, naturally leading him to document his experiences through the lens. In 1999 he transitioned from a career as a graphic designer in Texas to become a full-time photographer, blending his artistic background with his love for the outdoors.
Through his affiliation with several influential stock libraries, his photographs have been published in their thousands, and he has won numerous awards for his work.
Woodhouse also leads photography tours and workshops, sharing his expertise with aspiring photographers, helping them hone their skills in some of the most picturesque locations worldwide.
You can see examples of his work and his tours at pixelchrome.com.
Program Description: Why a photo taken while traveling does not necessarily make it a travel photograph.
Samples of Jeremy's Photography
The Plano Photography Club's March contest is an ELECTRONIC competition with the theme OPEN.
Electronic entries must be uploaded to the PPC Competition Site before 11:59 PM CT on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
NOTE: You must be a Plano Photography Club member to submit contest images.
Jay Miller | Aviation Photography
Janet Cunningham | Lensbaby
Ben Jacobi | Jacobi Creations, LLC
Graham Hobart | Infrared Nature and Wildlife Photography