Plano Photography Club
Learn. Shoot. Share.
A friendly community for photographers of every skill level, serving Plano and North Texas since 1984.
The Plano Photography Club (PPC) aims to promote enjoyment, mastery, and further development of photography through cooperation, effort, and good fellowship.
Call for Photos - State Fair of Texas
The State Fair of Texas, whose commemorative theme and slogan is "Stars, Stripes, and Howdies!," continues through Sunday, October 18, 2026.
After you have attended the fair, we want to feature your favorite event photos in the slide gallery on the right.
Photo submission: Send your best five to seven (5-7) photos to ppcsendphotos@gmail.com for posting in the gallery and viewing in a slideshow at a future club meeting.
Include YOUR NAME and the TOPIC in the file name(s), such as ThomasMarsalis_StateFair_1.jpg.
The maximum dimension (long edge) is 4096 pixels; the maximum individual file size is 10 MB.
Send all photos to ppcsendphotos@gmail.com by Sunday, October 25, 2026.
We look forward to seeing your State Fair of Texas images.
Call for Photos - Cottonwood Art Festival
Did you attend the Cottonwood Art Festival during the weekend of October 3-4?
If so, we want to feature your favorite event photos in the slide gallery on the right.
Photo submission: Send your best five to seven (5-7) photos to ppcsendphotos@gmail.com for posting in the gallery and viewing in a slideshow at a future club meeting.
Include YOUR NAME and the TOPIC in the file name(s), such as DiannaLawrence_ArtFestival_1.jpg.
The maximum dimension (long edge) is 4096 pixels; the maximum individual file size is 10 MB.
Send all photos to ppcsendphotos@gmail.com by Sunday, October 18, 2026.
We look forward to seeing your photos.
Spooky Places and Things (DIY)
Photo by Janice Goetz
October is the perfect time to explore the mysterious, eerie, and sometimes downright frightening side of photography!
Our “Spooky Places and Things” DIY photo activity invites you to grab your camera and seek out subjects that capture the spirit of the Halloween season.
Wander through an old cemetery, photograph a weathered and seemingly haunted building, explore a shadowy alleyway, or discover something ordinary that takes on a sinister appearance in just the right light.
Whether your approach is atmospheric, dramatic, whimsical, or just plain creepy, there are plenty of opportunities to let your imagination run wild!
And don't forget the Halloween festivities! Jack-o'-lanterns, elaborate yard decorations, costumed characters, spooky storefront displays, and creatively decorated neighborhoods all offer wonderful photographic possibilities.
Experiment with unusual perspectives, dramatic shadows, nighttime exposures, or creative lighting to give your images an extra touch of mystery.
Whether you're looking for genuine chills or lighthearted Halloween fun, the goal is simple: get out, be creative, and capture something delightfully spooky!
Dates: October 17 - October 31, 2026
Time: Any day and time
This is a self-directed activity, so choose your own subjects, locations, and schedule.
Photo Submissions
Send your best 5-7 photos to ppcsendphotos@gmail.com for posting in a gallery on the club website and viewing at a future club meeting.
Include YOUR NAME and the TOPIC in the file name(s), such as MichaelMyers_Spooky_1.jpg.
The maximum dimension (long edge) is 4096 pixels; the maximum individual file size is 10MB.
Submission deadline: Sunday, November 15, 2026.
Questions? Contact Club Activity Chair Lily Mak.
Succulents Photo Shoot
Club member Irwin Lightstone has generously offered the club the chance to do a succulent photo shoot at his home.
We've done it a couple of times previously (the gallery on the right is from last year's photo shoot), so many members should be familiar with how he does it.
Attendees should bring a tripod and a macro lens to practice their photo stacking skills.
Irwin will set up individual stations in his front yard for people to work at. He will also share his close-up shooting technique.
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM CT
Location: Irwin Lightstone's Home | 9048 Royal Crown Drive, Dallas, TX 75243 | Directions
Lunch: Mattito's | 7778 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX 75230 | Directions
Photo Submissions
Send your best 5-7 photos to ppcsendphotos@gmail.com for posting in a gallery on the club website and viewing at a future club meeting.
Include YOUR NAME and the TOPIC in the file name(s), such as ImogenCunningham_Succulents_1.jpg.
The maximum dimension (long edge) is 4096 pixels; the maximum individual file size is 10MB.
Submission deadline: Sunday, November 8, 2026.
Questions? Contact Club Activity Chair Lily Mak.
Future Activities
Training (6:00 PM CT) - Drone Photography (Library)
Lili Banta
Program (7:00 PM CT) - Lili Banta: Birds, Conservation, and Environmental Storytelling
Lili is a wildlife and conservation photographer based in Dallas, Texas, focused on birds and the rapidly changing landscapes they depend on. Her work explores the intersection of wildlife and human expansion, documenting species in environments that are becoming increasingly fragmented and unpredictable.
She has contributed imagery to the National Audubon Society and its regional chapters and currently serves as Member Programs Chair for Audubon Dallas.
Her fieldwork is rooted in ethical practices and a commitment to capturing authentic behavior without disrupting the subject. She specializes in photographing fast-moving species in dynamic, often challenging conditions.
Through her work, she aims to create images that not only draw people in but leave them with a deeper awareness of what’s being lost and what is still worth protecting.
Program Description
In her presentation, Lili will cover suggestions for photographing birds, great locations for bird photography, and how to make your images come alive. But even more important than that, she will talk about the reasons our bird populations are declining and how that affects our ecosystems.
The Plano Photography Club's October contest is a PRINT competition with the theme OPEN.
Please review the print contest procedures before submitting your print.
NOTE: You must be a Plano Photography Club member to submit contest images.
Electronic entries must be uploaded to the PPC Competition Site by 11:59 PM CT on Thursday, October 15, 2026. Submit contest image
Although September stayed warm (some might insist "hot"), a few mornings reminded us that fall was on the way.
Alan Daniel
We had the chance to photograph the Plano Balloon Festival, where the balloons lifted off Saturday morning (sorry for those who went on Sunday). The atmosphere was wonderful, with plenty of colorful images to capture.
As I write this, several PPC members and I are in Colorado enjoying the fall colors. The scenery is beautiful, and the temperatures are even better. Just wait until you see the photos—they'll be on the website soon and in future newsletter issues. If you couldn’t join us, plenty of local photography opportunities are still ahead.
The Cottonwood Art Festival is coming up, along with a chance to practice close-up or macro photography with succulents later this month. Check the website for details.
If pumpkins are your thing, Autumn at the Dallas Arboretum is a must-see, featuring 100,000 pumpkins from my hometown. And don’t forget the State Fair of Texas, continuing through October 18.
We had a great turnout at the September meeting, and we hope to see the same in October. Thank you to the visitors and new members who joined us, and to all our members for making the Plano Photography Club such a fun and welcoming place.
What do you know? It's October, and cooler, wetter weather has FINALLY arrived.
Mike Mezeul II Photography
Meredith Fontana Nature Photography
Drew Hendrix | Red River Paper