Club Meetings Held on the Third Thursday of Each Month (except December)
West Plano Presbyterian Church - 2709 Custer Road, Plano, Texas
Live Training Session(s) at 6:00 PM and Program at 7:00 PM
Online Training Session(s) Open to Members of Plano Photography Club and Dallas Camera Club
DIY Fourth of July Fireworks
The goal of this DIY activity is to photograph fireworks and other scenes that capture the spirit of the Fourth of July.
You might be attending a major public event, such as Addison Kaboom Town 40 or Fair Park Fourth in the Cotton Bowl. Or, perhaps you’ll be checking out smaller, less crowded celebrations in the area. Of course, you might simply be celebrating at home by lighting sparklers in your front yard.
Photo by Larry Petterborg
No matter how you choose to mark the holiday, we’d love to see your photos!
Please send your best 5-7 pictures (4096 pixels on the long side; 10MB maximum) to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com by Sunday, July 13, 2025, for inclusion in a gallery to be posted on the club website.
SEE A LIST OF DFW-AREA FOURTH OF JULY EVENTS AND FIREWORKS
Questions? Contact club Activity Chair Mary Ruehle.
Below, you will find some tips on capturing and editing fireworks photos for the best results. Good luck, and we look forward to seeing your images.
Capturing Fireworks Images
Post-Processing Fireworks Photos
Frontiers of Flight Museum
We hope you can join us on July 12 for a morning photo shoot at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas.
The Frontiers of Flight Museum is a premier aviation and space museum located at Dallas Love Field Airport. Founded in 1988, the museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich history of aviation and space exploration, with a special emphasis on the Dallas/Fort Worth area’s pivotal role in the industry.
The museum offers a fascinating journey through the history of flight, making it a must-visit destination for aviation enthusiasts, families, photographers, and anyone interested in science and exploration. With its impressive collection, educational programs, and vibrant community events, the museum connects visitors to the wonder of flight and the stories of those who made it possible.
Details
Location: Frontiers of Flight Museum at Dallas Love Field |
6911 Lemmon Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75209 | (directions)
Date: Saturday, July 12, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM CT (one hour before the public)
Admission: $10 for PPC members (as long as the group has 10+ people); payable at the door
Parking: Ample free parking is available on-site
Photo Restrictions: Photos of the Frontiers of Flight Museum logo may not be posted to social media in a way that suggests any club member is an official photographer for the museum.
Group Lunch
Attendees are invited to attend a group lunch at Maple Landing (5855 Maple Avenue, Suite 100 | directions) following the event at 11:30 AM.
Questions?
Please contact club Activity Chair Mary Ruehle.
Future Photo Activities
| Activity |
Activity Date/Time |
Notes |
| Tabletop Workshop |
August 23, 2025 |
|
| Plano Balloon Festival (DIY) |
September 18 - 21, 2025 |
|
| State Fair of Texas (DIY) |
September 26 - October 19, 2025 |
|
| Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering (Fort Worth Stockyards) |
October 25, 2025 |
|
Winning Images from the May 2025 Club Contest
Topic: Architecture at Night (Electronic) (Click any image to see it full-screen)
Award recipients in the Plano Photography Club May contest were announced during the monthly club meeting on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
Detailed results are listed below; honored photographs are visible on the right. Congratulations to the awardees, and thank you to all competitors.
Entry
- 1st: Twilight over Almudena Cathedral - Julie Yu
- 2nd: Finding Religion - David Valdez
- 3rd: Bear Creek Cabins Gift Shop in Pinos Altos, NM - Maggie Hutchison
- HM: A Grand Home - Bernadette Dozier
Intermediate
- 1st: Serra do Pilar Monastery - Steven Wilson (2nd Place overall)
- 2nd: Luzern and Chapel Bridge at Night - Gregory Bullen
- 3rd: The Alamo - Frank Barnhart
- HM: Historic Brown House - John Copes
- HM: Turquoise Temple - Lynn Barrett
Advanced
- 1st: Dubai - Sanjay Kaul (Best of Show)
- 2nd: Hunt International Building - Dallas - Richard Otto (3rd Place overall)
- 3rd: Nightfall on a Coimbra Backstreet - Randy Ratzlaff
- HM: Night Time at The Willow House - David Hutchison
- HM: The Plaza - Craig Rowen
Master
- 1st: Electric Avenue - David Swinney (Honorable Mention Overall)
- 2nd: Lighting the Way - Carol Barlow
- 3rd: Nocturne in Light and Form - Marie Hansen
- HM: Taipei 101 and Rainbow Bridge at Night - WenChi Lee
- HM: Dallas From the Tower - Larry Petterborg
Full-Screen Slideshow | Gallery | Judge's Commentary
Standings: All Levels | Entry Level | Intermediate Level | Advanced Level | Master Level
Training (6:00 PM CT) - My Passions: Cacti, Succulents, and Macro (Irwin Lightstone)
Program (7:00 PM CT) - Kim Leeson: Discovering Details
Kim Leeson
Bio: Kim Leeson has been a professional photographer for more than 25 years. Her clients have included People magazine, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and a wide array of industrial, educational, and corporate publications.
She worked as a photojournalist for the Dallas Morning News from 1993-2004. Her work for the newspaper earned her awards from the Texas Headliners Foundation, the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association, Texas Associated Press Managing Editors, and the Association for Women Journalists.
Many also know Kim as an accomplished nature photographer whose specialty is finding the extraordinary details of the natural world in urban environments.
She has a BA in photography from Texas A&M-Commerce (now East Texas A&M).
Program Description: Learn to see, experience, and intimately capture nature with a macro lens. You don’t have to travel far or go to exotic locations to witness nature’s incredible beauty. It’s just a few steps away at all times, and diving in with your macro lens and exploring things up close will reveal a micro-universe of grace and wonder.
Examples of Kim's Photography
The Plano Photography Club's June contest is an ELECTRONIC competition with the theme STRONG DIRECTIONAL LIGHT.
Electronic entries must be uploaded to the PPC Competition Site before 11:59 PM CT on Thursday, July 17, 2025.
SUBMIT CONTEST IMAGE
NOTE: You must be a Plano Photography Club member to submit contest images.
Click for a list of resources on this month's contest theme ...
Resources
How to Use Directional Lighting for Portrait Photography
Photography Cheat Sheet: Working with Directional Light Outdoors
Understanding Direction of Light in Portraits
Architectural Photography #4: Photographing Buildings at Night
Understanding How Light Direction Impacts Your Photos
Using Directional Lighting
The Log Cabin Motor Court
The Plano Photography Club will travel to North Carolina for a fall foliage tour this fall.
There are many details to be shared in the weeks and months ahead, but attendees must REGISTER NOW for lodging at our planned headquarters via the Reservation Process detailed below.
Trip Dates: October 20-24, 2025
Our Headquarters: The Log Cabin Motor Court (330 Weaverville Highway, Asheville, NC 28804)
Phone Number: 828-645-6546
Proprietor: Susie
Reservation Process: DO NOT make your reservation(s) via the lodge website. Call Susie at the Log Cabin Motor Court; leave a message, and she will get back to you.
By doing it this way, you will receive a discount not available via the website. You may wish to send her an email at logcabincourt@gmail.com.
*** Important – we need all reservations to be made no later than May 31, 2025. ***
REGISTER FOR NORTH CAROLINA FALL FOLIAGE TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
(*) - The trip formerly known as the Blue Ridge Waterfall and Foliage Tour
Oh, June is Upon Us!
Parvin Stiles
What can I say about June? It comes after May and before July! School is out, so no more slowing down in school zones. Of course, June marks the official start of summer, with the Summer Solstice on Friday, June 20 at 9:41 PM Central Time – the longest day of the year!
But before that, don’t miss the fun at the Great Texas Balloon Race in Longview, Texas, on June 13-14. This colorful event features hot air balloon races, drone shows, and the magical Balloon Glow, lighting up the night sky. We suggest grabbing your tickets online and planning your day around the excitement.
Don’t miss our special Art Showcase on the 2nd floor of the Haggard Library in Plano, running through June 30. This exhibit features over 50 stunning photographs from 28 talented members, a true celebration of creativity and visual storytelling.
This spring, we had a fantastic time capturing the beautiful landscapes and wildlife at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Likewise, please mark your calendars for our fall trip to North Carolina, taking place from October 20 to 24. We’ll be photographing the brilliant fall colors and scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. Our home base will be the Log Cabin Motor Court in Asheville, placing us close to waterfalls, Pisgah National Forest, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and more. Visit our website for full details and to reserve your spot.
Don't forget our upcoming June 19 club meeting. During the training session at 6 PM, Alan Whiteside will talk about photographing moving water. At 7 PM, our guest speaker, Brittany Hamilton from the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center, will share her experiences rehabilitating birds of prey and explain why these raptors are vital to maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Let’s kick off the summer with a camera in hand and adventure in our hearts! Whether you're snapping photos at local events, hiking through the wild, or just catching some rays, June is packed with moments waiting for you to capture!
Jeremy Woodhouse | Pixelchrome Tours
Andy Hess | Large Format Photography
Larry Golden | Cell Phone Photography
Jay Miller | Aviation Photography