Plano Photography Club
Virtual Club Meetings Held On 3rd Thursday of Each Month (except December)
Virtual Training Sessions Held On 2nd and 4th Thursdays of Each Month (except December)
Serving Plano, Dallas and the surrounding suburbs, the Plano Photography Club was established in 1984 for anyone interested in photography.
Want to attend one of our monthly meetings as a guest? Please let us know via email.
Then join us (virtually, of course) and get to know the friendly folks of the Plano Photography Club.
Learn more about the PPC by watching this orientation video. When you're ready to become a member just click on this button: JOIN THE CLUB
Headlines
NEW! Did you know we're going to have a total lunar eclipse in DFW on May 26? (more)
NEW! The May 2021 issue of The FLASH! is now available, along with all past editions (more)
Recorded materials from the May 4 Training Tuesday Lightroom class are now available (more)
Check out the details regarding the May 2021 DIY Photo Excursion to the Dallas Zoo (more)
The PPC and two of its members received recognition in the EOY GSCCC competition (more)
See the winning images from the March 2021 club photo competition (more)
Larry Petterborg's presentation at the April club meeting is now available on-demand (more)
The slate of club officers for 2021-2022 has been announced (more)
Dates to Remember
May 15 - Submission deadline for Topic of the Week - LIGHT: BACKLIGHT
May 18 - DCC Training Tuesday: Lightroom - From Camera to Print
May 20 - PPC End of the Year Party
May 20 - Submission deadline for May Competition: MOTION (Electronic)
May 22 - Submission deadline for Topic of the Week - WILDCARD: WATER
May 26 - Super Flower Blood Moon and Total Lunar Eclipse (visible in DFW)
May 27 - PPC Training Thursday: LR - From Camera to Print / Photography Fundamentals (Full)
May 31 - Final day for DIY Photo Excursion to Dallas Zoo
Photo Activities and Galleries
2021 Topic of the Week Photo Activity - Week 19
Topic - LIGHT: BACKLIGHT
Period - Monday, May 10, 2021 to Saturday, May 15, 2021 (11:59 PM CT)
To participate, send a MAXIMUM OF TWO (2) IMAGES from your CAMERA OR CELLPHONE on this topic to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com. If you submit more than two photos, only the first two received will be included.
Submitted images will be displayed in the scrolling gallery seen at right. Please note that no one will be able to download copies of submitted photos.
Please include YOUR NAME and this week's TOPIC in the file name (e.g., John_Smith_Backlight.jpg).
The maximum dimension (long edge) for submitted images is 4096 pixels; the maximum file size is 10MB. Pictures that exceed these limits will not be eligible for the galleries.
Full-Screen Views: NEW! Gallery | Slideshow | All Galleries and Slideshows
Visit the Plano Photography Club Facebook Page to Like your favorite Topic of the Week photos.
If you're planning ahead, next week's topic will be WILD CARD: WATER.
May DIY Photo Excursion
DALLAS ZOO
To participate, first visit the Dallas Zoo between now and May 31, 2021.
Then send a MAXIMUM OF FIVE (5) IMAGES from your CAMERA OR CELLPHONE taken DURING YOUR VISIT to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com.
If you submit more than five photos, only the first five received will be included.
Submitted images will be displayed in the scrolling gallery seen at right. Please note that no one will be able to download copies of submitted photos.
Please include YOUR NAME and the LOCATION of the excursion in the file name (e.g., John_Smith_DallasZoo.jpg).
Maximum dimension (long edge) for submitted images is 4096 pixels; the maximum file size is 10MB.
Pictures that exceed these limits will not be eligible for the galleries.
Full-Screen Views: NEW! Gallery | Slideshow | All Galleries and Slideshows
President's Message - A New Year
Twelve months ago, we held our first Zoom meeting ... it seems like only yesterday.
Thanks to all of you for your continued participation. Attendance for our monthly virtual meetings has been outstanding. Moving online allowed us to offer more training sessions than ever before and reach more members with educational information. The "Topic of the Week" activity has challenged all of us to sharpen our skills as photographers while inspiring us through the images of our fellow club members.
Thanks to the members of the Executive Council who worked very hard during the past year to provide programs, training, activities, contests, and communications for the club. I also want to welcome two new members to the Council. Mary Ruehle has assumed the role of Programs VP and Brian Clark will be coordinating our monthly contests.
This year we all hope for a return to some level of normalcy in our everyday lives. We will continue holding our meetings via Zoom for the time being and will review our ability to hold in-person meetings later this year.
I am excited about the 2021-2022 year. There will be great monthly programs, continued Training Thursdays, challenging contests, and even more outdoor activities like the recent Texas Bluebonnets and the Dallas Zoo excursions.
Keep your eye on the website and your e-mail inbox for more activities to come, including an outdoor picnic in June. Watch for more details.
And please mark your calendar for the end-of-year awards program coming on May 20th. We have a great program planned with an emcee that will entertain us all.
- Alan Daniel (from the May 2021 issue of The FLASH!)
Winning Images From the March 2021 Competition
Topic: Town or Cityscape (Electronic)
March 2021 Competition Winners Announced
Winners in the March Plano Photography Club photo competition were announced on Thursday, April 15, 2021, at the conclusion of the monthly club meeting.
Award recipients - whose works are seen at right - for the latest contest are as follows:
- Entry
- 1st: Sunset City View - Maggie Hutchison
- 2nd: Dallas Dawn - Shannon Hutchison
- 3rd: Uptown After Sundown - Jodi Smith
- Intermediate
- 1st: Pittsburgh PA - Clive Fernando
- 2nd: Blue Moon Over Dallas - Sanjay Kaul
- 3rd: Pittsburgh Cityscape - Heidi Phillips
- HM: Panama City Beach, FL - Robert Shafer
- Advanced
- 1st: Roads to Dallas - Richard Otto
- 2nd: New York - Linfen Hwang
- 3rd: Concrete Canyon - Mark Bernthal
- Master
- 1st: A Color of Urban Life - James Walsh (also Best of Show)
- 2nd: Taipei 101 - Skyscraper in Taiwan - Wenchi Lee
- 3rd: One Night In Florence - Danette Volkmer
- HM: Pueblo - Street - John Lehman
- HM: City of Florence After Sunset - Nock Wong
- HM: Vancouver From Lions Gate Bridge - Dennis Fritsche
Full-Screen Slideshow | Gallery | Judge's Commentary
Standings: All Classes | Entry | Intermediate | Advanced | Master
Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all who participated in the competition.
See you in May for the results of the April Special Contests.
May 2021 Contest
SUBMIT CONTEST IMAGES
The theme for the May 2021 Plano Photography Club photo contest is MOTION (ELECTRONIC).
You may submit one image to the contest.
Entries must be uploaded to the PPC Competition Site before 11:59 PM CT May 20, 2021.
The maximum dimensions for electronic images submitted to the contest website are 4096 x 2160 pixels.
Please review the PPC Competition Rules and Process document if you have questions about how the club competitions work. If you need additional information, please contact the Contest Chair.
NOTE: You must be a member of the Plano Photography Club in order to submit an image to a competition.
Latest Club News
Total Lunar Eclipse on May 26
If you're an early riser and the weather cooperates, you'll have a chance to see (and photograph) a total lunar eclipse in DFW on the morning of May 26, 2021.
The eclipse takes place just a few hours after the Moon reaches perigee - the closest point to Earth on its orbit - making it a Super Flower Blood Moon.
| When The Eclipse Happens |
| Event |
Time in Dallas (CT) |
Visible in Dallas |
| Penumbral Eclipse begins |
May 26 at 3:47:39 am |
Yes |
| Partial Eclipse begins |
May 26 at 4:44:58 am |
Yes |
| Full Eclipse begins |
May 26 at 6:11:26 am |
Yes |
| Maximum Eclipse |
May 26 at 6:18:42 am |
Yes |
| Full Eclipse ends |
May 26 at 6:25:54 am |
Maybe, touching horizon |
| Partial Eclipse ends |
May 26 at 7:52:23 am |
No, below the horizon |
| Penumbral Eclipse ends |
May 26 at 8:49:44 am |
No, below the horizon |
Resources
May 2021 DIY Excursion
This month's DIY Photo Excursion (May 1-31) is to the Dallas Zoo, located at 650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway in Dallas (map). The Zoo is currently open every day from 9 AM to 5 PM CT.
All guests - including Dallas Zoo Members - are required to reserve tickets online prior to visiting in order to limit person-to-person transactions.
Adult ticket prices range from $19 ($15 for seniors) on weekdays to $21 ($16 for seniors) on weekends. Parking is $10.
As of May 1, 2021, the Dallas Zoo has moved from "masks required" to "masks strongly recommended" in most outdoor areas. Masks are still required indoors and during animal experiences. Learn more about the Zoo's health and safety protocols for COVID-19 here.
After you return home from the Zoo, please send your best pictures (maximum of five) to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com for inclusion in a gallery to be posted on the club website.
Enjoy getting outdoors and your trip to the Dallas Zoo, but please stay safe and keep healthy.
Resources: General Information | Explore the Zoo | Map of the Zoo
PPC Recognized at GSCCC EOY Competition
The following Plano Photography Club member(s) received an award in the Gulf States Camera Club Council 2020-2021 EOY photo competition:
Color Images
- 1st: Caravan in Sunset - Ron Lin
Nature Images
- 1st HM: The Eagle Has Landed - Jan De Meulder
In the club-level competition, the PPC finished in 5th Place in the Color Images category and in 1st Place in the Nature Images category for the 2020-2021 competition year.
For a full list of winners, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.
Club Officers Announced for 2021-2022
Club officer assignments for the 2021-2022 club year were announced at the April 2021 club meeting and approved by the meeting attendees:
| Position |
|
Officer/Volunteer
|
| President |
|
Alan Daniel |
| VP Activities |
|
Suzanne Beasley |
| VP Programs |
|
Mary Ruehle |
| Treasurer |
|
Mike Losurdo |
| Training Chair |
|
Dennis Fritsche |
| Contest Chair |
|
Brian Clark |
| Membership Chair |
|
Greg Jones |
| Webmaster |
|
David Swinney |
| Newsletter |
|
James Stover |
| Social Media |
|
Heidi Phillips |
| PSA Representative |
|
Larry Petterborg |
| GSCCC Representative |
|
Sam Lucas |
| Historian |
|
Cindy Vaillancourt |
Eugene Jabbour | Competitive Cameras
Evans Caglage | Portfolio
Brianna Burnett Photography
Tom Fox | Sr. Visual Journalist