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.
After a summer like this one, I am ready for fall.
Alan Daniel
September 1 marks the first day of meteorological fall, while astronomical autumn begins September 22. In other words, we probably have at least three more weeks of hot weather.
The good news is that soon you will not have to stay inside processing images from your last outing. We have several photography opportunities planned for this month.
Last month, members got an early preview of one of our September activities at crew training for the Plano Balloon Festival. It was a fun morning with close-up views of several hot air balloons launching. This year’s festival (and our DIY activity) runs September 17–20.
At the end of September, a group of members will head to Colorado for a weeklong outing filled with opportunities to capture stunning images—and come home with a few good stories.
If you cannot join us, consider visiting the State Fair of Texas early. It opens September 25 and runs through mid-October. Be sure to stop by the photography exhibit in the Creative Arts Building to see the winning prints submitted by several of our members.
Attendance at our monthly meetings remains strong. Thank you to the visitors and new members who have joined us, and to all our members for making the Plano Photography Club such a fun and welcoming place.
Cooler weather is coming in October. I hope.
Plano Balloon Festival (DIY)
The Plano Balloon Festival is one of North Texas’s most colorful fall events, offering a great mix of early-morning launches and evening balloon glows.
Visitors can also photograph skydivers, live music performances, carnival attractions, handmade goods, and the energy of families and festival-goers throughout the park, making it a strong choice for both creative composition and storytelling.
For our photo club, this is a perfect opportunity to practice color, motion, and landscape photography in a dynamic setting.
Dates: September 17-20, 2026
Times: Event Hours
Schedules: Balloon Events | Entertainment
Location: Oak Point Park / Red Tail Pavilion | 2801 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, Texas 75074 | Event Map
Tickets (non-Pass holders): Adults: $10 | Seniors (65+): $5 | Available onsite | Cashless Purchase ONLY
Parking: Prime parking: $15 | Offsite parking: $10 | Locations | Cashless Purchase ONLY
Photo Submissions
If you attended the balloon crew training session on August 22, 2026, please send us your best five to seven (5-7) photos NOW documenting that event (the gallery above contains images from this year's crew training).
Include YOUR NAME and the TOPIC in the file name(s), such as EdYost_Balloon Crew_1.jpg.
After the balloon festival in September, please send your best five to seven (5-7) photos from the weekend festivities; those photos will be added to the same gallery.
Include YOUR NAME and the TOPIC in the file name(s), such as SteveFossett_Balloons_1.jpg.
The maximum dimension (long edge) is 4096 pixels; the maximum file size is 10 MB.
Send all photos to ppcsendphotos@gmail.com for posting in the gallery on the club website and viewing at a future club meeting.
Submission deadline for balloon crew training photos: Sunday, September 6, 2026
Submission deadline for balloon festival photos: Sunday, October 4, 2026
Questions? Contact Club Activity Chair Lily Mak.
Future Activities
| Activity |
|
Activity Date(s) |
|
Time |
|
Notes |
| State Fair of Texas (DIY with Passes) |
|
September 25 - October 18, 2026 |
|
Any day and time |
|
Information about photographer passes coming soon |
| Ouray, Colorado Field Trip |
|
September 28 - October 3, 2026 |
|
N/A |
|
Register now if you plan to participate in this trip |
| Cottonwood Art Festival (DIY) |
|
October 3-4, 2026 |
|
TBA |
|
Free admission |
| Succulents Close-Up Photography |
|
October 24, 2026 (tentative) |
|
TBA |
|
To be held at Irwin Lightstone's home |
| Fort Worth Zoo |
|
November 21, 2026 |
|
TBA |
|
|
Call For Photos - Tabletop Workshop
Did you attend our Tabletop Workshop on August 15?
If so, thank you for helping make it a success. We want to feature your favorite images from the event in the slide gallery displayed on the right.
Photo submission: Send your best 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 DeanChamberlain_Tabletop_1.jpg.
The maximum dimension (long edge) is 4096 pixels; the maximum individual file size is 10 MB.
Submission deadline: SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2026.
This gallery is now CLOSED. Thanks to everyone for your submissions.
Training (6:00 PM CT) - Picturing America: The Early Years (1900-1940) (Library) | New and Prospective Member Orientation (Room 8)
Program (7:00 PM CT) - Alan Daniel: It's Not Always Birds
Alan Daniel
Alan grew up on a farm near Floydada in West Texas. After graduating from Texas Tech in 1972, he began his career with Texas Instruments in Lubbock and moved to Plano in 1984. He retired from corporate America in 2012. Alan and Vallery, his wife of 51 years, stay busy with their four grandchildren.
Alan bought his first DSLR in 2010 and joined the Plano Photography Club in 2015, where he has served in several roles, including his current second term as president. He enjoys photographing nature and wildlife, including his grandchildren’s activities. He’s even been known to photograph a bird or two.
Program Description
Over the past decade as a member of the Plano Photography Club, Alan has taken part in many club photo excursions. In this presentation, he will share some selected images from those outings. These are not necessarily contest winners, but rather photos that bring back memories of places, stories, and friends.
Come along for the ride as we travel to some exotic places - like Oklahoma, New Mexico, and of course, Texas. The stories behind the images may be even more memorable than the photos themselves.
The Plano Photography Club's August contest is an ELECTRONIC competition with the theme STREET PHOTOGRAPHY.
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, September 17, 2026. Submit contest image
Resources
- Beginner's Guide to Street Photography - Tips on blending in, natural light, black-and-white, reflections, patterns, and moments.
- Tips for Great Street Photography - Covers dramatic light, shadows, observation, and anticipating candid moments.
- 20 Tips for Starting Out in Street Photography - Practical advice on light, patience, working scenes, separation, and isolation.
- 70 Street Photography Tips For Beginners - A large idea list covering gesture, framing, hands, body language, and point of view.
- The Best Street Photography Ideas for Your Next Photoshoot - Creative ideas including motion blur, reflections, street art, lights, and architecture.
- 6 Street Photography Tips for Beginners - Updated tips on patience, light, portraits, locals, quirky moments, and camera settings.
July 2026 - Motion (Electronic)
The Plano Photography Club announced the award recipients of its June contest during the club's monthly meeting on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
Detailed results are listed below; honored photographs are visible on the right.
Winning Images from the July 2026 Club Contest
Topic: Open (Electronic) (Click any image to see it full-screen)
Congratulations to the awardees, and thank you to all competitors.
Entry
- 1st: Fast Food Pickup - Robert Eilers (3rd Place Overall)
- 2nd: Athlete in Motion - Anastacio Nieves
- 3rd: Speeding - Jean-Claude Wakim
- HM: Silk Takes Flight - Bernadette Dozier
Intermediate
- 1st: Blue Jay Bath - Maggie Hutchison (Best of Show)
- 2nd: I See 'Em - Patricia Coble
- 3rd: Flyboard and Jet Ski Action - Brian Clark
- HM: Sipping from the Spigot - Lisa Wilkins
- HM: Morning Flight - Gary Allen
Advanced
- 1st: Broad-tailed Hummer - Steven Wilson (2nd Place Overall)
- 2nd: First Strike - Greg Rains
- 3rd: Front Runner - Frank Barnhart
- HM: Snow Egrets: Dancing in the Shallows - Daniel Dailey
Master
- 1st: Breaking Through - Anita Oakley (Honorable Mention Overall)
- 2nd: Leap Into Infinity - Eddie Yu
- 3rd: Going Full Out to the Finish - Dennis Fritsche
- HM: Flapping Flyers - Larry Petterborg
Full-Screen Slideshow
Gallery of Photos
Judge's Commentary
Standings - All Levels
Mike Mezeul II Photography
Meredith Fontana Nature Photography
Drew Hendrix | Red River Paper