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.
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
After the balloon festival, please send your best five to seven (5-7) photos from the weekend festivities; we will add them to the gallery above.
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 festival photos: Sunday, October 4, 2026
Questions? Contact Club Activity Chair Lily Mak.
State Fair of Texas (DIY)
Ready to flex your creativity?
2025 State Fair of Texas photo by Pat Coble
Here’s a fun DIY challenge for all club members: take your camera or phone to the State Fair of Texas (September 25 - October 18) in Dallas' historic Fair Park and see what eye-catching shots you can capture.
This is a perfect chance to wander at your own pace, experiment, and let your imagination guide you.
Here’s how to get started:
- Pick Your Day(s)/Time: Head out solo or pair up with a friend—whatever feels right for you!
- Hunt for Inspiration: Look for quirky details, fun street scenes, neon lights, wild food, and anything else that grabs your attention.
- Try Something New: Play with different angles, try unique camera settings, or focus on a theme (like “textures,” “faces,” or “patterns”).
- Share What You Find: After your adventure, gather your best photos and share them for inclusion in a gallery on the club website. Everyone’s unique perspective will make for a great show!
Whether you go to the fair every year or it’s your first time, there’s always something cool to discover. Take it at your own speed, have fun with the process, and don’t be afraid to get creative.
Let’s see what amazing DIY fair images we can collect as a club!
Photo Submissions
After you visit the fair, please send your best five to seven (5-7) photos from your experience(s); we will add them to a gallery on the club website and include them 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 file size is 10 MB.
Send all photos to ppcsendphotos@gmail.com; the submission deadline is Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Questions? Contact Club Activity Chair Lily Mak.
Future Activities
| Activity |
|
Activity Date(s) |
|
Time |
|
Notes |
| 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 |
|
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM CT Saturday | 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM CT Sunday |
|
Free admission |
| Succulents - Close-Up Photography |
|
October 24, 2026 |
|
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM CT |
|
To be held at Irwin Lightstone's home, with lunch following at Mattito's |
| Fort Worth Zoo / Amon Carter Museum |
|
November 21, 2026 |
|
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM CT |
|
Lunch at Pappadeaux followed by optional visit to Amon Carter Museum |
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.
After a summer like this one, I am ready for fall.
Alan Daniel
September 1 marked 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.
Mike Mezeul II Photography
Meredith Fontana Nature Photography
Drew Hendrix | Red River Paper