CBS NEWS Texas (Channel 11) recently featured 105-year-old Fort Worth eclipse chaser LaVerne Biser in a video about his plans to watch the total solar eclipse.

This was going to be his 13th eclipse since 1963, and the story quickly gained attention from various local, national, and international media outlets.

Mr. Biser, whose daughter is club member Carol Barlow, planned to observe the eclipse from her home in Plano since Fort Worth was just on the edge of the path of totality.

On eclipse day, Channel 11 visited him there to capture his experience of watching the eclipse.

Fortunately, the morning low cloud layer broke apart in time to allow Mr. Biser (and the rest of us in North Texas) to witness the celestial event.

To watch the report, click on the embedded video to the right.

The new club year begins on May 1, 2024.

At the upcoming April meeting, members in attendance will have the opportunity to vote on new officers.

Here is the proposed slate for the 2024-2025 club year:

If anyone else not listed here is interested in serving the club in some capacity, please contact club president David Swinney.

You may have recently seen the reports about LaVerne Biser, a 105-year-old Fort Worth man about to witness his 13th (!) solar eclipse (his first was in 1963).

Mr. Biser, a retired engineer and member of the Fort Worth Astronomical Society, has traveled across the United States and internationally to observe and photograph these celestial spectacles.

CBS News Texas (KTVT) ran a feature report on him last week, and this past weekend, the Dallas Morning News published a very nice article (PDF).

While his story is incredibly fascinating on its merit, it's even more so for the Plano Photography Club, as LaVerne's daughter is our own Carol (Biser) Barlow.

Carol - who has witnessed four previous solar eclipses herself (three total) - is spending a fair amount of time these days acting as her father's de facto "press secretary." His story is so wonderfully interesting that it has exploded around the country and the world.

Just perform a Google search on the term "LaVerne Biser eclipse" to see how many media outlets are covering his amazing narrative.

Because Fort Worth is on the edge of the path of totality, Mr. Biser will join Carol in Plano on April 8, where he will experience more than three minutes of darkness. Let's hope the weather forecast improves between now and then.

The following Plano Photography Club member(s) received recognition in the March 2024 Gulf States Camera Club Council photo competition:

Color Projected

1st Honorable Mention: Happy New Year! - Eddie Yu

2nd Alternate: Floral Fire - Danette Volkmer

Monochrome Projected

1st Place: Radiant Split Leap - Eddie Yu

2nd Alternate: Mission San Xavier, Tucson, AZ - David Hutchison

Nature Projected

1st Alternate: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? - Jodi Smith

To see the winning images and a full list of award recipients, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.

In addition to the resources available for your review on the club's Total Solar Eclipse information page, two club members have produced detailed slide decks about the upcoming eclipse that are now available for download.

At the February club meeting, Jason Ware presented "Get Ready For Totality 2024," in which he covered where to observe it, which lenses and filters to use, and what techniques will increase your chances of getting the best photos. Exposure recommendations and post-processing after the event were also discussed, along with how to enjoy the experience.

Later in the same month, at the Tabletop Workshop, Activities Chair Cliff McKenzie gave a lecture on "Total Solar Eclipse 2024 - A Once In A Lifetime Event." This presentation deals with all aspects of "The Great Texas Solar Eclipse," from who, when, and where to view this phenomenon to best safety practices to how to photograph it.

Click on the buttons below to download the desired presentation.

From Space.com:

A total solar eclipse will be visible across the U.S. on April 8, 2024, and the free Totality app developed by Big Kid Science is the perfect tool to accompany your eclipse viewing experience.

The app's interactive map feature shows you where in the world upcoming solar eclipses will be visible and uses your phone's GPS to tell you what those eclipses would look like from your current location.

If you're not in the path of totality for an upcoming total solar eclipse, including the one happening in April, Totality will also show you the nearest locations from which you can witness totality. The app also contains a wealth of scientific information about eclipses and can even use Google Maps to provide accurate navigation to the path of totality.

"I saw a need for an easy-to-use app to help both kids and adults know exactly when and where they could watch an upcoming eclipse and that would provide accurate information about safe viewing and eclipse science," Jeffrey Bennett, Totality app creator and founder of Big Kid Science, told Space.com.

Bennett also wanted the app to be free so cost would not be a barrier to anyone. He created the app to help as many people as possible experience totality as well as learn the underlying science behind eclipses. The app was sponsored by the American Astronomical Society.

"I teamed up with Xavier Jubier, who graciously agreed to provide the eclipse prediction code that he wrote for his interactive website, and the two of us worked with the brilliant software engineers at Germinate LLC to turn this vision into reality," Bennett continued.

The Learn section provides ample solar eclipse resources such as information on how, when, and why solar eclipses occur as well as classroom activities meant to inspire the next generation of budding eclipse chasers.

Download Totality on iOS and Android platforms in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.

Getty Images

A Cell Phone Photography category has been added to the club's annual Special Contests, effective with the April 2024 competition.

The guidelines for this contest are as follows:

• Entries must have been captured using a cell phone. Photos captured with tablets are not eligible, even if the tablet acts as a phone.
• Images must be in JPEG format (e.g., not HEIC, etc.).
• The file name must be Windows-compatible (i.e., the file name may not contain any of the characters \ : / * ? " [ ]| ).
• Photos may be of any subject and may be edited on any device using any software.

You may submit photos for any of the Special Contests - including the new Cell Phone competition - until midnight on April 18, 2024.

In addition to the resources available for your review on the club's Total Solar Eclipse information page, two club members have produced detailed slide decks about the upcoming eclipse that are now available for download.

At the February club meeting, Jason Ware presented "Get Ready For Totality 2024," in which he covered where to observe it, which lenses and filters to use, and what techniques will increase your chances of getting the best photos. Exposure recommendations and post-processing after the event were also discussed, along with how to enjoy the experience.

Later in the same month, at the Tabletop Workshop, Activities Chair Cliff McKenzie gave a lecture on "Total Solar Eclipse 2024 - A Once In A Lifetime Event." This presentation deals with all aspects of "The Great Texas Solar Eclipse," from who, when, and where to view this phenomenon to best safety practices to how to photograph it.

Click on either or both of the buttons below to download the desired presentation.

The following Plano Photography Club member(s) received recognition in the February 2024 Gulf States Camera Club Council photo competition:

Color Projected

1st Place: My Mother's Scissors - Nancy Mack

Nature Projected

2nd Place: Flight of the Spoonbill - Alan Daniel

To see the winning images and a full list of award recipients, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.

 Get 25% Off The TK9 Plugin Through February

You can now get a 25% discount on Tony Kuyper's popular TK9 Photoshop plugin and training videos.

The TK9 plugin is a panel for Photoshop that allows users to make pixel-value masks, such as luminosity masks, and run Photoshop.

TK9 is a standard-setting tool that helps users enhance their creativity and control in Photoshop. It is modular, so users can configure it in a way that works best for their workspace.

To take advantage of the discount, use Promo Code DK15 at checkout. The offer expires on February 29, 2024.

Thanks to Dave Kelly, host of the YouTube channel "The Joy of Editing With Dave Kelly" for sharing this discount code.

 Tabletop Workshop Coming February 24

January 2024

 Reserve Your Rooms NOW For The Blue Ridge Trip This Fall

The Plano Photography Club fall field trip (October 21-24) is a Waterfall and Foliage Tour of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Due to the popularity of that area - particularly at that time of year - we strongly encourage you to book your stay now, but please follow these instructions.

Our headquarters for this event is The Log Cabin Motor Court in Asheville, NC. These are individual rustic cabins built in 1917 with wood-burning fireplaces and kitchens if you desire.

Visit their website and select a cabin, but DO NOT make your reservation there.

A 10% discount is available if you directly book with Susie, the manager. Call 828-645-6546 and leave a message; she will call you back on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday between 1 pm to 6 pm (EST) and secure the reservation.

State that you are with the Plano Photography Club (PPC). They are blocking off cabins for the PPC; do not rely on the website for availability. Book now via Susie, as we have a short window.

Why did we choose The Log Cabin Motor Court? It offers private cabins and a centralized area to meet up. It is only 6 miles from downtown Asheville and close to the Blue Ridge. We will spend at least 60% of our time north of Asheville. Some will take the “Dragon” to Asheville, others I-40 into the city.

Specifics on attacking the Blue Ridge and waterfalls will come later.

Visit the Blue Ridge Parkway website and select Pisgah Region MP 340 to 469 to familiarize yourself with the area. We'll be shooting between MP 300 and MP 450 (MP=Milepost; i.e., mile marker).

Thanks to all who helped plan this location. Remember: call Susie and secure your room ASAP.

If you have questions, please send an email to club Activities Chair Cliff McKenzie.

 Attend GSCCC 2024 This April In Lafayette

Renee Pierce, the Newsletter Editor of the Louisiana Photographic Society, has asked us to share this information with our members.

The GSCCC 2024 Convention is being co-hosted by the Louisiana Photographic Society and the Lafayette Photographic Society and will be held in Lafayette, Louisiana April 11-13, 2024. We are happy to announce that registration will remain at $75.00 through March 7 when it will increase to $85.00.

Full details and registration are now available on the GSCCC 2024 Convention website.

Doug Hansgate is offering pre- and post-conference workshops which you can only register for after you have registered for the convention. You will receive a “thank you” page upon completion of convention registration which will also have links to Doug’s registration page and a CODE you will need to use to validate your registration on his website.

We look forward to seeing you in Lafayette this April for a great time of learning, photographing, and fun.

 GSCCC Competition News

The following Plano Photography Club member(s) received recognition in the January 2024 Gulf States Camera Club Council photo competition:

Monochrome Projected

2nd HM: Blacksmith - John Lehman

To see the winning images and a full list of award recipients, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.

 Call For Black & White Photos

Below we are sharing the January 2024 report from Larry Petterborg, the club representative for the Photographic Society of America.

Please note the request in the final paragraph regarding the submission of Black & White images for use in future competitions.

The results of the first round of the 2023-24 PSA Interclub Competition cycle are in.

The Plano Photography Club competes in Open Color Group F. Our 6-image entry finished tied for 5th (out of 21 clubs) with an average score of 10.67 (out of 15) for a total of 64 points.

Congratulations to Jose Artiles and Vardan Aroustamin who were each awarded Honorable Mentions for their images. You can see all the winning photos here.

For the PSA Interclub Open Mono Competition, we are in the 29-member Group D, where we ended up tied for 18th place with 51 points. None of our entries earned any recognition. See the winning entries here,

For each round I select photos to submit from our monthly contest images. Since there are fewer monochromes entered into club contests, I have a much smaller pool to choose from. As a result, we are not as competitive here as we are in color.

I would very much appreciate any member sending me B&W files that have not been sent in recently for club contests to help increase the pool. Thanks.

Baby Was It Cold Outside

The January 13, 2024 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri was the fourth-coldest game in NFL history.

The kickoff temperature was minus-4°F, with wind gusts of over 25 miles per hour and a wind chill of minus-27°F.

There was a lot of discussion before, during, and after the game about the impact of the intensely cold weather on the players and coaches.

But did you stop to think even once about how photographers dealt with such conditions?

Well, now you have the chance to find out, thanks to a recent article from PetaPixel - a first-person account from Associated Press photographer Reed Hoffman, who somehow survived shooting one of the coldest games ever.

It's a fascinating read. Highly recommended.

 ON1 Effects 2023.5 Is Free Through January 31

ON1 is offering you the chance to download and keep forever a FREE copy of its Effects 2023.5 product.

ON1 Effects 2023.5, a powerful and versatile editing tool, simplifies the photo styling process, offering built-in premium one-click presets, filters, backgrounds, and textures.

Whether you're a seasoned professional or a passionate photography enthusiast, this exclusive offer allows you to explore the extensive features, including the game-changing Super Select AI and Mask AI, at no cost.

This versatile standalone application and plugin for Lightroom Classic and Photoshop is available for FREE until January 31, 2024. Get your copy today by clicking on the button below.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS FREE OFFER

Free Solar Eclipses 101 Webinar

We want to make club members aware of this upcoming free webinar in anticipation of the total solar eclipse coming in April 2024.

Date: Sunday, January 21, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM CT

If you're planning on viewing the much-anticipated 2024 total solar eclipse in the U.S. and you'd like to know more about what solar eclipses are, why they're so amazing, and how to view one, this free webinar is for you.

First, the presentation will cover solar eclipse basics. It will then take a deep dive into the 2024 total solar eclipse, including how to plan for the eclipse and how to view it safely.

By attending this free 90-minute webinar with Q&A, you'll discover:

• What solar eclipses are and what makes them so spectacular
• How to safely view a solar eclipse
• What to expect and what you'll experience during a total solar eclipse
• How to prevent clouds and bad weather from spoiling your eclipse viewing
• Where to view totality during the 2024 total solar eclipse

NOTE: If you're unable to make this date and time, please submit a registration anyway. All registrants will receive a link to a recording of the webinar after it's over.

This program is part of the NationalEclipse.com webinar series, one of many programs — both live and on-demand — that NationalEclipse.com is producing in the lead-up to the 2024 total solar eclipse.

Taking a Pause: Reflections on the Topic of the Week

We want to inform you about an important decision regarding our long-running Topic of the Week photo activity.

Born early in the pandemic to provide club members a way to exercise their photographic skills and share their work with the rest of the club when physical gatherings were impossible, TOTW has been an unqualified success.

Over the past three and a half years, you have shared nearly 7300 photos on just under 200 unique topics. This amazing journey has been a testament to our collective passion for photography and creativity.

However, after careful consideration, we have decided that it is now time to suspend the Topic of the Week activity.

This isn't the end of similar undertakings but a pause to reflect, rejuvenate, and explore new avenues for our shared photography experiences. We believe a short break will only enhance the quality of our future collaborations.

During this hiatus, we encourage you to revisit the remarkable archive of photos we've created together. Let's appreciate the diversity and growth reflected in those thousands of images. Feel free to share your favorites within the club, fostering a sense of camaraderie as we prepare for the next chapter.

A heartfelt thank you to each member for contributing to this incredible effort. Your passion and involvement continue to make the Plano Photography Club truly special.

PPC Training is Back

Our online training and in-person training sessions return next week after a holiday rest.

Once again, we greatly appreciate all of the instructors who have given their time and shared their knowledge. And a big thanks to all of you who attend and participate.

We are starting 2024 with some strong live and online classes, as listed below.

Up-to-date training information is always available on the club's Training/Education page.

PPC 40th Anniversary Video

Click to watch the club's 40th Anniversary Video

At the end of the club's holiday party in December 2023, we premiered the Plano Photography Club 40th Anniversary video, which commemorates the history of the PPC with a particular focus on the last five years.

Click on the image at the right to view the show.

We want to thank club historian Cindy Vaillancourt and club newsletter and slideshow chair James Stover for their contributions to the making of the video.

Invitation to Create New Website Banners

We are inviting all club members to create some new banners for use on the PPC website in 2023.

This year we are opening the contributions up to include your favorite photos from anywhere in the world - not just the city of Plano.

Guidelines and requirements for the graphics are as follows:

• They may consist of a single photo or a collage of photos in JPEG format
• Banner dimensions must be exactly 1372px wide by 260px tall
• The maximum banner file size is 1 MB
• Banners may be in color or black & white (or anything in-between)
• Submissions may include a photographer watermark
• If no watermark is included, submitters will be acknowledged by name
• You may submit more than one banner

NOTE: The club logo will be overlaid on the submitted banners by the webmaster, so please do not incorporate it into your submissions.

To participate, send your image(s) to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com.

Approved banners will be incorporated into a display rotation on the website. Our plan is to refresh them weekly, but the actual schedule will be determined by how many approved submissions we receive.

Thanks in advance for your participation, and we look forward to seeing your creativity at work.