2021 Club Activities
DIY Photo Excursions
These periodic excursions are designed for you to visit an interesting location in and near DFW on a day of your choice within a specific time frame and take some great photos while still following COVID-19 guidelines.
Then, after you get home from each excursion 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 but do remember to stay safe and keep healthy.
November / December 2021 - Fall Colors
To participate, capture CAMERA or CELLPHONE images with this theme between November 1 and December 15, 2021.
Then send a MAXIMUM OF FIVE (5) of those pictures to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com for display in an online gallery.
Please include YOUR NAME and FALLCOLORS in the file name (e.g., Snoopy_FallColors_1.jpg).
The maximum dimension (long edge) for submitted images is 4096 pixels; the maximum file size is 10MB.
The photo submission deadline for this activity is SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18.
North Texas is not known for its brilliant fall foliage, but there are actually a lot of places where you might be able to find some great color (if the weather does its part).
The Dallasites101 website offers more than twenty great locations both near Dallas and within an easy drive.
Have fun, grab some terrific photos, but be careful out there.
October 2021 - Halloween
To participate, capture CAMERA or CELLPHONE images with a Halloween theme between now and October 31, 2021.
Then send a MAXIMUM OF FIVE (5) of those pictures to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com for display in an online gallery.
Please include YOUR NAME and HALLOWEEN in the file name (e.g., Jack_Skellington_Halloween_1.jpg).
The maximum dimension (long edge) for submitted images is 4096 pixels; the maximum file size is 10MB.
The photo submission deadline for this activity is SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6.
Have fun, capture some great images, but stay safe and healthy.
September / October 2021 - Arts, Pumpkins, and Big Tex
With the weather (slowly) cooling down, we have several suggested DIY Excursions for you for this two-month period:
To participate, first attend one or more of these events between now and October 31, 2021.
Then send a MAXIMUM OF FIVE (5) IMAGES FROM EACH EVENT YOU ATTEND taken by either your CAMERA OR CELLPHONE to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com.
Please include YOUR NAME and ARTS, PUMPKINS, or BIGTEX (respectively) in the file name (e.g., John_Smith_BigTex_1.jpg).
The maximum dimension (long edge) for submitted images is 4096 pixels; the maximum file size is 10MB.
Have fun, capture some great images, but be mindful of each event's COVID health and safety regulations (available on their websites).
June 2021 - Downtown Dallas Architecture
This month's DIY Photo Excursion (June 1-30) is to Downtown Dallas for photos of Dallas' mix of modern and historical architecture.
Whether it's Deep Ellum, Victory Park, or the Central Business District, you'll find that there are plenty of locations in and near the heart of Dallas for you to get great pictures.
And if you're participating in our monthly contests, you might be able to capture some candidate shots for the upcoming Neon Lights (July) and Nighttime Water Reflections (September) competitions during your excursion.
After you return home, please send your best pictures (maximum of five, <10MB, <=4096 pixels on the long side) to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com for inclusion in a gallery to be posted on the club website.
Enjoy getting outdoors but please stay safe and cool.
May 2021 - Dallas Zoo
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. The first Tuesday of the month (May 4) is Tiger Tuesday when the admission price for all adults is lowered to $8 (buy tickets). 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
April 2021 - Ennis Bluebonnet Trails
It's springtime in Texas - and if you've lived here for any time at all, you know that means bluebonnets.
This month's DIY Photo Excursion is to the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails from April 1-30.
Each April, Ennis showcases over 40 miles of mapped driving bluebonnet trails sponsored by the Ennis Garden Club. These are the oldest such trails known in the state, and tens of thousands of visitors make the short trek to Ennis annually to view this wonderful wildflower show.
The Ennis Garden Club drives the trails each week in April to check the bloom status. They then report to the Ennis Welcome Center so that visitors can be well informed where the best flowers are on the trails at the time of their visit.
In Ennis, the bluebonnets typically peak around the 3rd week of April. This can vary year to year due to weather conditions and terrain, so please check the Bluebonnet Trails website or call 972-878-4748 before your visit.
You can also follow Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival and Visit Ennis, Texas on Facebook for bloom status updates.
If you are unfamiliar with the locations of the individual bluebonnet trails, the Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Ennis Bluebonnet Trail includes maps and recommendations.
After you get home from Ennis, please send your best pictures (maximum of five) to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com for inclusion in a gallery to be posted on the club website.
March 2021 - Scavenger Hunt in Dallas Heritage Village
This month's DIY Photo Excursion will be to Dallas Heritage Village to take a walk through the history of Dallas in conjunction with the Dallas Camera Club.
In addition, the DCC is holding a scavenger hunt that you may participate in. Photography is welcome at Heritage Village but you may not use flash in any of the buildings.
Dates: March 1 – March 14
Location: Dallas Heritage Village - 1515 South Harwood, Dallas
Website: dallasheritagevillage.org
Time: Open 10 AM to 4 PM daily and 6 PM to 9 PM Thursdays
Admission: $10 adults / $8 seniors 65+ / $6 ages 5 – 12. Admission is free to members.
Scavenger Hunt: The subject for the hunt is H I S T O R Y. If you wish to participate, please submit your seven (7) JPEG images resized to 1920 (w) x 1280 (h) to Larry Petterborg (lpetterborg@gmail.com) as email attachments by the end of March 2021. You may include your name on your photos.
Each submitted image file must be identified by the respective club, scavenger hunt subject and maker (e.g., DCC-red-LPetterborg.jpg). Those of you that are members of both clubs should use “DCC/PPC”.
| |
SUBJECTS |
| H |
Hallway |
| I |
Iron Implement |
| S |
Sign |
| T |
Table |
| O |
Old |
| R |
Red |
| Y |
Your choice - choose anything you want |
February 2021 - Dallas Arboretum
Our first DIY Photo Excursion will be to the Dallas Arboretum from February 20 - March 13, 2021. That start date coincides with the beginning of Dallas Blooms, the largest annual floral festival in the Southwest.;
This year's Blooms theme is "America the Beautiful," and the festival will showcase an explosion of color from 100 varieties of spring bulbs and more than 500,000 spring-blooming blossoms, thousands of azaleas, and hundreds of Japanese cherry trees.
If you plan to attend, get your tickets early, as the event is almost certain to sell out. You can reserve tickets at https://reservations.dallasarboretum.org/SelectDate.aspx?TrackingType=Customer&ActivityID=5578.