March into Spring Adventures!
Parvin StilesWell, February weather behaved itself this year, about as “nice” as we ever get around here! I am going to say Punxsutawney Phil must have skipped us, though he was probably spot-on for the Northeast.
With winter (hopefully) in our rearview mirror, I am ready to welcome spring! The Spring equinox arrives on Friday, March 20th, at 9:46 am Central Time, and is perfectly timed just one day before our photo outing to the Celtic Festival and Highland Games in Sherman. This will be our first time going, and we’re joining the ever-enthusiastic Dallas Camera Club for the fun. If you’ve never been to a Highland Games, get ready, it’s a feast for the senses. Picture this: people throwing trees, yes, whole trees. They call it caber tossing. I call it, don’t stand too close. There will be hammer throwing, stone tossing, bright tartans, big personalities, and non-stop action. It’s going to be loud, colorful, and dramatic – basically a camera’s dream day out. Bring extra batteries and maybe be ready to duck.
And I am so excited about our May 15-17 Spring Trip to Palo Duro Canyon State Park and Caprock Canyons State Park. Palo Duro is the second-largest canyon in the United States, a kind of slightly less famous cousin of the Grand Canyon. Still huge, not as deep. Still gorgeous. Still makes you feel tiny in the best way. Bonus, there’s a new moon on May 16th. That means dark skies and perfect chances for night photography and the Milky Way. Check out all the details on our website and register online if you plan to attend, so we can contact you with more details as it gets closer.
Our club is all about learning, laughing, making new connections, and taking better photos. We have meetings, online training, fun outings (near and far), guest speakers, and monthly contests. You don’t have to live in Plano or attend monthly meetings to join. If you love photography, you’re in.
So, grab your camera, stuff extra batteries in your pockets, and let’s go chase spring before summer shows up uninvited.
Call For Photos - Fort Worth Stockyards Scavenger Hunt
If you attended the Fort Worth Stockyards Photo Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, February 21, we'd love to see the photos that you captured.
Here are the guidelines for submitting photos:
- SEND TEN (10) photos that illustrate the theme of COWBOY LUGE (one photo per letter) to ppcsendphotos@gmail.com (note the new email address).
- Add a watermark to each photo that identifies the letter and the item name.
- The maximum dimension (long edge) for submitted images is 4096 pixels.
- Individual files are limited to 10 MB in size.
- Please include YOUR NAME and the TOPIC in the file name(s) (e.g., TomMix_ScavengerHunt_1.jpg).
Your photos will be included in the slide gallery on the right and will be part of a slideshow at a future club meeting.
All submitted photos must be received by SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2026.
NOTE: Per PPC member Debbie Conard, anyone who wants to share photos from this activity with the Herd group should send them to theherd@fortworth.com.
Full-Screen Slideshow | Gallery of Photos | All Slideshows and Galleries
The award recipients of the Plano Photography Club's January photo contest were announced during the club's monthly meeting on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
Detailed results are listed below; honored photographs are visible on the right.
Winning Images from the January 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: Forgotten - Terence Jesper (Best of Show)
- 2nd: Eligibility not met - Mike Evans (3rd Place Overall)
- 3rd: Pretty in Pink - Bernadette Dozier
- HM: Something in the Orange - Christy Garcia
- HM: Meteora: Where Stone Meets the Sky - Julie Yu
Intermediate
- 1st: Ready to Play - Frank Barnhart (Honorable Mention Overall)
- 2nd: Orange with Brown - Dennis Hahn
- 3rd: La Catrina Contestant - Lynn Barrett
- HM: Red Gate to Hard Times, Aran Islands, Ireland - Gregory Bullen
- HM: Boat Painting - Jack Nisula
Advanced
- 1st: A Foggy Morning at Fishing Bridge - David Hutchison (2nd Place Overall)
- 2nd: Squiggles - Richard Otto
- 3rd: Mother Child Tender Moment - Cliff McKenzie
- HM: Sharing is Caring - Randy Ratzlaff
- HM: The Egg Slicer - Rich Kidner
Master
- 1st: Holding Court - John Lehman
- 2nd: Sunshine Flowers - Nancy Mack
- 3rd: Building the Perfect Nest - Janice Goetz
- HM: What a Catch - Alan Daniel
- HM: Birth of a Tornado - Anita Oakley
Full-Screen Slideshow | Gallery | Judge's Commentary
Standings: All Levels | Entry Level | Intermediate Level | Advanced Level | Master Level
Please plan to join us in Sherman on Saturday, March 21, 2026, for an afternoon at the 9th Annual Sherman Celtic Festival & Highland Games. This event is a joint activity with the Dallas Camera Club.
The Sherman Celtic Festival is packed with energy, color, music, and motion, making it an excellent outing for photographers (festival map).
Athletes compete in traditional Highland events like the caber toss and stone put, surrounded by kilts, clan banners, and cheering spectators, offering plenty of chances to capture dramatic action and expressive faces.
Photo by Larry Petterborg
Around the field, you’ll find pipe and drum bands, dancers in tartan, historical reenactors, and a Viking village, all rich with texture and character for both portraits and environmental scenes.
The family-friendly setting - with vendors, demonstrations, and casual moments between performers and visitors - adds human-interest stories that round out the day. Altogether, it should be a fun, visually varied environment where everyone can experiment with different styles, from fast action to thoughtful storytelling.
Details
Location: Pecan Grove Park - West |
3200 Canyon Creek Dr, Sherman, TX 75092 | (directions)
Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM CT
Parking: Parking is located around the outskirts of the park, and shuttle rides are available for no charge
Tickets: One Day Adult (16+) - $10 (presale); on event day, the price increases to $12 Purchase advance Sherman Celtic Festival admission ticket(s)
Lunch: TBD, but probably onsite
Questions?
Don't hesitate to contact the club's Activity Chair, Mary Ruehle.
The Plano Photography Club's March contest - the final one of the club year - is an ELECTRONIC competition with the theme OPEN.
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, March 19, 2026. Submit contest image