; height: auto; } /* Container for the three links with each slideshow */ .ppc-activity-links { display: flex; text-align: center; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 0.4rem; margin-top: 0.2rem; } /* Individual action links */ .ppc-activity-links a { font-size: 0.9rem; /* font-weight: 600; */ /* padding: 0.25rem 0.6rem; */ padding: 0.5rem 1.0rem; border-radius: 999px; /* border-radius: 6px; */ border: 1px solid #ffffff; text-decoration: none; background-color: #bb3A01; color: #ffffff; border-color: #bb3A01; font-weight: 600; } .ppc-activity-links a:hover { background-color: #eea463; border-color: #bb3A01; text-decoration: none; color: #ffffff; } /* Right-floated, responsive SmugMug slideshow */ .smugmug-slideshow { float: right; width: 100%; max-width: 70%, rgba(242,182,119,1) 100%); /*font-family: Roboto,Calibri, Futura, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, Open Sans;*/ /* font-family:arial; */ font-weight:450; margin: 0; padding: 0; outline:solid #black 1px; border: 1px solid #BB3A01; border-radius: 3px; /* box-shadow: 0 5px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2), 0 3px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); */ vertical-align: middle; opacity: 1.0; font-size: 0.25 em; -webkit-text-stroke: 1px #black; } /* CSS to support Quick Links table */ .quicklinks-table { border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0; border: 1px solid #BB3A01; border-radius: 5px; padding: 8px; box-shadow: 0 10px 20px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2), 0 6px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); font-size:105%, rgba(242,182,119,1) 100%); /* font-family: Roboto,Calibri, Futura, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, Open Sans; */ /* font-family:arial; */ font-weight:450; margin: 0; padding: 0; outline:solid #black 1px; vertical-align: middle; opacity: 1.0; font-size: 0.1 em; -webkit-text-stroke: 1px #black; } /* CSS to support internal navigation bar */ .navbar-rectangle { display: inline-block; height: 28px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; text-decoration: none; font-weight:normal; width: 100% 50%; */ grid-template-columns: 50%; } .grid-container-content { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 50% 50%; /*font-family: Roboto,Calibri, Open Sans, Futura, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;*/ } .grid-container-footer { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 60% 40%; /*font-family: Roboto,Calibri, Open Sans, Futura, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;*/ font-weight: normal; } /* This table is used to present the footer content */ /* Source https://divtable.com/converter/ */ .divTable{ display: table; width: 100%; /* IE10 */ flex: 25%; max-width: 25%; flex: 50%; max-width: 50%; flex: 100%; max-width: 100%;">
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. 


Meetings every third Thursday (except December) | Training at 6 PM | Program at 7 PM
West Plano Presbyterian Church - 2709 Custer Road, Plano, Texas

Guests are welcome at meetings. No reservations are required.

 Attend a meeting   Join the club  Learn more about the club

 Dates to Remember

 Current and Upcoming Photo Activities

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 skydiverslive 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



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.


Notes


 Next Meeting - Thursday, September 17, 2026

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 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.


Resources


 September President's Message

After a summer like this one, I am ready for fall.

Alan Daniel
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.




PSA Logo
Member Organization

Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) support is turned off on your browser. This is controlled by Accessibility options on your browser and Display Properties. Your viewing experience will be severely degraded without this support.



This website is hosted by Visual Pursuits, a service provided by Software Pursuits, Inc.