We hope you can join us on July 26 for a morning photo shoot at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas.
The Frontiers of Flight Museum is a premier aviation and space museum located at Dallas Love Field Airport. Founded in 1988, the museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich history of aviation and space exploration, with a special emphasis on the Dallas/Fort Worth area’s pivotal role in the industry.
The museum offers a fascinating journey through the history of flight, making it a must-visit destination for aviation enthusiasts, families, photographers, and anyone interested in science and exploration. With its impressive collection, educational programs, and vibrant community events, the museum connects visitors to the wonder of flight and the stories of those who made it possible.
Details
Location: Frontiers of Flight Museum at Dallas Love Field |
6911 Lemmon Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75209 | (directions)
Date: Saturday, July 26, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM CT (one hour before the public)
Parking: Ample free parking is available on-site
Admission: Adults - $15 | Youth (13 and under) - $10 | Seniors (65+) - $10 (all tickets are general admission)
Photo Restrictions: Photos of the Frontiers of Flight Museum logo may not be posted to social media in a way that suggests any club member is an official photographer for the museum.
Purchase Admission Ticket(s)
Tickets to the Frontiers of Flight Museum may be purchased online (click the button below) or upon arrival.
PURCHASE TICKET(S) TO FRONTIERS OF FLIGHT MUSEUM
Group Lunch
Attendees are invited to attend a group lunch at Maple Landing (5855 Maple Avenue, Suite 100 | directions) following the event at 11:30 AM.
Questions?
Please contact club Activity Chair Mary Ruehle.
DIY Fourth of July Fireworks
The goal of this DIY activity is to capture fireworks and other scenes and activities that illustrate the Fourth of July holiday.
Maybe you are attending a big public event like Addison Kaboom Town 40 or Fair Park Fourth in the Cotton Bowl.
Or perhaps you are going to check out some of the other, less crowded events in the region.
Of course, you might just be staying home and lighting sparklers in your front yard.
Whatever you do to celebrate the holiday, we would love to see your photos.
Please send your best 5-7 pictures (4096 pixels on the long side; 10MB maximum) to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com by Sunday, July 13, 2025, for inclusion in a gallery to be posted on the club website.
Below you will find some tips on how to capture and edit fireworks photos for the best results. Good luck and we look forward to seeing your images.
Capturing Fireworks Images
Post-Processing Fireworks Photos
Questions? Contact Mary Ruehle.
June 2025
Great Texas Balloon Race 2025
We're inviting interested Plano Photography Club members to join us in Longview, Texas on Friday evening, June 13, 2025, and Saturday morning, June 14, 2025, for some amazing balloon photography.
The Great Texas Balloon Race (GTBR) and the Balloon Federation of America (BFA) U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championship returns June 10-15 to the Longview Convention Complex (map of location/ directions).
One of East Texas’ most-loved events brings with it for 2025 the top air balloon pilots from across the nation, one of country music’s most-lauded recording artists, and the return of an entertaining and inspiring Texas-themed drone show.
We plan to focus on shooting the balloon glow on Friday evening and the morning balloons on Saturday.
Activities Schedule
Friday, June 13
A lot is happening, but the key events are the Special Shapes balloons at 8:15 PM, the Balloon Glow at 8:50 PM, and the Drone Show following the Balloon Glow.
Saturday, June 14
Highlights include the BFA U.S. Nationals Hot Air Balloon Championship Competition Flight over Longview and
the GTBR and Young Guns Competition Flight at 6:30 AM, and the Special Shapes and Model Balloon static inflations at 7:00 AM.
FULL ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE AND ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Ticket Information
Tickets will be $20 Friday night, $25 if you're staying for Saturday night, and $40 for both nights. Children 12 and under get in free. You can purchase tickets at the gate or online via the button below:
PURCHASE TICKET(S) FOR THE GREAT TEXAS BALLOON RACE
Lodging
You are responsible for obtaining your own lodging (visitor guide/hotels and motels) for Friday evening.
Saturday Lunch
Meet the group at 11:00 AM at Country Tavern Barbecue (1526 Fm 2767, Kilgore, TX) (903.984.9954).
Other Questions?
Contact Club Activities Chair Mary Ruehle via email.
May 2025
Photo by Brian Clark
Succulent Photo Shoot
Club member Irwin Lightstone has offered the club an opportunity to do a succulent photo shoot at his home on Saturday, Mary 31, 2025.
We've done it in the past (see photos here), so many members should be familiar with how he does it.
Attendees should bring a tripod and a macro lens to practice their photo stacking skills.
Irwin will set up individual stations for people to work with in his front yard. He also will share his technique for shooting closeups.
Location: Irwin Lightstone's home | 9048 Royal Crown Drive, Dallas, TX 75243 (directions)
Date: Saturday, May 31, 2025
Time: TBA CT
Clymer Meadow Preserve Photo Shoot
Location: Clymer Meadow Preserve (4318 FM1562, Celeste, TX 75423)
Date: Saturday, May 24, 2025
Late Lunch/Early Dinner: 3:30 PM CT in Blue Ridge, Texas
Location: TBD
Arrival Time at Preserve: Approved entry time is 5:00 PM CT | Specific meet-up/gate address will be provided closer to the event date
What's It All About
This is a joint activity with the Heard Nature Photographers Club.
Expect wildflower photography! Native prairie! Birds! And bugs!
Clymer Meadow Preserve (photo by Jacqueline Ferrato)
From the March 2018 issue of Texas Highways: “Researchers say 99 percent of the Blackland Prairie habitat that once covered 15 million acres has been lost. What remains exists in mostly small chunks. Clymer Meadow Preserve contains one of the largest contiguous remaining pieces.
"Even more remarkably, no plow blade has ever cut through the soil on some sections of the property. Its gently rolling land, pockmarked by micro- topography—wetlands just a few meters wide perched atop hillsides—acts as a laboratory for researchers studying everything from monarch butterflies to water quality.”
About the Preserve
Clymer Meadow Preserve, located about sixty miles northeast of Dallas, contains some of the largest and most diverse remnants of the Blackland Prairie—the Texas version of the tallgrass prairie that once stretched from near the Texas coast to southern Manitoba. This rare, 1,475-acre “island” of natural history is part of a larger conservation area that includes land owned by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and other private owners. As an excellent example of remnant prairie, the preserve is a key site for research and educational activities.
Named for pioneer Jim Clymer, who bought tracts there in the 1850s, Clymer Meadow’s diverse offerings include tallgrass prairie with abundant wildflowers, wildlife and wetland habitat. One of the more unusual features of the preserve are shallow, moisture-drawing basins called “gilgai.” Normal gilgai are irregular or round and generally arranged in a honeycomb-like pattern on level, heavy clay soils. Because they tend to hold water, gilgai often influence the composition of plant communities, like those at Clymer.
Equipment
Dress to protect yourself from scratchy weeds and chiggers, chiggers, and more chiggers (DEET has been suggested if you are comfortable using it. Heavy doses suggested!) Snakes are possible. Tall boots are recommended.
Bring your tripod and a lens selection appropriate for flower, birds, and bug photography.
Don't forget water, a hat, and sunscreen (there is very little shade available).
Important Things to Know
The terrain is not level and is very uneven with tripping hazards.
On-site, each participant will need to sign the Nature Conservancy’s Liability Release and acknowledgement of their photography policy (no selling of images, etc.).
Resources
- Nature Conservancy Website
- Dallas Camera Club Newsletter (May 2023, pp. 13-15): Clymer Meadows Field Trip Announcement
- Master Photographer Sean Fitzgerald - Photographing Prairies Zoom Presentation to Dallas Camera Club
March 2025
Dallas Arboretum Morning Photo Shoot
Location: Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden (8525 Garland Road, Dallas, TX 75218)
Date: Friday, March 21, 2025
Time: 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM CT
During this time window, any member of the Plano Photography Club attending with our group may walk and photograph the grounds of the Arboretum. Tripods will be allowed.
Irwin Lightstone has once again used his connections (Thanks Irwin!) to get us access to the Dallas Arboretum early in the morning to photograph tulips and all the other beautiful plants on display.
Details
- REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED for this event (click the Registration button below)
- There is no limit on the number of PPC members who can attend
- Attendees must park in the lot accessible at the Gate 1 entrance (located at the intersection of Garland Road and Whittier)
- Attendees MUST be physically present at the Main Entrance of the Arboretum by 7:00 AM; please plan to arrive a few minutes early so that members can enter as a group
- Attendees will be admitted onto the grounds as a group; any individual who arrives at the Main Entrance after the group enters the Arboretum may be denied admission
- Attendees will be allowed to use their tripods until 9:00 AM (when the Arboretum opens to the public); no tripods may be used after that time
- Attendees may remain at the Arboretum after 9:00 AM and continue taking photographs for as long as they wish, subject to item (6) above
- There are no official lunch or brunch plans, but some people will almost certainly get together after the shoot; this will be decided on-site
As a condition of providing access under these terms to the Plano Photography Club, the Dallas Arboretum is requesting copies of five (5) photographs captured by each attendee. Details will be communicated when we collect images for display on the club website.
REGISTER FOR THE DALLAS ARBORETUM PHOTO SHOOT
Registration closes on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 9:00 PM CT.
If you have questions before the event or when you arrive onsite at the Arboretum, contact Mary Ruehle (email/214-676-6469).
The Great Junk Hunt Dallas (DIY Activity)
The Great Junk Hunt
The Great Junk Hunt is bringing its unique shopping experience to Texas for the first time on March 14-15, 2025, and members of the Plano Photography Club are invited to check it out on Saturday, March 15.
The event brings together curated vendors offering unique treasures in a 90,000-square-foot venue. Enjoy a lively atmosphere with cocktails, live music, and a vast array of vintage and repurposed items.
You'll discover a wide range of styles, including farmhouse, industrial, rustic, shabby chic, and handmade goods.
The Great Junk Hunt Dallas promises an exciting experience where shoppers can find one-of-a-kind items and photographers can create one-of-a-kind photos.
Location: Dallas Fair Park | Centennial Hall, 3929 Grand Avenue, Dallas, TX, 75210 | Directions | Parking
Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM CT
Admission: Saturday Early Bird (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM) $12 | General Admission (anytime after 10:00 AM) $10
BUY TICKETS TO THE GREAT JUNK HUNT DALLAS
North Texas Irish Festival (DIY Activity)
North Texas Irish Festival
The North Texas Irish Festival (NTIF) returns to Fair Park in Dallas from February 28 - March 2, 2025, bringing all the music, dance, culture, and excitement that this well-loved event creates to celebrate the rich tradition of Irish and Celtic culture.
The NTIF is still one of the only large Irish festivals in the country that places a huge significance on the traditional music of Ireland.
As of February 20, 2025, the club had three (3) press/backstage passes available. If you want one of the three passes, please email your name and mailing address to Cliff McKenzie.
Please note that the date and time of the email determine who gets the first-come/first-serve passes. If you receive a pass, you promise to provide five (5) images for us to share with the NTIF.
Call for Photos
Whether or not you have a backstage pass, If you attend the Festival any day next weekend, we hope you have a wonderful time while capturing some terrific photos.
As is common with club member activities, we would like to feature your images from the event in a slide gallery on the website.
If you wish to submit pictures for that gallery, here are the guidelines:
- SEND UP TO TEN (10) of your best photos to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com.
- The maximum dimension (long edge) for submitted images is 4096 pixels; the maximum individual file size is 10MB.
- Please include YOUR NAME and the TOPIC in the file name(s) (e.g., NoelHogan_NTIF_1.jpg).
- The submission deadline is SUNDAY, MARCH 9, 2025.
Texas Rose Horse Park
We hope you can join us for an all-day photo shoot at Texas Rose Horse Park on Saturday, March 1, 2025 (the rain date is March 8).
Texas Rose Horse Park is a premier equestrian facility located in Tyler, Texas. Spanning 1,700 acres of beautiful rolling hills, it offers a wide range of facilities and services for horse enthusiasts and event organizers.
The park is highly regarded for its well-maintained facilities, Texan hospitality, and the quality of its events, making it a favorite among equestrians and visitors alike.
Details
Location: Texas Rose Horse Park |
14078 State Hwy 110N, Tyler, TX 75704 | (directions)
Time: This is an all-day event, so come and/or leave at your convenience; you may arrive as early as 8:00 AM
Admission: FREE
Photo by Larry Petterborg; used with permission
What and Where Can You Photograph?
The equestrian competitions feature multiple arenas hosting simultaneous events, along with two dedicated warm-up areas. Competitions span various age groups and skill levels, offering a diverse range of photographic opportunities.
Capture the excitement of show jumping, the focused preparation of riders, and the relaxed moments after their performances. Don't miss the behind-the-scenes moments like horses being bathed and cared for. And there are award ceremonies at the end of each event.
Beyond the action, you'll find abundant opportunities for candid shots throughout the venue. Get close and capture the details with macro photography, focusing on the beautifully decorated arenas, adorned with floral arrangements at each jump.
Bleachers are available at select arenas, offering elevated and unique perspectives. With a sprawling event space, you're free to explore and discover captivating images around every corner.
What Lens(es) Should I Bring?
According to professional photographers we have spoke with on prior trips to the Horse Park, a 200mm lens should be good for most events, but you may want to consider a 400mm prime or 100-400mm zoom for shooting the horse jumping.
Important Things To Know
Please do not get too close to either the riders or their horses. They are wild animals and unpredictable.
Also be aware that there are professional photographers on the grounds and we do not want to get in their way and interfere with their shots.
What About Food?
There is a food pavilion at the Horse Park or you may bring your own food. There are picnic tables to relax and enjoy the experience.
Information Resources
Questions?
Please contact club Activity Chair Mary Ruehle.
February 2025
Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park Photo Shoot
We hope you can join us for a photo shoot at Texas Discovery Gardens on Saturday, February 8, 2025.
Located in Dallas' historic Fair Park, Texas Discovery Gardens is a year-round organically maintained urban oasis filled with natural wonders and is home to the Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House and Insectarium, along with the snake and reptile shack, indoor axolotl tank, koi ponds, fountains, outdoor playscape, garden trains, many specialty outdoor gardens, art gallery, and picnicking areas.
General admission gets you access to the gardens, butterfly house, snake and reptile shack, outdoor playscape, garden trains, ponds and pools, and the entire 7.5 acres of exploration, experience, entertainment, and education for the entire day.
Details
Location: Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park |
3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75210 (Fair Park, Gate 6) | (directions)
Meeting Time: 9:00 AM
Admission: Adults (13+) $12 | Seniors (65+) $10
You may purchase tickets online or at the gate.
January 2025
Hagerman NWR Sunrise Outing
Photo by Parvin Stiles; used with permission
Please plan to join us early on Saturday, January 25, 2025 for a sunrise photo outing at the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge (map) in Sherman, Texas.
Featuring 11,000 acres of outdoor recreation opportunities, Hagerman NWR is the largest natural space in North Texas freely available to the public.
Hagerman MWR was established in 1946 to provide habitat for migratory birds, wildlife, and plants native to the area. The 11,320-acre refuge is an overlay of the Big Mineral Arm of Lake Texoma.
Shallow marshes, creeks, bottomland hardwoods, forested uplands and grasslands, and managed farm fields provide habitat for more than 300 species of birds and many varieties of wildlife.
Details
Location: Hagerman NWR | 6465 Refuge Rd, Sherman, TX 75092 (directions)
Meeting Time: 6:30 AM CT
Admission and Parking: Free
Nautical Twilight begins: 6:30 AM CT
Blue Hour begins: 7:00 AM CT
Golden Hour begins: 7:10 AM CT
Sunrise: 7:27 AM CT
After the photo outing, attendees are invited to attend a group breakfast at Mom's Cafe at 317 W. FM 120 in Pottsboro, a short drive (directions) from the refuge.