The Plano Photography Club announced the award recipients of its August contest during the club's monthly meeting on Thursday, September 17, 2026.

Detailed results are listed below; honored photographs are visible on the right.

Congratulations to the awardees, and thank you to all competitors.

• 1st: We are the same you and I - Adam Johnson
• 2nd: Red Sunset - Michael Ybarra
• 3rd: Getting Festive for the Fourth - David Prichard
• HM: Rose Reflection - Bernadette Dozier

• 1st: African Grey Heron on the Chobe River - Gary Allen (Honorable Mention Overall)
• 2nd: Back-lit Heron - Chris Fitch
• 3rd: Reddish Egret's Early Morning Dance - Rachel Allen
• HM: Echoes - Ray Davidson
• HM: Oregon Coast in Fog - Melanie Sandager

• 1st: Celebrating the 4th with a Twist - Daniel Dailey (2nd Place Overall)
• 2nd: Lines & Curves - Kay Hale (3rd Place Overall)
• 3rd: Double Strike - Heidi Heisel
• HM: Ready for Some Jazz - Lynn Barrett
• HM: Fast food - Dennis Hahn

• 1st: Portrait in White - Nancy Mack (Best of Show)
• 2nd: Caught-in-the-web - John Lehman
• 3rd: Catfish for Dinner - Alan Daniel
• HM: Route 66 Gas Station Ruins - Larry Petterborg
• HM: Flapping Flyers - Larry Petterborg

Full-Screen Slideshow Gallery of Photos Judge's Commentary Standings - All Levels

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 skydivers, live 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 

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

Questions? Contact Club Activity Chair Lily Mak.

Ready to flex your creativity?

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! 

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.

Questions? Contact Club Activity Chair Lily Mak.

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

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.