The Plano Photography Club aims to promote enjoyment, mastery, and further development of photography through cooperation, effort, and good fellowship. Serving Plano and the surrounding areas, we welcome photographers of all skill levels.

Review this slide presentation to learn more about the club. Then join us at our next monthly meeting and get to know the friendly folks in the Plano Photography Club.

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION | BECOME A MEMBER | RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP

Award recipients in the Plano Photography Club July contest were announced during the monthly club meeting on Thursday, August 21, 2025.

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

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

• 1st: Bathed in Light at the Real Alcazar - Julie Yu
• 2nd: Moody Muse - Bernadette Dozier
• 3rd: Morning Hike in the Pines - Maggie Hutchison
• HM: Hannah at Golden Hour - Ben Zajdel

• 1st: Free Diver at Devil's Den - Lily Mak (Best of Show)
• 2nd: Turning Away - Robert Turnage
• 3rd: Dancing - Janet Yiu
• HM: Sunset Sail - Melanie Sandager
• HM: Mysteries of the Etruscan Tombs - Gregory C Bullen

• 1st: "Night Visitor" - Ode to Classic Horror Lighting - Fred Manchester (3rd Place overall)
• 2nd: Puddle #2 - Mark Bernthal
• 3rd: looking to the light - Jerry Schlesinger
• HM: Guanacos in Chile - Alan Abair
• HM: Lightleak Portrait - Heidi Heisel

• 1st: Walking in Radiance - Eddie Yu (2nd Place Overall)
• 2nd: He Didn't Start the Fire - David Swinney
• 3rd: Light Through the Cypress - Marie Hansen (Honorable Mention Overall)
• HM: Splish Splash - Alan Daniel
• HM: Let the Light Shine Upon You - Janice Goetz

Full-Screen Slideshow | Gallery | Judge's Commentary

Standings: All Levels | Entry Level | Intermediate Level | Advanced Level | Master Level

Did you attend our Tabletop Workshop and Camera Swap on August 23?

If so, thanks very much for helping to make it a success. We would like to feature your favorite images from the event in the slide gallery displayed on the right.

Here are the guidelines you need to know for submitting pictures for that gallery:

• 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 10 MB.
• Please include YOUR NAME and the TOPIC in the file name(s) (e.g., DeanChamberlain_Tabletop_1.jpg).
• The submission deadline is WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2025.

We look forward to seeing your photos.

Parvin Stiles

August in Texas means spending time indoors, but don’t worry - we’ve got a cool solution for you and your camera. Join us for our Tabletop Photography Workshop and Camera Swap at the church on Saturday, August 23rd, from 10 AM to 2 PM. Have fun with friends and club members as you practice and refine your skills at several different tabletop stations. The intrepid can still spend time outdoors. Avoid the worst heat by heading out early in the morning for the blue and golden hours. The light is soft, shadows long, and wildlife is either on the prowl or enjoying breakfast - perfect for capturing a story in a single shot.

Don’t miss our monthly meeting on Thursday, August 21st. Our very own Master Photographer, Nancy Mack, will give a presentation titled “My Passion – Flowers” during the 6 PM training session in the church library. This will be the first part of a two-part series in which Nancy shares her expertise on photographing flowers. Carol Barlow, also a Master photographer, will lead an orientation class for new and prospective members during the same pre-meeting training time.

Rob Hull, our guest speaker for the main meeting, will present his program titled “The Quality of Light.” Rob, a Certified Professional Photographer, is a popular photography instructor with SMU’s Continuing and Professional Education. Between 1998 and 2020, over 3,000 students attended his classes and programs. He also developed and teaches the Canon Advanced Workshop. Light is the single most important element in the photographic process, and Rob will dive deep into its role.

Exciting News! I’m eager for our upcoming trip to North Carolina and the Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains to photograph stunning fall foliage, myriad waterfalls, and maybe even Yogi and Boo-Boo Bear. The trip will take place from October 20th to 24th. The Log Cabin Motor Court in Asheville will be our home base. This area is renowned for its breathtaking fall colors, with the Smoky Mountains serving as the perfect backdrop. Consider joining us for this amazing road trip! For more details, please visit the club website.

If you prefer flying and don’t want to carry your camera gear, you can ask a fellow member who is driving to bring it along. Cliff McKenzie and the committee will share our daily itinerary soon.

Stay cool, keep snapping, and I hope to see you soon!

The Plano Photography Club's September contest is an ELECTRONIC competition with the theme CREATIVE DEPARTURE FROM REALITY.

Electronic entries must be uploaded to the PPC Competition Site by 11:59 PM CT on Thursday, September 18, 2025. SUBMIT CONTEST IMAGE

NOTE: You must be a Plano Photography Club member to submit contest images.

We’ve noticed some confusion about how to create an image for the September contest, “Creative Departure From Reality.”

Please visit the Competition Themes page (Competition | Competition Themes), where you’ll find links to articles with ideas and suggestions to inspire your entry.

Also on that page, there is a note on how to create your contest submission:

Your entry must be created using your own images. You may use in-camera techniques—such as trick lenses, motion blur, or zoom exposure—or post-processing methods with editing tools to alter reality. Compositing two or more of your own images is also allowed.

If you have any questions, please contact Contest Chair Craig Rowen.

NOTE: On Thursday evening, August 28, 2025, there will be a special online training session to address recent questions regarding the "Creative Departure from Reality" theme. Craig Rowen will go over the theme and PPC rules, while Dennis Fritsche will illustrate ways to fulfill the theme in-camera and through post-processing..