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.
As I reflect on May, our trip to Palo Duro Canyon is one of the first memories that comes to mind. Although the canyon was closed due to wildfires shortly after we arrived, I was encouraged by how everyone made the most of the situation.
Alan Daniel
Our photographers stayed positive, explored nearby areas, and captured some excellent images. Be sure to visit the club website’s photo gallery to see them.
Another highlight of the month was our End-of-Year Awards Dinner. It was a pleasure to spend time with friends, share a meal, and reflect on all we’ve experienced together this year. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the evening so special.
June always provides a welcome reminder to slow down and enjoy the beauty around us before the full heat of summer arrives. I hope each of you can spend some time outdoors this month.
Whether you are traveling or simply walking through your neighborhood park, take advantage of the season and make a few photographs.
Call For Photos - Palo Duro Canyon / Caprock Canyons Experience
We wanted to share an update on the club’s May 15–17 field trip to Palo Duro Canyon and Caprock Canyons. A fast-moving wildfire in the Texas Panhandle forced the closure of Palo Duro Canyon State Park during that time. The fire burned tens of thousands of acres, destroyed homes, and caused significant property damage. Even so, we’re very grateful that there have been no reports of lives lost.
Despite these challenges, many club members adjusted their plans and spent part or all of the weekend at Caprock Canyons State Park and in other parts of the Panhandle unaffected by the fires.
Attendees are invited to submit photos documenting any and all parts of their experience during this unusual trip. After all, photographers are going to photograph - and we know you have stories to share.
Here are the guidelines for submitting images:
- SEND UP TO SEVEN (7) of your best/favorite photos from the event to ppcsendphotos@gmail.com (note the new email address).
- The maximum dimension (long edge) for submitted images is 4096 pixels; the maximum file size is 10 MB.
- Please include YOUR NAME and the TOPIC in the file name(s) (e.g., ChristopherForbis_PaloDuro_1.jpg).
Your photos will be included in the slide gallery at right and will be part of a slideshow at a future club meeting.
All submitted photos must be received by SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2026.
This slideshow is now closed. Thanks to all for your submitted photos.
Full-Screen Slideshow
Gallery of Photos
All Slideshows and Galleries
End of Year Awards Dinner
Nearly 60 PPC members and guests gathered at the West Plano Presbyterian Church on Thursday, May 21, 2026, for the 2025-2026 End of Year Awards Dinner.
Many of the photos you see in the gallery at right were captured by Lynn Barrett, who volunteered to take pictures during the event and, as you can see, did a fabulous job.
If you also took photos during the celebration, we would love to add them to the gallery for all to see.
Here are the guidelines for submitting photos:
- SEND UP TO SEVEN (7) of your best/favorite photos from the event to ppcsendphotos@gmail.com (note the new email address).
- The maximum dimension (long edge) for submitted images is 4096 pixels; the maximum file size is 10 MB.
- Please include YOUR NAME and the TOPIC in the file name(s) (e.g., CharlieRussell_EOYParty_1.jpg).
All submitted photos must be received by SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2026.
This slideshow is now closed. Thanks to all for your submitted photos.
Full-Screen Slideshow
Gallery of Photos
All Slideshows and Galleries
Dallas Zoo Illuminature
Illuminature is the Dallas Zoo’s nighttime lantern festival, where large glowing lanterns, sculptures, performances, and interactive activities transform the zoo.
It’s mainly a walk-through light-and-display experience, so most animals are off-habitat by the time the glow begins.
You can wander through wildlife- and nature-themed lanterns, see cultural performances like face-changing opera and acrobatics, and take part in hands-on activities and photo ops.
The zoo notes that the event includes music, flashing lights, fog, and other sensory elements.
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM CT
Location: Dallas Zoo | 650 S. R. L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75203 | Meet at the Prime Meridian Café on the Zoo grounds
Tickets and Parking: Public admission is $24 for adults ($20 for Dallas Zoo members).
There’s also an Illuminature Combo Ticket that lets you visit the zoo earlier in the day and stay for the lantern festival in the evening. The combo is an extra $12 per person and includes zoo entry starting at 3:30 p.m.
Parking costs $14 for the public and is free for zoo members.
Photos: After the event, please send your best 5-7 images to ppcsendphotos@gmail.com for posting in a gallery on the club website and viewing at a future club meeting.
Include YOUR NAME and the TOPIC in the file name(s) (e.g., LisaNew_DallasZoo_1.jpg).
The maximum dimension (long edge) is 4096 pixels; the maximum individual file size is 10 MB.
Submission deadline: Sunday, June 28, 2026.
Questions? Contact club Activity Chair Lily Mak.
FIFA Fan Festival - Dallas (DIY)
The FIFA Fan Festival in Dallas will be a free, public World Cup fan zone at Fair Park from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with live match broadcasts, concerts, games, food, and cultural activities. It’s being positioned as a 1-million-square-foot gathering space and can host up to about 35,000 fans at once.
It will be held near the DART light rail station and the Exposition/Parry Avenue area. The official site describes the layout as a walkable fan village with giant viewing areas, mini-pitches, sponsor zones, and food courts spread across Lots 9 and 10 and The Pavilion.
Expect a big social atmosphere with match screenings, entertainment, interactive games, giveaways, and kid-friendly soccer activities. FIFA says it will be the central fan destination for both local communities and visiting supporters.
Dates: June 11, 2026 - July 19, 2026
Time: Operating hours vary daily
Location: Fair Park | 3809 Grand Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75210
Dallas Match Days: June 14 · June 17 · June 22 · June 25 · June 27 · June 30 · July 3 · July 6 · July 14
Photos: Send your best 5-7 images to ppcsendphotos@gmail.com for posting in a gallery on the club website and viewing at a future club meeting.
Include YOUR NAME and the TOPIC in the file name(s) (e.g., ChristianPulisic_FIFA_1.jpg).
The maximum dimension (long edge) is 4096 pixels; the maximum individual file size is 10 MB.
Submission deadline: Sunday, August 2, 2026.
Questions? Contact club Activity Chair Lily Mak.
Future Activities
Training (6:00 PM CT) - Photo Shoot Planning Tools (Meredith Fontana)
Program (7:00 PM CT) - Meredith Fontana: Essential Digital Scouting Tools
Meredith Fontana
Meredith Fontana is a Denver-based landscape photographer, naturalist, and educator whose work is shaped by her background in paleontology and outdoor adventure. She brings a distinctive blend of scientific curiosity and artistic vision to landscape photography.
Over the past five years, she has focused on photographing Colorado’s diverse and often remote wilderness landscapes, using her work to celebrate their beauty and encourage their protection.
Meredith is the founder of Nature Photography Academy, an online school and community that helps nature photographers grow both technically and artistically while fostering meaningful connections with other like-minded creatives.
Through her workshops, courses, and mentorship, Meredith has guided thousands of photographers in refining their skills, discovering their unique creative voice, and cultivating a deeper relationship with the natural world.
Learn more about Meredith at her website: www.meredithfontana.com.
Program Description
Join Meredith for an in-depth look at essential digital scouting tools and techniques that will help you find unique photo locations and create images that stand out from the crowd.
In this presentation, you will be introduced to Meredith's favorite software, apps, and websites for finding hidden compositions, anticipating perfect lighting, and predicting ideal weather conditions.
You’ll see a live demonstration of these tools in action, where you will learn how to scout a new location step-by-step.
We’ll walk through a real-world scouting scenario that integrates these digital tools, from terrain research and lighting analysis to weather tracking and field preparation. In this presentation, you will learn:
- How to apply Meredith's LITA framework to plan compelling photo shoots with confidence.
- Which digital tools are best for terrain analysis, light prediction, and weather tracking.
- How to identify and evaluate potential compositions before you arrive on-site.
- Field-tested strategies for improving efficiency and success on location scouts.
By the end of this presentation, you will have actionable insights that will help you scout like a pro and create truly unique images.
The Plano Photography Club's June contest 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, June 18, 2026. Submit contest image
Drew Hendrix | Red River Paper
Shari Hunt | Shari Hunt Photography
Jason Ware | Galaxy Photo
Rob Hull | Great Photography