2022 Club News Archive

This page serves as an archive of all club news that appeared on the front page of the Plano Photography Club website in 2022. 

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December 2022

Holiday Party Summary

Approximately 40 Plano Photography Club members and guests were in attendance on Tuesday evening December 6, 2022, for the club's annual holiday event at West Plano Presbyterian Church.

Seventeen (17) club members shared their favorite personal images taken in 2022 (you can see the musical slideshow here) while twelve (12) members produced thematic video slideshows to celebrate the year (see the full presentation here).

The PPC wishes to express its appreciation to everyone who participated in any of the club's photo activities this year.

Special thanks are offered to those who submitted favorite images, general holiday photos, pictures of themselves as children during the holidays, and who produced and submitted video slideshows for the party.

And finally, a great debt of gratitude is owed to all the club leaders and general members who helped plan, organize, and execute the event.

Happy Holidays to one and all! We look forward to seeing what you have in store for 2023.

 

November 2022

PPC Member Recognized in the November 2022 GSCCC Competition

The following Plano Photography Club member received an award in the Gulf States Camera Club Council November photo competition:

Monochrome Projected

  • 3rd: Aspen in Fog – Ouray - Dennis Fritsche
  • To see the winning images and a full list of award recipients, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.

     

    Watch Adobe MAX Tutorials and Courses For Free

    Adobe MAX

    Last month, thousands of creatives worldwide came together in Los Angeles to learn and be inspired at MAX, Adobe’s global celebration of creativity.

    Now you can watch more than 200 sessions and courses from the event at no cost!

    Browse and search by keywords, apply filters, or take the session finder quiz to find sessions that fit your interests. Refer to the FAQ or individual session pages for language information.

    Check out the inspiring MAX keynotes, mind-blowing sneaks, plus extensive tracks in nine categories.

    You can also access these free training sessions via the PPC website menu at Training/Education | External Training Resources | Adobe MAX 2022 Sessions.

     

    Get Free Press Passes and an Admission Discount to This Weekend's Steampunk November

    Steampunk November

    The PPC has obtained twenty-five (25) free press passes and a discount code for the purchase of a weekend pass to the upcoming Steampunk November festival in Venus, Texas (just south of Mansfield).

    Steampunk November is the longest-running steampunk Music and Arts Festival in Texas.

    The event proudly presents a wide variety of entertainment. The four stages and various performance areas play host to bands, dancers, poetry, sideshows, and performers. It is fun for the whole family but be warned, in the later hours of the evening some shows are for more mature audiences.

    Location:  492 Cordes Drive, Venus TX 76084 (map)

    Times:  Friday, November 11, 2022 - 7:00 PM - Midnight
    Saturday, November 12, 2022 - Noon-Midnight
    Sunday, November 13, 2022 - Noon - 5:00 PM

    Free advance registration is required for the press passes, which DO NOT cover the cost of admission.

    The passes - which allow you to move freely about the grounds as you need for photography purposes - can be picked up at the Will Call window on-site under the club name.

     

    Plano Photography Club 2022 Holiday Party Details

    PPC Holiday Party

    Please plan to join us at West Plano Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, for the annual PPC Holiday Party.

    Setup is at 5:30 PM CT with dinner and program starting at 6:30 PM CT.

    Members are asked to bring an appetizer, vegetable, or dessert. The club will provide meat, drinks, and utensils.

    FREE Advance registration is required. Registration closes on Sunday, December 4 at 12 PM.


    How You Can Participate

    The holiday party program is largely comprised of contributions from our members. To that end, you are invited to

    1. submit SEVEN holiday images to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com for display as a continuous loop during dinner
    2. submit ONE favorite photo from the year for inclusion in a musical slideshow to be created by James Stover; send that picture to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com
    3. generate a three-minute slideshow of your best photos from 2022upload your completed videos at https://bit.ly/ppcholidayparty
    4. submit ONE picture of yourself as a child at Christmas to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com; we will use these to give all in attendance the chance to guess the identity of the person in the photo

    As with the Topic of the Week photos, the maximum dimension for submitted images [long edge] is 4096 pixels; the maximum file size is 10MB.

    The submission deadline for all of these is 11:59 PM CT Wednesday, November 30, 2022.


    Questions?

    If you have questions about this event, please reach out to Janice Goetz.

    For problems or questions about uploading your photo slideshows, contact David Swinney.

     

    Nellie Bretherick
    Nellie Bretherick

    Remembering Nellie Bretherick

    With heavy hearts, we announce the death of lifetime Plano Photography Club member Nellie Bretherick of Allen, Texas, who passed away on October 26, 2022, just shy of her 92nd birthday. Nellie was also an active member of the Dallas Camera Club.

    There will not be a funeral. Nellie's son and daughter will fly her ashes to England and spread them in the same location where her husband Bernard's ashes were spread a few years ago.

    At this time, no memorial service is planned.

    Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared for the Bretherick family via the Ted DIckey Funeral Home.

     

    October 2022

    Save the Date for the PPC Holiday Party

    PPC Holiday Party

    Please plan to join us in person on Tuesday evening, December 6, 2022, for the annual Plano Photography Club Holiday Party.

    Location: West Plano Presbyterian Church (our normal meeting room)
    Time: 6:30 - 9:00 PM CT (approximate)

    The club's Executive Council is working to finalize the details of the event, which will be shared in the coming weeks with all members via email and here on the website.

     

     

     

     

    PPC Members Recognized in the October 2022 GSCCC Competition

    The following Plano Photography Club members received awards in the Gulf States Camera Club Council October photo competition:

    Nature Projected

  • 2nd: Arizona Monsoon - Brenda Clark
  • Photojournalism Projected

  • 3rd: Sports Angle - Richard Otto
  • To see the winning images and a full list of award recipients, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.

     

    Total Lunar Eclipse Coming Tuesday, November 8

    A total lunar eclipse will sweep across Asia, Australia, the Americas, and the Pacific on November 8, 2022. This will be the first Election Day total lunar eclipse in United States history. The next one will be on November 8, 2394 (!).

    Here is the information that you need to help you photograph this five-hour and 54-minute celestial event.

    Total Lunar Eclipse
    When The Eclipse Happens
    Event Time in Plano (CT) Visible in Plano? Direction Altitude
    Penumbral Eclipse begins
    The earth's penumbra starts touching the moon's face
    2:02 AM Yes 244° 58.2°
    Partial Eclipse begins
    The moon is getting red
    3:09 AM Yes 259° 45.2°
    Total Eclipse begins
    Completely red moon
    4:16 AM Yes 269° 31.6°
    Maximum Eclipse
    The moon is closest to the center of the shadow
    4:59 AM Yes 275° 23.0°
    Total Eclipse ends 5:41 AM Yes 280° 14.5°
    Partial Eclipse ends
    The moon is close to the horizon, so make sure you have free sight to the west-northwest
    6:49 AM Yes 289° 1.6°
    Moonset 7:00 AM Yes 298° -11.0°
    Penumbral Eclipse ends
    The moon is below the horizon
    7:56 AM Yes 298° -11.0°

    Resources

     

    Adobe Announces Major Updates To Creative Cloud Photography Applications

    As part of the Adobe MAX 2022 conference, Adobe announced updates to a variety of products, including the Lightroom ecosystem. Both Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, and Adobe Camera Raw will see more AI-powered masking options — including a Select Object tool — as well as Content-Aware Remove, interface tweaks, and more.

    Additionally, Photoshop is getting some new collaboration tools and AI capabilities to help remove some of the more tedious parts of image editing.

    Please review the resource links below to learn more about the newest releases of Adobe's Creative Cloud photography applications, which are now available for download through the Creative Cloud application.

    Adobe Resources

  • Updated Creative Cloud helps you create with precision and speed and collaborate seamlessly
  • Photography at Adobe MAX 2022: New features for Adobe Lightroom and more
  • Photoshop releases major updates to Selections, Hole-filling, adds Share for Review Collaboration, and much more

  • Feature Summary | Lightroom Classic (October 2022 release)
  • Feature Summary | Photoshop Desktop (October 2022 release)

  • Third-Party Articles

  • October 2022 Release for Lightroom Classic, Lightroom, and Camera Raw (LightroomKillerTips)
  • Adobe announces new features and updates to its Creative Cloud apps at Adobe MAX (9TO5Mac)
  • Adobe: Taking collaboration to the next level with new Creative Cloud features (MarketScreener)
  • Adobe AI Smarts Now Find People, Faces, Eyes for Faster Photo Editing (Cnet)
  • Adobe adds AI masking and content-aware healing to Lightroom 2022 (Engadget)
  • Adobe Lightroom Update Enhances AI Masks and Adaptive Presets (PetaPixel)
  • Lightroom, Lightroom Classic get more AI masking, Content-Aware Remove (Photofocus)
  • Adobe Photoshop update adds refined selections and AI photo restoration (Yahoo!)
  • Photoshop is making it easier to quickly edit and collaborate on projects (The Verge)
  • Adobe Photoshop Update Improves Selections, Sharing, ACR, and More (PetaPixel)
  • Adobe Max 2022: Photoshop gets real-time sharing for review, new AI-driven features for Express (IndianExpress)

  • Videos

  • What's New in Lightroom 12 (Oct 2022 Update) (Matt Kloskowski)
  • Everything You Need to Know About Masking in Lightroom Classic v12 (Julianne Kost)
  • Great NEW Features in Lightroom 12 (Anthony Morganti)
  • Lightroom Classic 2023. MAJOR New Features. Powerful new AI masking (photoshopCAFE)
  • What's New in Photoshop 2023 (Oct 2022 Update) (Matt Kloskowski)
  • What's new in Photoshop 2023 + Adobe Camera Raw 2023 (photoshopCAFE)
  • Masking in Adobe Camera Raw (Julianne Kost)
  • Extract from Image in Photoshop (Julianne Kost)
  • Photo Restoration in Photoshop (Julianne Kost)
  •  

    2022 Fall Foliage Prediction Map

    Fall Foliage Prediction Map

    From NPR:

    Fall's dazzling colors will soon transform woods and forests around the U.S., delighting spectators — if they can figure out when to see the fall foliage at the peak of their transformation.

    A map of foliage patterns is here to help, offering a best-guess guide to when aspen, birch, larch and maple trees will turn vivid shades of gold, orange and crimson.

    The forecast produced by the Smoky Mountains website predicts much of the U.S. will start seeing the most dramatic colors by late September to mid-October.

    But fall foliage can be very tricky to predict, especially as ...[read the remainder of this article]

     

    The Plano International Festival Is Back

    Date: Saturday, October 15, 2022
    Time: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM CT
    Place: Haggard Park - 15th Street and Avenue H in Plano

    Plano International Festival

    The largest, longest-running multicultural festival in North Texas is back in person this year after a COVID-induced hiatus.

    Tour the world and improve your wellness at the Plano International Festival.

    The area's largest cultural event has food, fun, and entertainment for the whole family. Enjoy multicultural music and dance performances, ethnic food trucks, cultural displays, and more from over 100 cultures.

    Kids can explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math activities plus travel the booths with a virtual passport!

    Come early for free flu and COVID shots and a variety of health screenings at the Wellness Fair, 10 AM to 1 PM in the Courtyard Theater. Get moving in the Fitzone with interactive fitness demos. Admission and parking are free.  

    Experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of the world!

    There's something for everyone at this family-friendly event.

    NOTE: This is not a Plano Photography Club-sponsored event/activity.

     

    September 2022

    PPC Members Recognized in the September 2022 GSCCC Competition

    The following Plano Photography Club members received awards in the Gulf States Camera Club Council September photo competition:

    Color Projected

  • 1st: Lazy Afternoon - Mohib Ahmad
  • 1st HM: Still Life with Pears and Pedestal Bowl - Vardan Aroustamian
  • Photojournalism Projected

  • 2nd HM: Tempering the Iron - John Lehman
  • To see the winning images and a full list of award recipients, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.

     

    Upcoming Virtual Training Opportunities

    We want to make club members aware of two free virtual training opportunities coming in October 2022: the Lightroom Virtual Summit 2022 and the AdobeMAX Creativity Conference.

    Lightroom Virtual Summit 2022

    Lightroom Virtual Summit (October 3-7, 2022)

  • 45 classes with more than 33 hours of training taught by the world's leading Lightroom experts
  • Instructors include Matt Kloskowski, Ben Willmore, Colin Smith, Lisa Carney, Glyn Dewis, Nicole S. Young, Tim Grey, Jesus Ramirez, Anthony Morganti, and many more
  • Sessions are designed to take your Lightroom knowledge and skill to the next level - regardless of whether you're just starting out, or have years of experience
  • Following each class, you’ll be able to watch (and re-watch) for 48 hours at no charge
  • After 48 hours, classes are available for VIP members as an optional purchase
  • VIEW THE SCHEDULE OF CLASSES | GET YOUR FREE PASS | GET INFO ON THE VIP PASS


    Adobe MAX

    AdobeMAX Creativity Conference (October 18-19, 2022)

  • Attend for free
  • 100+ online sessions on Adobe products, including Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, Premiere, and more
  • Mainstage presentations
  • Luminary sessions
  • Shop and sponsor giveaways
  • Virtual MAX DAILY SCHEDULE | REGISTER FOR FREE

     

    2022 Fall Foliage Prediction Map

    Fall Foliage Prediction Map

    From NPR:

    Fall's dazzling colors will soon transform woods and forests around the U.S., delighting spectators — if they can figure out when to see the fall foliage at the peak of their transformation.

    A map of foliage patterns is here to help, offering a best-guess guide to when aspen, birch, larch and maple trees will turn vivid shades of gold, orange and crimson.

    The forecast produced by the Smoky Mountains website predicts much of the U.S. will start seeing the most dramatic colors by late September to mid-October.

    But fall foliage can be very tricky to predict, especially as ...[read the remainder of this article]

     

    August 2022

    PPC Members Recognized in State Fair of Texas Creative Arts Awards

    On August 24, the State Fair of Texas released the list of 2022 Creative Arts Award winners.

    There were several club members honored in the Photography category, as follows:

    Black and White (Flora)

    • 3rd: Janice Goetz

    Black and White (Child/Children)

    • HM: Janice Goetz

    Black and White, Teachers and Professionals (Any Subject)

    • 2nd: Lisa Means

    Color (Birds)

    • 1st: Jim Walsh

    Color (Fish/Reptiles/Marine Life)

    • 2nd: Larry Petterborg

    Color (Child)

    • 1st: Debbie Conard

    Color (Children)

    • HM: Debbie Conard

    Color (Rural)

    • 3rd: Janice Goetz

    Color (Scenery)

    • 2nd: Larry Petterborg

    Color (Western Wear)

    • HM: Debbie Conard

    Color (Holidays)

    • 2nd: Janice Goetz

    Color (Patriotic)

    • 2nd: Debbie Conard

    Color (Other Than Texas)

    • HM: Larry Petterborg

    Color (Big Tex Lucchese Boots)

    • 2nd: Janice Goetz

    Color, Teachers and Professionals (Portrait)

    • HM: Lisa Means

    For a full list of winners, please visit the Creative Arts Awards results page. Congratulations to those listed above.

     

    PPC Members Recognized in the August 2022 GSCCC Competition

    The following Plano Photography Club members received awards in the Gulf States Camera Club Council August photo competition:

    Monochrome Projected

    • 2nd HM: Going For The Edge - Dennis Fritsche

    Nature Projected

    • 3rd: Stick Together - Linfen Hwang

    Photojournalism Projected

    • 3rd: Las Vegas - You Don't Want Me - Cliff McKenzie
    • 2nd HM: Mudders Under The Lights - Parvin Stiles

    For a full list of winners, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.

     

    Big Bend In Depth Presentation and Itinerary

    Big Bend

    On August 18, 2022, before the club's monthly meeting, Dennis Fritsche presented a detailed overview of the upcoming field trip to Big Bend.

    Links to both that document and a summary itinerary for the week are provided below.

    Big Bend In Detail Presentation Deck (.pdf) | Itinerary Summary (.pdf)

    NOTE: The itinerary above is based on Dennis Fritsche's travel plans; you should adjust it based on your reservations and schedule.

     

    VERY IMPORTANT: If you KNOW that you are going on the Big Bend trip or think that you are LIKELY to go, please contact club activities chair Cliff McKenzie ASAP and provide him with your name(s), your cell phone number(s), and the dates you will be in Big Bend.

     

    Upcoming Activities / Photo Shoots

    Assassination City Roller Derby

    Assassination City Roller Derby

    On Saturday evening August 27, 2022, we will gather for a photo shoot during two exciting bouts of the Assassination City Roller Derby (ACRD).

    ACRD is a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Plano, Texas. Assassination City is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).

    Location: Thunderbird Roller Rink | 3200 Thunderbird Lane, Plano, TX 75075 (map)
    Time: Doors open at 6:30 PM CT; plan to arrive at this time in order to set up | Bout #1 begins at 7:00 PM CT; Bout #2 follows
    Tickets: $10 advance | $15 door
    Refreshments: Drinks and snacks are available at the concession stand 
    Seating: BYOC (Chair)
    After Party: Lion and Crown - Watters Creek | 32 Garden Park Dr, Allen, TX 75013. Cameras welcomed. NOTE: This is a non-PPC event.

    Roller Derby 101: What is roller derby?

    REGISTER/BUY TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT

    If you have questions about this event, please contact Activities Chair Cliff McKenzie.

     

    July 2022

    PPC Members Recognized at the July 2022 GSCCC Competition

    The following Plano Photography Club member received awards in the Gulf States Camera Club Council July photo competition:

    Monochrome Projected

    • 1st Place: Sailing Away - Larry Petterborg
    • 2nd HM: Dystopia - John Lehman

    Photojournalism Projected

    • 1st HM: Into Darkness - Greg Rains

    For a full list of winners, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.

     

    Upcoming Activities / Photo Shoots

    Mesquite Championship Rodeo

    Mesquite Rodeo

    Please plan to join us on Saturday evening August 13, 2022, for a photo shoot at the Mesquite Championship Rodeo.

    Location: Mesquite Arena | 1818 Rodeo Drive, Mesquite, TX 75149 | 972.285.8777 (map)
    Time: 7:30 PM CT | Gates open at 6:00 PM CT

    We have obtained a limited number of great seats at special pricing. Attendees will have the opportunity to sit close to the action and capture some amazing images.

    Tickets must be purchased in advance and are ON SALE NOW via the registration button below. 

    The ticket cost does not include parking at the Mesquite Arena ($10) or food inside the venue.

    If you have questions about this event, please contact Activities Chair Cliff McKenzie.

     

    Assassination City Roller Derby

    Assassination City Roller Derby

    On Saturday evening August 27, 2022, we will gather for a photo shoot during two exciting bouts of the Assassination City Roller Derby (ACRD).

    ACRD is a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Plano, Texas. Assassination City is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).

    Location: Thunderbird Roller Rink | 3200 Thunderbird Lane, Plano, TX 75075 (map)
    Time: Bout #1 begins at 7:00 PM CT | Doors open at 6:30 PM CT
    Tickets: $10 advance | $15 door (tickets will go on sale soon)
    Refreshments: All bouts are BYOB – no glass, please; non-alcoholic drinks and snacks are available at the concession stand 
    Seating: BYOC (Chair)
    Roller Derby 101: What is roller derby?

    If you have questions about this event, please contact Activities Chair Cliff McKenzie.

     

    NASA’s Webb Reveals Cosmic Cliffs, Glittering Landscape of Star Birth

    PPC Logo

    This landscape of “mountains” and “valleys” speckled with glittering stars is actually the edge of a nearby, young, star-forming region called NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula. Captured in infrared light by NASA’s new James Webb Space Telescope, this image reveals for the first time previously invisible areas of star birth.

    Called the Cosmic Cliffs, Webb’s seemingly three-dimensional picture looks like craggy mountains on a moonlit evening. In reality, it is the edge of the giant, gaseous cavity within NGC 3324, and the tallest “peaks” in this image are about 7 light-years high. The cavernous area has been carved from the nebula by the intense ultraviolet radiation and stellar winds from extremely massive, hot, young stars located in the center of the bubble, above the area shown in this image. (Source: nasa.gov)

    Gallery | Slideshow | James Webb Space Telescope website | About the Near Infrared Camera (NIRCAM)

     

    More Details About The Artistic Creation Photo Assignment

    The Topic of the Week activity for the week of July 25-30, 2022, will be Artistic Creation, when the assignment is to use your favorite photo editing tool(s) to turn one or two of your images into a work of photo art.

    This could involve a simple conversion to a painting or fine art look or might incorporate the use of selection tools and layers to create striking, blended artworks.

    You can accomplish these actions with desktop tools (Photoshop is particularly powerful, but other tools - like ON1 Photo RAW, Apple Photos, and Topaz Studio 2 - have similar capabilities) or mobile apps (there are MANY iOS and Android options - see the resource links below).

    After your editing is complete, you will submit the original photo(s) along with the artistic versions so that we can compare and contrast.

    We invite you to begin researching and practicing now so that you will be ready to create and share your own works of art during the final TOTW of July.

    Resources:

     

    Congratulations to Dennis Fritsche

    Dennis Fritsche

    Congratulations to club member and Training Chair Dennis Fritsche.

    He is a finalist in the New Texas Talent XXIX Exhibition - a statewide juried exhibition to support emerging artists.

    The exhibit runs through August 20, 2022, at the Craighead Green Gallery in the Dallas Design District. The gallery represents the finest in contemporary art from both national and international artists.

    Details are as follows:

     

    Want To Learn More About The Plano Photography Club?

    PPC Logo

    Are you a North Texas photographer who is curious about the Plano Photography Club?

    You are invited to join Master Photographer and Past President Carol Barlow on Thursday evening July 21, 2022, for a new and prospective club member orientation session.

    The orientation will take place at 6:00 PM in the Library at the West Plano Presbyterian Church (2709 Custer Road, Plano, Texas).

    Carol will share the history of the club and describe the benefits of joining the members of the Plano Photography Club in their enjoyment, mastery, and furtherance of photography through cooperation, effort, and good fellowship.

    Following the orientation, the club will hold its regular monthly meeting with guest speaker Shari Hunt.

    Shari will walk attendees through the basics of how, when, and where to photograph the Milky Way followed by some insight on more intermediate techniques to get beyond the basic Milky Way landscape silhouette images.

    If you have any questions, please contact club president David Swinney.

     

    Big Bend Field Trip Resource Page | Make Your Reservations

    Big Bend

    As was discussed during the June 2022 club meeting, this year's Plano Photography Club fall field trip (October 21-28, 2022) will take us to one of the most remote and striking areas of the great state of Texas - the Big Bend.

    This region is named for the vast curve of the Rio Grande in remote southwest Texas. It is a wildly beautiful natural region, with a complex and fascinating history.

    Over one million acres of public land including Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park offer hiking, camping, river running, horse riding, mountain bicycling, birding, jeep touring, and abundant sightseeing and photography opportunities on paved and improved roads.

    We have created a robust field trip resource page to help you learn more about Big Bend and plan your trip there. You'll find it at the following, easy-to-remember link:

    bit.ly/ppcbigbend

    More details will be forthcoming in the weeks ahead, but the MOST IMPORTANT thing you can do RIGHT NOW is to make hotel reservations for your stay. Lodging is in high demand in the region and you may be unable to secure lodging if you wait too long.

    If you have any questions, please contact club president David Swinney.

     

    Fort Worth Camera Club Photo Exhibit Now Open

    The Fort Worth Camera Club is presenting an exhibit of its member photos through September 3, 2022, at Arts Fort Worth in Fort Worth, Texas.

    Club President Ken Sparks has issued an invitation to all area camera clubs to attend the exhibit this summer.

    The exhibit is in the Frost Gallery, the first gallery as you come in the center door. Arts Fort Worth is in the Community Arts Center in the Fort Worth Cultural District.

    Details are as follows:

    Invite your friends and neighbors to join you in viewing all the great photographs on display at the exhibit.

     

    July DIY Excursion - Fireworks and the Fourth of July

    The goal of this month's DIY Photo Excursion (July 1-4) is to capture fireworks and other scenes and activities which illustrate the Fourth of July holiday.

    Maybe you are attending a big public event like Addison Kaboom Town 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 own front yard.

    Whatever you do to celebrate the holiday, we would love to see your photos.

    Dallas Red White and Boom
    Dallas Red White and Boom (2018)

    Please send your best pictures (maximum of five, <10MB, <=4096 pixels on the long side) to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com by Saturday, July 9, 2022, 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

     

    June 2022

    PPC Members Recognized at the June 2022 GSCCC Competition

    The following Plano Photography Club member received awards in the Gulf States Camera Club Council June photo competition:

    Monochrome Projected

    • 1st HM: Whisk - Annie McIntosh

    Photojournalism Projected

    • 1st Place: Ole' - Randy Ratzlaff
    • 1st HM: Summer Rain - Russell McGuire

    For a full list of winners, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.

     

    Great Texas Balloon Race Images

    Did you attend the Great Texas Balloon Race on Saturday, June 18? If so, we'd love to see some of your photos.

    Please send your top five (5) images in JPEG format to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com. FYI, we have not promised images to the race organizers.

    Include your NAME and GreatTexasBalloonRace in the file name(s) (e.g., PhileasFogg_GreatTexasBalloonRace_1.jpg). Standard photo sizing rules apply: the maximum dimension (long edge) for submitted images is 4096 pixels; the maximum file size is 10MB.

    Submitted images will be displayed in a website scrolling gallery as in the past. Please note that no one will be able to download copies of these images from the gallery; you may add a watermark to the image if you wish.

    The photo submission deadline for this activity is Thursday, June 30, 2022.

     

    Carpooling to the Great Texas Balloon Race

    If you're interested in attending the Great Texas Balloon Race this Saturday, June 18, 2022, and want to save some gas money by carpooling to Longview, we have a no-cost way for you to do that.

    Want to host a carpool?
    • Visit https://bit.ly/ppccarpool and click on the +ADD button
    • Provide your name, location, contact information, how many seats you have available in your vehicle, and your planned departure time
    • Click on the ADD CAR button; your carpool is now available for passengers to join
    Looking for a ride?
    • Visit the same web page as referenced above
    • Click on the +JOIN button to sign up for an existing carpool (the details link will provide you with information about that carpool); add your name and contact information and click on the JOIN CAR button
    • If no cars or spots are currently available, click the JOIN WAITLIST button and then add your name and contact information
    • Once on a waitlist, you can move to available carpool slots at any time

    Carpool drivers and the passengers who assign themselves to a particular car should get in touch with each other to coordinate all necessary logistics. All communications between carpool drivers and passengers are the responsibility of those parties.

    We hope this makes it possible for more of you to attend the event.

    NOTE: The carpool management site is a free third-party service unaffiliated with the Plano Photography Club.

    Questions: Contact club president David Swinney (email).

     

    Club Photo Meetup: Great Texas Balloon Race

    We're inviting interested Plano Photography Club members to join us in Longview, Texas early on the morning of Saturday, June 18, 2022, for some amazing balloon photography.

    Great Texas Balloon Race

    The Great Texas Balloon Race is a world-class event attracting the very best competitive pilots from across the United States and the world.

    Considered by many of the pilots that compete there to be the best run event on the circuit, the Great Texas Balloon Race earned Longview the official designation as "The Balloon Capital of Texas" by the Governor of Texas in 1985.

    Activities Schedule

    • Date: Saturday, June 18 (Admission is Free)
    • Starting Location: Maude Cobb Convention Center || 100 Grand Blvd, Longview, TX 75604
    • 6:00 AM CT - Pilot briefing for race competitors at Maude Cobb Convention Center
      • NOTE: While you will not be able to attend the actual pilot meeting, you will be able to mingle with the crew outside in the parking lot to help determine from where you will shoot
      • Target locations will also be posted on the race website as well as on Facebook
      • You will have two photo opportunities: (1) during the inflating of the balloons, and (2) shooting the balloons on their first drop
    • 6:45 AM CT - Competition Flight for Great Texas Balloon Race over Longview
    • 7:00 AM CT - Special shapes static inflations, locations to be announced (check balloon race web pages) – these are the really cool balloons and they do not race
    • 11:30 AM CT - Lunch at Country Tavern Barbecue || 1526 Fm 2767, Kilgore, TX (903.984.9954) - the home of the Best Ribs in Texas (video)
      • NOTE: The restaurant is located approximately 16 miles from the Maude Cobb Convention Center, but you are going back toward Dallas; for those of you who live in the Metroplex, in East Texas, 16 miles means 20 minutes, not 1 ½ hours

    Submitting Images

    Please send your top five (5) images in JPEG format to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com. As this is not a formal shoot and press passes are not available, we have not promised images to the race organizers.

    Include your NAME and GreatTexasBalloonRace in the file name(s) (e.g., PhileasFogg_GreatTexasBalloonRace_1.jpg). Standard photo sizing rules apply: the maximum dimension (long edge) for submitted images is 4096 pixels; the maximum file size is 10MB.

    Submitted images will be displayed in a website scrolling gallery as in the past. Please note that no one will be able to download copies of these images from the gallery; you may add a watermark to the image if you wish.

    The photo submission deadline for this activity is Saturday, June 26, 2022.


    Questions: Contact Cliff McKenzie, Vice President of Events (email | phone).

     

    Updates to Photoshop, Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, and Camera Raw

    On Tuesday, June 14, Adobe issued the following updates to the products covered under its Creative Cloud Photography Plan:

    • Photoshop v 23.4
      • This update contains several improvements, including finer details for hair with the Object Selection tool, improvements to guides, video support for M1 Mac devices, and many other enhancements and bug fixes.
    • Lightroom v 5.4
      • This release adds video editing, red-eye removal, preset amount slider, adaptive presets, new premium presets, a new compare view, community search, batch AI masking, and support for newly released cameras and lenses.
    • Lightroom Classic v 11.4
      • This update introduces the ability to invert Mask, pasting and synchronizing AI masks, better Preview management, Preset and Mask amount slider, GPU acceleration for Image Export, Premium Presets, Adaptive Presets, bug fixes, and more.
    • Camera Raw v 14.4
      • Photoshop Camera Raw 14.4: Update to the Camera RAW plug-in that ships with Photoshop; adds RAW support for new camera models.

    You can update your copies of these products by opening your Creative Cloud desktop and clicking the Update All link on the Updates tab.

    Additional details on the Lightroom updates are available from the Lightroom Queen blog:

     

    Two Training Sessions This Week

    As a reminder, there are two online training sessions being held during the week beginning June 5, 2022. This rarely happens but can occur depending on where the first of the month falls.

    Tuesday, June 7, 2022, @ 7:00 PM CT: Dennis Fritsche - Ask Me Anything
    Topics: Resize and print from Photoshop, resizing electronic images for club competitions, demo Topaz Labs Gigapixel AI
    If you have any additional items, please send them via email to Dennis.

    Thursday, June 9, 2022, @ 7:00 PM CT: How I Made It
    We need volunteers to talk about an image - the circumstance(s) when you made it, what drew you to it, and how you processed it to achieve your goal. Any discussion can be 10 to 30 minutes so we need 2 to 4 volunteers.
    If you're interested in participating, please contact Dennis.

     

    May 2022

    Dallas Camera Club Print Exhbition and Gallery

    DCC Holding Photography Exhibition In June

    The Dallas Camera Club is presenting its first-ever photography exhibition and gallery show in June at the Uptown Theater in Grand Prairie, Texas.

    The show, "Celebrating The Print," spotlights the photographic art of the club's members (some of whom are also members of the Plano Photography Club).

    DCC member Gary Kelly initiated this request for an exhibition to be held at the Uptown Theater Gallery and following his passing, Larry Petterborg continued with the plans to make it a reality.

    Details are as follows:

    Gallery Show Flyer | Preview Catalog

     

    PPC Members Recognized at the May 2022 GSCCC Competition

    The following Plano Photography Club member received awards in the Gulf States Camera Club Council May photo competition:

    Monochrome Projected

    • 2nd HM: Passing It On - Greg Rains

    For a full list of winners, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.

     

    2021-2022 End of Year Awards Announced

    The following club members were honored during the PPC End of Year Awards at the May 19, 2022 club meeting.

    Competition Class Winners

    Winners were determined by the highest total image points from the ten monthly contests.

    • Entry Level
      • First Place: Jodi Smith
      • Second Place: Jennifer Wu
      • Third Place: Shannon Hutchison
    • Intermediate Level
      • First Place: David Swinney
      • Second Place: Siu Wong
      • Third Place: Mary Ruehle
    • Advanced Level
      • First Place: Anita Oakley
      • Second Place: Linfen Hwang
      • Third Place: Jason Ware
    • Masters Level
      • First Place: Alan Daniel
      • Second Place: Ron Hasty
      • Third Place: John Lehman
      • Third Place: Linda Grigsby

    Special Interest Contests

    Members could submit one image in any or all 3 categories; there were 72 submissions this year.

    • Nature
      • First Place: Alan Daniel - "Turf Battle"
      • Second Place: Jason Ware - "The Great Orion Nebula"
      • Third Place: Dennis Fritsche - "Cypress with Evening Light"
    • Photojournalism
      • First Place: Robert Shafer - "From a Grateful Nation"
      • Second Place: Russell McGuire - "Summer Rain"
      • Third Place: Dennis Fritsche - "Going for the Edge"
    • Portraits of People
      • First Place: Janice Goetz - "Childhood Means Simplicity"
      • Second Place: Robert Shafer - "A Boy and His Stick"
      • Third Place: Mary Ruehle - "New Marshall in Town"

    Images of the Year

    Winners were chosen from all the first and second-place finishers in the 2021-2022 print and digital contests, respectively.

    • Print Image
      • First Place: Greg Rains - "Into Darkness"
      • Second Place: Anita Oakley - "Back to School circa 1900"
      • Third Place: Anita Oakley - "Savannah Sunset"
    • Digital Image
      • First Place: Brian Clark - "National Memorial for Peace and Justice"
      • Second Place: Alan Daniel - "Caddo Lake at Night"
      • Third Place: Greg Rains - "St. Jo TX"

    Photographer of the Year

    This honor is awarded to the person with the highest combined score of Image and Place points during the competition year.

    The 2021-2022 PPC Photographer of the Year is Anita Oakley.


    Presidential Recognition Award

    The Presidential Recognition Award, established in 2020, is presented to any PPC member who has assisted in accomplishing the aims of the Plano Photography Club.

    The recipient of the 2021-2022 PPC Presidential Recognition Award is Greg Jones.


    Distinguished Service Award

    The Distinguished Service Award may be presented annually to a Plano Photography Club member whose contributions of time, talents, and service have made a significant impact on the Plano Photography Club and its membership.

    The recipient of the 2021-2022 PPC Distinguished Service Award is David Swinney.


    Congratulations and thanks to all honorees mentioned above.

     

    Total Lunar Eclipse Coming Sunday, May 15

    If you are inclined to stay up a bit late and the weather cooperates, you'll have a chance to see (and photograph)  the Super Flower Blood Moon total lunar eclipse in DFW on the evening of Sunday, May 15, 2022.

    Here is the information that you need to help you photograph this five-hour and 19-minute celestial event.

    When The Eclipse Happens
    Event Time in Plano (CT) Visible in Plano? Direction Altitude
    Penumbral Eclipse begins
    The earth's penumbra starts touching the moon's face;
    the moon is close to the horizon, so make sure you have free sight to ESE
    May 15 at 8:32 PM Yes 115° 3.9°
    Partial Eclipse begins
    The moon is getting red
    May 15 at 9:27 PM Yes 124° 13.3°
    Total Eclipse begins
    Completely red moon
    May 15 at 10:29 PM Yes 135° 22.7°
    Maximum Eclipse
    The moon is closest to the center of the shadow
    May 15 at 11:11 PM Yes 144° 28.1°
    Total Eclipse ends May 15 at 11:53 PM Yes 154° 32.4°
    Partial Eclipse ends May 16 at 12:55 AM Yes 170° 36.0°
    Penumbral Eclipse ends May 16 at 1:50 AM Yes 186° 36.1°

    Resources

     

    Register by May 17 for the 2022 PPC End of Year Awards Dinner

    Please plan to join us at West Plano Presbyterian Church on May 19, 2022, for our annual End of Year Awards and Dinner Party.

    Setup is at 5:30 PM with dinner and program starting at 6:30 PM.

    Members are asked to bring an appetizer, vegetable, or dessert. The club will provide meat, drinks, and utensils.

    FREE Advance registration is required. Registration closes on Tuesday, May 17 at 12 PM.

    If you have any questions, please contact the club president.

    NOTE: This meeting will be IN-PERSON ONLY. There will be no Zoom broadcast.

     

    Downtown Dallas Architecture Photo Walk with Nikola Olic

    Nikola Olic

    On Saturday, May 14, 2022, November 2021 program speaker Nikola Olic is holding an exclusive photo walk in Dallas for members of the Plano Photography Club.

    His goal is to help us all look for new ways to view and appreciate the architecture in and around downtown Dallas.

    The standard cost for Nikola's photo walks is $65 but he is offering access to this walk at the discounted rate of $30/person to PPC members.

    One week after the walk (or whatever date works best for everybody), there will be a second, online gathering to review photographs taken and discuss them. Access to the photo review is included in the ticket price; attendance is totally optional.

    Schedule and Logistics:

  • Photo Walk - Saturday, May 14, 2022, from 10 AM to 2 PM CT (You do not have to stay the entire time)
  • Registration (REQUIRED) - $30 per person; Nikola will communicate additional information as required to registrants
  • Parking - Street parking is available ($5-$10) near the Klyde Warren Park performance stage; the Dallas Museum of Art is another option ($15)
  • Camera Recommendations - Any camera will do, including smartphones; having a camera with some zoom capability will be useful, but is not necessary
  • Lunch - We will gather in a nearby restaurant after the photo walk is complete
  • Online Photography Review and Discussion - Saturday, May 21, 2022, @ 11 AM CT (60-90 minutes)
  • If you have questions about this event, please contact Nikola Olic directly by email.

     

    Book Signing and Program Invitation from the DCC

    The Dallas Camera Club has invited PPC members to a book signing and program by documentary photographer Richard Sharum. Richard is not only an outstanding photographer (Black & White is his medium), but he is an articulate speaker. He has previously presented to the DCC and other clubs in the DFW Metroplex to excellent reviews.

    His program and the title of his book is Campesino Cuba, which is about rural life in Cuba. At the conclusion of his program, he will be available to sign and sell his book.

    This program will be presented on Tuesday night, May 24, 2022, at 7:30 PM CT at the following venue:

    Congregation Shearith Israel
    9401 Douglas Avenue
    Dallas, Texas, 75225

     

    Contests Now Open for 2022-2023 Competition Year

    As of Sunday, May 1, 2022, all contests for the 2022-2023 competition year - including the Special Interest contests - are open for submissions.

    Please be sure to select the correct contest when submitting a photo.

     

    New Club Year Begins With (Some) New Club Officers

    At the April 21, 2022 club meeting, members affirmed the following slate of officers and volunteers for the 2022-2023 PPC Club Year.

    The club thanks outgoing officers Alan Daniel, Suzanne Beasley, Brian Clark, and Greg Jones for their service to the PPC.

    President David Swinney
    VP Activities Cliff McKenzie
    VP Programs Mary Ruehle
    Treasurer Mike Losurdo
    Training Chair Dennis Fritsche
    Contest Chair Clive Fernando
    Membership Chair Michael Farnham
    Webmaster David Swinney
    Newsletter James Stover
    Social Media Heidi Phillips
    PSA Representative Larry Petterborg
    GSCCC Representative   Sam Lucas
    Historian Cindy Vaillancourt

     

    April 2022

    OnStage @ Allen Public Library: Allen Photographer Raúl Rivero

    Commercial and portrait photographer Raúl Rivero loves learning the history and stories of the places he visits and lives.

    Join him on Thursday, April 28, 2022, for a presentation of his images of Allen's landscapes and architecture and a conversation about his art.

    This program will be presented live both in person and virtually.

    In-person attendance is limited to 225. No registration is required to attend. Admittance is first come, first served.

     

    Updates to Photoshop, Lightroom, and Camera Raw

    On Tuesday, April 12, Adobe issued minor updates to all the products covered under its Creative Cloud Photography Plan, as follows:

    • Photoshop v 23.3
      • This update contains many bug fixes as well as feature and performance improvements including enhancements to Sky Replacement, copy/paste text from Illustrator to Photoshop, improvements to cloud documents, performance gains from additional GPU processing and more.
    • Lightroom v 5.3
      • This update includes bug fixes and support for new cameras and lenses. This update also includes the ability to export specific versions of your images in the Versions Panel, and the ability to export an image using the short side dimension. Masking now includes a new intersect option.
    • Lightroom Classic v 11.3
      • This update introduces improved responsiveness in the Metadata panel & Wacom tablets, updated camera and lens support, bug fixes, and more.
    • Camera Raw v 14.3
      • Photoshop Camera Raw 14.3: Update to the Camera RAW plug-in that ships with Photoshop; adds RAW support for new camera models.

    You can update your copies of these products by opening your Creative Cloud desktop and clicking the Update All link on the Updates tab.

    Additional details are available from the Lightroom Queen blog:

     

    PPC Members Recognized at the GSCCC End of Year Competition

    The following Plano Photography Club member received awards in the Gulf States Camera Club Council End of Year photo competition:

    Nature Projected

    • 2nd: Eagle Food Fight - Ron Hasty

    For a full list of winners, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.

     

    Election of Club Officers is Coming

    May marks the start of the new club year.

    At the upcoming April meeting, members will have the opportunity to vote on new officers and volunteers.

    This year, voting will be in person, so please plan to be there!

    Here is the proposed slate of officers for 2022-2023:

    President David Swinney
    VP Activities Cliff McKenzie
    VP Programs Mary Ruehle
    Treasurer Mike Losurdo
    Training Chair Dennis Fritsche
    Contest Chair Clive Fernando
    Membership Chair Michael Farnham
    Webmaster David Swinney
    Newsletter James Stover
    Social Media Heidi Phillips
    PSA Representative Larry Petterborg
    GSCCC Representative   Sam Lucas
    Historian Cindy Vaillancourt

    If anyone else not listed here is interested in serving, please contact club president Alan Daniel.

     

    Donate Old Film Cameras to Collin College

    During her February 2022 program presentation, Anna Fritzel mentioned that the Collin College Foundation accepts donations of old film cameras for use in classes at the school.

    The steps to make those donations are as follows:

    1. Contact Anna Fritzel via email if you wish to donate any equipment to the college. She will address any questions that you have, including those related to equipment transfer.
    2. Download and fill out the Collin College Foundation In-Kind Contribution Form.
    3. Send the form along with the equipment to the address in the form.
    4. Anna will receive and process both the form and the donated equipment, which will then be sent on to the Foundation.

    NOTE: There is no tax write-off available for these donations, but the Foundation will send you a thank you note.

     

    March 2022

    Details on Anna Fritzel's Frozen Gallery Showing

    Anna Fritzel Blue Rose

    February program guest, Plano multimedia artist, and photography educator Anna Fritzel is currently putting on an exhibition of her Frozen series of prints at the University of Texas at Dallas SP/N Gallery.

    Created during the early stages of the COVID lockdown, Anna says that "Frozen contemplates the dormant potential of women historically, particularly the female experience, over the past 200 years within the context of American Exceptionalism."

    Details are as follows:

    This showcase will provide an opportunity for those club members unable to attend the February meeting in person to get a close-up look at Anna's exceptional work.

     

    PPC Members Recognized at the March GSCCC Competition

    The following Plano Photography Club member(s) received awards in the Gulf States Camera Club Council March 2022 photo competition:

    Nature

    • 2nd: A Bare Tree in the Lake - WenChi Lee
    • HM: Savannah Sunset - Anita Oakley

    Photojournalism

    • HM: Waiting for Jo - Russell McGuire

    For a full list of winners, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.

     

    DCP Invites PPC Members to Call for Entry and Swap Meet

    The Dallas Center for Photography (DCP) has invited all members of the Plano Photography Club to DCP’s next call for entry and Photo Swap Meet event, as detailed below.

    • DCP’s Landscapes Call for Entry – Show how you capture the land’s shapes, colors, and forms in unique ways.
      We invite photographers of all ages and skill levels to submit to DCP’s Landscapes call for entry. Selections will be featured in an exhibition in the DCP Gallery in May 2022.
      Prizes will be awarded to first, second, and third places, as well as honorable mentions.
      The deadline to submit is April 12.
      More information is available here.

    • Photo Swap MeetSaturday, May 7, 2021, from 10 AM - 4 PM at DCP – It’s back!
      For one day, DCP will be stuffed full of photo gear for you to buy or trade. Expect to find the usual and the very unusual on over 30 tables of cameras, lenses, lighting, bags, and doodads.
      DCP is hosting this event with help from Don’s Camera, the best-used camera store in the region.
      Entry is $5 at the door. DCP members and kids 12 and under get in free.
      More information is available here.

     

    Nominations Now Open for Distinguished Service Award

    The Distinguished Service Award may be presented annually to a Plano Photography Club member whose contributions of time, talents, and service have made a significant impact on the club and its membership.

    Any member of the PPC may submit a nomination for this award, and we invite you to consider doing so, as follows:

    Option 1: Download the PPC Distinguished Service Award Nomination Form Fill it out on your computer and send it via email (Word or PDF) to the Club President.

    Option 2: Send an email message to the Club President which contains the following information:

    • Name of nominee
    • Description of why you are nominating this person for the Distinguished Service Award

    Nominations are open through 11:59PM CT on April 23, 2022.

     

    The 2022 State Fair of Texas Creative Arts Handbook Is Out

    The 2022 Creative Arts handbook is now available and that means you can sign up to compete in one of the hundreds of competitions at the Fair. There is something for everyone from photography to canning — young and young at heart. It all starts with the handbook, so start exploring it today and plan your creative adventure towards a 2022 State Fair of Texas ribbon!

    Each category is organized into a designated department. To learn more about each of these and the various classes, download the handbook and locate the desired Arts & Crafts section you wish to enter. After registering online, all that’s left to do is get creative and produce your masterpiece!

     

    Blackland Prairie Raptor Center Featured in Texas Highways

    BPRC Logo

    In case you missed it, the January 2022 issue of Texas Highways magazine included a feature article on the work done by the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center.

    Of course, many of our members are familiar with the BPRC, but in case you are not, the center is a small but rapidly growing operation on 66 acres at the western edge of Lavon Lake in Lucas.

    Their goal is to help injured animals and create a place where Texans can learn about and appreciate birds of prey, vultures included.

    The magazine article does a great job of educating you on the center's history, the financial challenges it faces, and what its future looks like. Highly recommended.

     

    Tabletop Workshop Coming March 26

    The club is excited to announce our first Tabletop Workshop in more than two years - Saturday, March 26 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the West Plano Presbyterian Church (our home base).

    This indoor educational photo opportunity (masks are encouraged) is in the format of a "hands-on" cafeteria-style photography workshop that encourages learning through participation. We ask that you please be considerate and share time at the various tabletop set-ups and digital stations.

    Here is a list of the currently scheduled activities and stations (subject to change and additions):

    • Water Drops
    • Abstract Photography
    • Backlit Flowers/Fruits/Vegetables
    • A Splash of Red
    • Oil and Water
    • Crystal Ball
    • Lightroom Classic Workflow

    We look forward to seeing you at this in-person event and don't forget to bring your camera!

    NOTE: There will be a lunch break from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM; all participants and attendees are on their own for lunch.

     

    March DIY Excursion Information

    Dallas Blooms

    The club's second DIY Photo Excursion of the year is to the Dallas Arboretum for Dallas Blooms, the largest annual floral festival in the Southwest, which runs through the entire month of March.

    With the theme “Birds in Paradise,” the 2022 edition of the spring festival showcases an explosion of color from 100 varieties of spring bulbs, 500,000 spring-blooming blossoms, thousands of azaleas and hundreds of Japanese cherry trees.

    Highlights include four larger-than-life peacock topiaries, 500,000 spring-blooming bulbs, and a variety of themed programming, including bird talks, bird flight shows, demonstrations, and more.

    Admission prices for Dallas Blooms range from $12 to $20. Tickets are available now.

    After you return home from the Arboretum, please send your best pictures (maximum of five) to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com for inclusion in a gallery to be posted on the club website. Please see the DIY Excursion panel for additional information.

     

    Anna Fritzel's Frozen Series Will Have A Gallery Showing In April

    Anna Fritzel Blue Rose

    As mentioned at the conclusion of her February program presentation to the PPC, Plano multimedia artist and photography educator Anna Fritzel is putting on an exhibition of her Frozen series of prints beginning April 1, 2022, at the University of Texas at Dallas SP/N Gallery.

    Created during the early stages of the COVID lockdown, Anna describes Frozen as a series of photographs that "address perceptions of and restraints on women in a 21st-century world still dominated by patriarchal institutions, particularly mass media and its messaging. They also focus on aging, perception, grief, and exploring what it means to be 'grounded.'"

    This showcase will provide those club members who were unable to see examples of Anna's work at the meeting an opportunity to get a close-up look at her exceptional work.

    Please visit the University of Texas at Dallas SP/N Gallery website for additional details.

     

    Watch Nikola Olic Speak at Dallas Center for Photography (In-Person or Online)

    Nikola Olic

    NOTE: This event was rescheduled from its original date due to inclement weather in the Dallas area.

    Dallas Center for Photography invites you to an evening with architecture photographer Nikola Olic on Thursday, March 10 from 7 PM - 9 PM CT.

    This event will be in-person at Dallas Center for Photography (limited seats are still available).

    You may watch the live stream of this event via Zoom for a discounted ticket price.

    Nikola, who was the featured speaker at the PPC's November 2021 meeting, is a Serbian photographer living and working right here in the Dallas/Fort-Worth area. He focuses on architectural photography and abstract structural quotes that reimagine architecture in playful, dimensionless, and disorienting ways. He is represented by Afterimage Gallery in Dallas, Subject Art Gallery in New York City, Espaces Atypiques in France, and Bartselona Gallery in Serbia.

    Every photograph in his collection includes the exact coordinates where each photograph was taken, offering a quick return to the real world in which the structure exists, of cars, noise, buildings, and people, and is intended as a demystifying tool, reminding us that these structures — beautiful or otherwise — are among us on every corner, in cities we visit or cities where we live.

     

    February 2022

    PPC Members Recognized at the February 2022 GSCCC Competition

    The following Plano Photography Club member(s) received awards in the Gulf States Camera Club Council February 2022 photo competition:

    Monochrome

    • 2nd: Ansel’s Homage - Fred Manchester
    • 3rd: Convection - Jason Ware

    Color

    • HM: Lily Light - Jodi Smith

    For a full list of winners, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.

     

    Are You Going To Scarborough Faire ... At No Cost?

    NOTE: As of March 2, 2022, all available passes have been claimed.

    The Plano Photography Club has obtained ten (10) free day passes for the Scarborough Renaissance Festival (Scarborough Faire) which takes place from April 9 - May 30, 2022 in Waxahachie.

    These passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis by contacting Greg Jones via email.

    Please note the following requirements for use of the passes:

    1. They are only available to Plano Photography Club members
    2. Only those members who plan to take photographs at the event may request a pass
    3. Passes may be used only during any of the first four weekends of the Festival
    4. Passes are to be picked up at the Will Call window at the Festival
    5. As a condition of providing the passes to the PPC, the Festival is requesting copies of 10 photographs from each pass recipient for possible marketing use

    If you have questions, please contact Club President Alan Daniels via email.

     

    Here's How You Can Get A Free Photographer Pass To The North Texas Irish Festival

    The North Texas Irish Festival (NTIF) returns to Fair Park in Dallas from March 4-6, 2022, bringing with it all the music, dance, culture, and excitement that this well-loved event creates to celebrate the rich tradition of Irish and Celtic culture.

    The Plano Photography Club has obtained forty (40) free event passes which are available on a first-come, first-served basis by contacting Suzanne Beasley via email.

    Please note the following requirements for use of the passes:

    1. They are only available to Plano Photography Club members
    2. Only those members who plan to take photographs at the event may request a pass
    3. As a condition of providing the passes to the PPC, the NTIF is requesting copies of up to 5 photographs taken by each recipient at the event
    4. Passes will be available for pickup at the February 17 club meeting and in the church parking lot between 10 AM and 2 PM on Saturday, February 19

    If you have questions, please contact Club President Alan Daniels via email.

     

    Want to Go Storm Chasing With Jeremy Woodhouse?

    Pixelchrome PhotoTours

    July 2020 PPC program guest Jeremy Woodhouse has made us aware that limited openings are now available in his June 2022 storm chasing tours.

    The first of these (June 6-17, 2022) is a High Plains tour, which typically offers the best photo ops of the season. There will be frequent storm intercept opportunities in Colorado, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. Occasionally the tour will slip into Canada so you would need to bring your passport.

    The other tour (June 18-25, 2022) offers the longest chase days of the year thanks to the summer solstice and includes frequent storm intercepts in eastern Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, the Dakotas, and Montana.

    The storm chasing is led by the industry's most experienced staff and it includes lodging, weather briefings, free onboard Wi-Fi, photo tips from professional storm photographers, an exclusive chase team T-shirt, and much more. A chase will begin immediately following the mandatory 9:00 AM orientation on the arrival date.

    If you're interested in taking part in this adventure, you can learn more about the program(s) and reserve a spot (subject to availability) at Jeremy's PhotoTours website.

     

    Annual Heard Nature Photography Contest Is Now Open

    The annual Heard Nature Photography Contest is accepting submissions from February 1 through February 24, 2022.

    The fee for each submitted image is $10 and proceeds from the contest benefit the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary.

    The contest is hosted by the museum's affiliated photography club but you don’t have to be a member of the museum or the photography club to participate.

    To learn more about the contest, including the requirements for submitted photos, please visit the contest website.

     

    February 2022 DIY Excursion Information

    Dallas Zoo

    The first PPC DIY Photo Excursion of 2022 is to the Dallas Zoo, located at 650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway in Dallas (map). The Zoo is currently open every day from 9 AM to 4 PM CT.

    Penguin Days are back through February 28 with an $8 daily general admission fee for all ages. Advance tickets are required. Parking is $10.

    As of August 12, 2021, the Dallas Zoo requires masks to be worn while visiting indoor spaces at the zoo. Learn more about the Zoo's health and safety protocols for COVID-19 here.

    After you return home from the Zoo, please send your best pictures (maximum of five) to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com for inclusion in a gallery to be posted on the club website. Please see the DIY Excursion section for additional details.

    Enjoy getting outdoors and your trip to the Dallas Zoo, but please stay safe and keep healthy.

    Resources: General Information | Explore the Zoo | Map of the Zoo

     

    PPC Members Recognized at the January 2022 GSCCC Competition

    The following Plano Photography Club member(s) received awards in the Gulf States Camera Club Council January 2022 photo competition:

    Monochrome
    • 2nd HM: Windswept North Dakota Homestead - Jason Ware

    For a full list of winners, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.

     

    January 2022

    Invitation to Create New Website Banners

    We are inviting all club members to create some new banners for use on the PPC website.

    PPC Website Banner Example

    Guidelines and requirements for the graphics are as follows:

    • They may consist of a single photo or a collage of photos in JPEG format
    • Banner dimensions must be exactly 1372px wide by 260px tall
    • The maximum banner file size is 1 MB
    • Banners may be in color or black & white (or anything in-between)
    • Included image(s) must have been captured in Plano
    • Submissions may include a photographer watermark
    • If no watermark is included, submitters will be acknowledged by name
    • You may submit more than one banner

    NOTE: The club logo will be overlaid on the submitted banners by the webmaster, so please do not incorporate it into your submissions.

    To participate, send your image(s) to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com.

    Approved banners will be incorporated into a display rotation on the website. Our plan is to refresh them weekly, but the actual schedule will be determined by how many approved submissions we receive.

    Thanks in advance for your participation, and we look forward to seeing your creativity at work.

     

    Annual Heard Photography Contest Is Coming Soon

    The annual Heard Nature Photography Contest will be accepting submissions from February 1 through February 24, 2022.

    The fee for each submitted image is $10 and proceeds from the contest benefit the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary.

    The contest is hosted by the museum's affiliated photography club but you don’t have to be a member of the museum or the photography club to participate.

    To learn more about the contest, including the requirements for submitted photos, please visit the contest website.

     

    The North Texas Irish Festival Is Back in 2022

    North Texas Irish Festival

    The North Texas Irish Festival makes its triumphant return to Fair Park in Dallas from March 4-6, bringing with it all the music, dance, culture, and excitement that this well-loved, family-friendly event creates to celebrate the rich tradition of Irish and Celtic culture.

    This family-friendly event features live music, dancing, storytelling, chef demonstrations, and more on multiple stages, both indoors and outdoors, throughout Fair Park.

    Attendees will also enjoy horse shows, fencing demonstrations, sheepherding demonstrations, beer and whiskey tastings, genealogy research opportunities, shopping, animal rescue groups, child-friendly entertainment, and free arts and crafts for the kids.

    We'll have additional information at a later time about the possibility of acquiring free tickets for our members. Stay tuned.

     

    Seeking Photographers For Dallas Quilt Show In March

    Dallas Quilt Show

    Club member Jan de Meulder has asked that the following request be shared with all members:

    The Dallas Quilt Show is set to open to the public for the first time in three years from March 11-13, 2022. Sam Lucas and I, and a third person, were the official photographers for the last live show in 2019. This coming March, Sam and I will cover the event at Dallas Market Hall, but we will need some help.

    We will have about 400 quilts to photograph, download the images, post-process them and submit the full set to the Show Committee in a fairly short time span. We can only start taking pictures once the quilts have been judged and ribbons attached to the winners’ quilts (around 6 PM on Thursday night March 10.

    The show opens its doors on Friday morning March 11 at 10 AM and closes Sunday at 5 PM. The Show Committee would like to be able to start posting all the pictures as soon as the show closes on Sunday.

    We would need two (2) additional volunteers, possibly from the Plano Photography Club, to help with the actual photography: one additional person to shoot part of the 400 quilts, and one person to mass edit/post-process the pictures as they come in, directly from the photographers' memory cards.

    If you feel you’re up for a challenge and would be interested to help out with this event, please contact Jan de Meulder via email.

     

    Register Now For The Texas School Of Professional Photography

    Texas School of Professional Photography

    Registration is now open for Texas School 2022, the annual Texas School of Professional Photography, which will be held from April 24-29, 2022 in Addison, Texas.

    The conference website shares the following information:

    At the Texas School of Professional Photography, our classes educate, inspire creativity, and invigorate your photo business. That is why we provide first-class instructors in small-size classes. This ensures more individual attention to meet your needs.

    After class, unwind with our legendary FUN and FREE evening events. And don’t forget our impressive Trade Show with over 70 vendors offering the BEST prices on equipment anywhere! You will NOT be disappointed!

    We offer six days of the BEST photographic education in the world. Because you will leave full of new ideas, new friends, new vision, we know you will join those who anxiously await Texas School NEXT year! Experience the unrivaled Texas School of Professional Photography: The BEST photographic education at the best price… and SO much more!

    Visit the Texas School 2022 website to get more information on cost, the scheduled classes, testimonials from prior attendees and much more.

     

    Mark Your Calendars For These Celestial Events in 2022

    As we continue to work through the pandemic and deal with its required safety protocols, there are still opportunities for photographers to exercise their creative muscles with a spate of upcoming astronomical events.

    This article (excerpted and linked below) from Digital Camera World summarizes the major celestial events happening this year.

    From eclipses to supermoons, there are lots of out-of-this-world opportunities for astrophotographers in 2022. Here’s what and when to point your camera at in the next 12 months:
    • Quadrantid meteor shower: January 3-4
    • Venus and Jupiter in conjunction: May 1
    • Eta Aquarids meteor shower: May 6-7
    • Total lunar eclipse: May 16
    • Supermoon on the solstice: June 21
    • Venus and the crescent Moon in conjunction: June 26
    • Partial solar eclipse: October 25
    • Total lunar eclipse: November 8
    • Saturn, Jupiter and Mars at opposition: August 14, September 26, and December 1
    • Mars occulted by the Moon: December 8

    The full article provides additional information about each of these astronomical happenings.

     



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