Parvin Stiles

It’s a Dallas delight how crepe myrtles burst into bloom each July, like fireworks painted by nature. Their vibrant shades of pink, red, lavender, and white brighten our landscapes and remind us it's summer. What better photography subject than crepe myrtles in full bloom?

Speaking of photography, July also brings one of our most cherished holidays and photography subjects: the Fourth of July. Here in our region, the festivities stretch across several days leading up to the 4th, as fireworks light up the skies and communities come together to celebrate.

And for our club, the fun doesn’t stop there.

For those aviation enthusiasts, we have arranged to meet on Saturday, July 12th, at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Dallas Love Field. We’ll enter at 9 AM, an hour before the public, giving us a unique opportunity to explore the exhibit with fewer crowds. Don’t miss the powerful “Aerials” exhibition curated by retired USAF Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock, who is an acclaimed combat photographer and has been recognized seven times as the best in the field. Through his exhibit, you’ll journey from the Vietnam era to modern-day aviation.

Join us on July 17th for our monthly meeting and an inspiring evening with professional photographer Kim Leeson. Kim’s work has been published in PEOPLE Magazine, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Formerly a photojournalist for the Dallas Morning News, Kim is an accomplished nature photographer. She will share her journey and insight into intimately capturing the natural world.

If you’re fascinated by the intricate beauty of succulents, on the same evening, don’t miss the training session at 6 PM in the library with our very own Irwin Lightstone. A master of Cacti and Macro photography, Irwin will offer techniques and inspiration in capturing these remarkable plants.

This month, take time to enjoy the summer, surrounded by color, community, and creativity. Whether it's enjoying and photographing crepe myrtles, fireworks with friends, or learning from talented photographers, there's so much to explore and celebrate.

We hope to see you soon, camera in hand, ready to capture the magic.

Winning Images from the May 2025 Club Contest
Topic: Architecture at Night (Electronic) (Click any image to see it full-screen)

Award recipients in the Plano Photography Club May contest were announced during the monthly club meeting on Thursday, June 19, 2025.

Detailed results are listed below; honored photographs are visible on the right. Congratulations to the awardees, and thank you to all competitors.

• 1st: Twilight over Almudena Cathedral - Julie Yu
• 2nd: Finding Religion - David Valdez
• 3rd: Bear Creek Cabins Gift Shop in Pinos Altos, NM - Maggie Hutchison
• HM: A Grand Home - Bernadette Dozier

• 1st: Serra do Pilar Monastery - Steven Wilson (2nd Place overall)
• 2nd: Luzern and Chapel Bridge at Night - Gregory Bullen
• 3rd: The Alamo - Frank Barnhart
• HM: Historic Brown House - John Copes
• HM: Turquoise Temple - Lynn Barrett

• 1st: Dubai - Sanjay Kaul (Best of Show)
• 2nd: Hunt International Building - Dallas - Richard Otto (3rd Place overall)
• 3rd: Nightfall on a Coimbra Backstreet - Randy Ratzlaff
• HM: Night Time at The Willow House - David Hutchison
• HM: The Plaza - Craig Rowen

• 1st: Electric Avenue - David Swinney (Honorable Mention Overall)
• 2nd: Lighting the Way - Carol Barlow
• 3rd: Nocturne in Light and Form - Marie Hansen
• HM: Taipei 101 and Rainbow Bridge at Night - WenChi Lee
• HM: Dallas From the Tower - Larry Petterborg

Full-Screen Slideshow | Gallery | Judge's Commentary

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

Kim Leeson

Bio:  Kim Leeson has been a professional photographer for more than 25 years. Her clients have included PEOPLE magazine,  The New York Times, The Washington Post, and a wide array of industrial, educational, and corporate publications.

She worked as a photojournalist for The Dallas Morning News from 1993-2004. Her work for the newspaper earned her awards from the Texas Headliners Foundation, the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association, Texas Associated Press Managing Editors, and the Association for Women Journalists.

Many also know Kim as an accomplished nature photographer whose specialty is finding the extraordinary details of the natural world in urban environments.

She has a BA in photography from Texas A&M-Commerce (now East Texas A&M).

Program Description: Learn to see, experience, and intimately capture nature with a macro lens. You don’t have to travel far or go to exotic locations to witness nature’s incredible beauty. It’s just a few steps away at all times, and diving in with your macro lens and exploring things up close will reveal a micro-universe of grace and wonder.

Examples of Kim's Photography

The Plano Photography Club's June contest is an ELECTRONIC competition with the theme STRONG DIRECTIONAL LIGHT.