If you attended the Great Junk Hunt Dallas photo activity on March 15, we hope you had a wonderful time while capturing some terrific photos.
As is typical with club member activities, we would like to feature your images from the event in the slide gallery at right.
We look forward to seeing your pictures.
The Plano Photography Club is proud of the exceptional photography skills demonstrated by its members, as seen in our monthly contests and diverse photo activities.
Art Exhibited on the Curved Wall at Haggard Library
This spring, the club is collaborating with Plano's Haggard Library to provide a platform for our members to showcase their outstanding photographs, thereby increasing their visibility and recognition.
Club Historian Cindy Vaillancourt and Newsletter/Slideshow Chair James Stover are serving as exhibit coordinators for this event.
Who Can Participate: Any Plano Photography Club member
What Can I Exhibit: Up to two (2) prints (based on space availability)
Where Will The Exhibit Be: Haggard Library | 2501 Coit Road, Plano, Texas 75075-3712 (map)
When Will The Exhibit Take Place: May 1, 2025 - June 30, 2025
How Can I Participate: By following the process outlined on the PPC Showcase page.
Registration for the 2025 Plano Photography Club Showcase is NOW OPEN.
Registration closes on March 31, 2025.
To get started, please visit the PPC Showcase page to review all the details. Then follow the process for exhibiting your best prints at the Haggard Library.
Questions? Contact Club Historian Cindy Vaillancourt.
Location: Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden (8525 Garland Road, Dallas, TX 75218)
Date: Friday, March 21, 2025
Time: 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM CT
During this time window, any member of the Plano Photography Club attending with our group may walk and photograph the grounds of the Arboretum. Tripods will be allowed.
Irwin Lightstone has once again used his connections (Thanks Irwin!) to get us access to the Dallas Arboretum early in the morning to photograph tulips and all the other beautiful plants on display.
Details
- REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED for this event (click the Registration button below)
- There is no limit on the number of PPC members who can attend
- Attendees must park in the lot accessible at the Gate 1 entrance (located at the intersection of Garland Road and Whittier)
- Attendees MUST be physically present at the Main Entrance of the Arboretum by 7:00 AM; please plan to arrive a few minutes early so that members can enter as a group
- Attendees will be admitted onto the grounds as a group; any individual who arrives at the Main Entrance after the group enters the Arboretum may be denied admission
- Attendees will be allowed to use their tripods until 9:00 AM (when the Arboretum opens to the public); no tripods may be used after that time
- Attendees may remain at the Arboretum after 9:00 AM and continue taking photographs for as long as they wish, subject to item (6) above
- There are no official lunch or brunch plans, but some people will almost certainly get together after the shoot; this will be decided on-site
As a condition of providing access under these terms to the Plano Photography Club, the Dallas Arboretum is requesting copies of five (5) photographs captured by each attendee. Details will be communicated when we collect images for display on the club website.
REGISTER FOR THE DALLAS ARBORETUM PHOTO SHOOT
Registration closes on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 9:00 PM CT.
If you have questions before the event or when you arrive onsite at the Arboretum, contact Activity Chair Mary Ruehle (email).
Spring is Coming - A Promise!
Parvin Stiles
Isn’t it amazing how the weather can go from the teens in the third week of February to the 70s in the fourth? I’m ready for Spring so I can get out there and capture all its beauty through my lens!
The Spring Equinox is Thursday, March 20, at 4:01 AM Central Time - perfect timing because it's also the day of our general meeting! Guests are totally welcome! At 6:00 PM, Carol Barlow will conduct an orientation class for new and prospective members in Room 1. Simultaneously, Larry Petterborg will be in the library talking about "Preparing for Competition: What Judges Look For." And at 7:00 PM, we start our regular meeting with guest speaker Jeremy Woodhouse, who will share an inspiring program titled “Beyond the Snapshot.” Trust me, you won’t want to miss it!
And that’s just the beginning – we have some seriously fun activities lined up! First, we’re heading to Texas Rose Horse Park on March 1 to photograph the elegance and grace of riders and horses in motion. It’s going to be a beautiful sight to capture! On the same weekend, you may want to join in the fun at the "Eat, Drink, and Be Irish" event during the North Texas Irish Festival and snap some lively moments.
But wait - there’s more!
The Great Junk Hunt at Dallas Fair Park (March 15) is a perfect chance to practice still-life photography, all while enjoying the hustle and bustle of the bargain shoppers.
Let’s not forget the Dallas Arboretum in Spring - it's breathtaking! We plan to meet at the main gate as a group on March 21 at 7:00 AM. A huge thank you to our member Irwin Lightstone, who has arranged special entry for us. And because I love a good challenge, I’m going to throw one out there: How many tulips can you line up in a row?
Finally, I’m excited for our Spring trip to the Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma, April 14-16. Think bisons, elks, prairie dogs - but NO moose! So you can relax, you won’t get charged by a giant angry moose, I promise! Now picture yourself surrounded by mountains, prairies, shrubs, rocks, I mean like giant granite rocks, having a ton of photo opportunities. It doesn’t get any better than that, and then all just a few minutes away from civilization and juicy restaurants. Think bison dodging prairie dogs while you’re snapping shots of nature at its finest, maybe winning a photo contest, receiving great accolades, becoming rich and famous, who knows!
But for me? It’s all about the fun, the photos, and hanging out with friends!
Plantation Inn
As was announced at the January club meeting, we're heading to the Wichita Mountains this spring.
Our field trip is set for April 14-16, 2025, and we'll be based at The Plantation Inn in Medicine Park, Oklahoma (map).
Built on the original foundation of the old Oklahoma Press Association's Clubhouse and re-created from old photographs to look like the original building, The Plantation Inn has the charm of yesteryear with all the modern conveniences.
The Inn has 20 rooms (a mix of upstairs and downstairs) and reservations just opened up for the week of our trip.
If you're interested, don't wait to book your room.
RESERVE A ROOM AT THE PLANTATION INN
We're still finalizing some trip details, but stay tuned - we'll share more info in the coming weeks.
Got questions? Reach out to Mary Ruehle, our Activities Chair, and she'll get you the information you need.
We want to make club members aware of a free virtual training opportunity coming later this month: the Photoshop Creativity Virtual Summit 2025.
Photoshop Virtual Creativity Summit 2025 (March 23-26, 2025)
19 world-class instructors and artists teaching 32 classes over 4 days
Instructors include Aaron Nace, Anya Anti, Blake Rudis, Colin Smith, Dave Cross, Glyn Dewis, Kristina Sherk, and many more; these instructors were carefully chosen for their knowledge of Photoshop and their ability to communicate, teach, and inspire
Every single training session is designed to take your Photoshop creativity 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 CLASS SCHEDULE | GET YOUR FREE PASS | GET INFO ON THE VIP PASS (EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS MARCH 23)
The following Plano Photography Club member(s) received recognition in the February 2025 Gulf States Camera Club Council photo competition:
Color Projected
- 1st Honorable Mention: The Dying Light Beneath The Rim, Grand Canyon - Fred Manchester
Monochrome Projected
- 2nd Honorable Mention: Smooth Sax Man - Lynn Barrett
To see the winning images and a full list of award recipients, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.
Training (6:00 PM CT) - Preparing for Competition: What Judges Look For (Larry Petterborg) | New and Prospective Member Orientation (Carol Barlow)
Program (7:00 PM CT) - Jeremy Woodhouse: Beyond The Snapshot
Jeremy Woodhouse
Bio: Jeremy Woodhouse is a British-born photographer known for his breathtaking landscape, wildlife, cultural and travel photography. With a career spanning over twenty-five years, Woodhouse has traveled to 100 countries across the globe, capturing vivid and dynamic images that showcase the beauty and diversity of the world's natural and cultural landscapes. His work is characterized by its vibrant colors, intricate details, and ability to evoke a strong sense of place.
Jeremy’s journey into photography began with a passion for adventure and exploration, naturally leading him to document his experiences through the lens. In 1999 he transitioned from a career as a graphic designer in Texas to become a full-time photographer, blending his artistic background with his love for the outdoors.
Through his affiliation with several influential stock libraries, his photographs have been published in their thousands, and he has won numerous awards for his work.
Woodhouse also leads photography tours and workshops, sharing his expertise with aspiring photographers, helping them hone their skills in some of the most picturesque locations worldwide.
You can see examples of his work and his tours at pixelchrome.com.
Program Description: Why a photo taken while traveling does not necessarily make it a travel photograph.
Samples of Jeremy's Photography
The Plano Photography Club's March contest is an ELECTRONIC competition with the theme OPEN.
Electronic entries must be uploaded to the PPC Competition Site before 11:59 PM CT on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
NOTE: You must be a Plano Photography Club member to submit contest images.
Jay Miller | Aviation Photography
Janet Cunningham | Lensbaby
Ben Jacobi | Jacobi Creations, LLC
Graham Hobart | Infrared Nature and Wildlife Photography