Plano Photography Club
All In-Person Club Meetings and Activities Are Canceled Until Further Notice
Virtual Club Meetings Held On Third Thursdays of Each Month (except December) at 7:00 PM
Virtual Training Sessions Held On 2nd and 4th Thursdays of Each Month
Join us at our next (virtual) meeting and get to know the friendly folks of the Plano Photography Club.
Want to attend one of our monthly meetings as a guest? Please let us know via email.
Learn more about the PPC by watching this orientation video. When you're ready to become a member just click on this button: JOIN THE CLUB
Headlines
NEW! Lightroom Classic updated to include advanced color grading tools (more)
NEW! New version of Photoshop adds powerful AI-powered editing tools (more)
REMINDER Register online for Thursday's Heard Wildlife Sanctuary Photo Walk (more)
Check out the winning images from the September 2020 club competition (more)
The October 2020 edition of The Flash! is hot off the (virtual) presses (more)
Our recent Ask Me Anything & Visual Design classes are now available on-demand (more)
Join Canon Explorer Adam Jones for a Zoom presentation on October 27 (more)
Multiple PPC members won awards in the State Fair Creative Arts competition (more)
Adobe MAX 2020: free for everyone and registration is now open (more)
Dates to Remember
October 20-22 - Adobe MAX 2020 (free and virtual)
October 22 - Heard Wildlife Sanctuary Photo Walk with Aimee Woolverton
October 22 - PPC Training Thursday (Blending Modes/Color Masks and Visual Design 5)
October 24 - Submission deadline for weekly photo project - FORGOTTEN AND ABANDONED OBJECTS
October 27 - Canon Explorer of Light Adam Jones Zoom Presentation
November 3 - DCC Training Tuesday (Lightroom Classic - Library and Develop Modules)
November 7 - Prestonwood Polo Club Event
November 19 - Monthly club meeting with guest Nock Wong
September 2020 Competition Winners Announced
Winning Images From the September 2020 Competition
Topic: Night (After The Sun Goes Down)
Winners of the September Plano Photography Club photo competition were announced on Thursday, October 15 at the conclusion of the October 2020 club meeting.
Award recipients for the latest contest - whose work is seen in the slideshow at right - are as follows:
- Entry
- 1st: Aurora Over Glacial Lagoon - Debbie Nielsen
- 2nd: Oculus Station at Ground Zero - Julie Minges
- 3rd: Nighttime Stroll at Texas Tech - Shannon Hutchison
- HM: Peaceful Harbor - Colleen Galles
- HM: Crescent Moon - Janice Goetz
- Intermediate
- 1st: An Evening At The Bridge - Sanjay Kaul (Also Best of Show)
- 2nd: Shaken; Not Stirred - Ray Davidson
- 3rd: Homemade Shooting Star - Katherine Moulton
- HM: Fire and Water - Debbie Conard
- HM: Plano Rooftops - Dennis Kraft
- Advanced
- 1st: 30 Rock - Mark Bernthal
- 2nd: Caddo Lake - Alan Daniel
- 3rd: That Lonely Street - Randy Ratzlaff
- HM: Street Challenge - Richard Otto
- HM: Guanajuato After Dark - Anita Oakley
- Master
- 1st: Altar of the Fatherland After Sunset - Nock Wong
- 2nd: Manhattan Panorama/After The Sun Goes Down - Jose Artiles
- 3rd: Campfire Stories - John Lehman
- HM: Old Steps and Arches - Danette Volkmer
- HM: Did I Really Need To Come This Far For A Meeting? - Russell McGuire
Full-Screen Slideshow | Judge's Commentary
Standings: All Classes | Entry | Intermediate | Advanced | Master
Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all who participated in the contest. See you next month.
Photo Activities and Galleries
Topic of the Week Photo Activity - Week 29
Topic: FORGOTTEN AND ABANDONED OBJECTS
Period: Monday, October 19, 2020 to Saturday, October 24, 2020 (11:59 PM CDT)
To participate, send a MAXIMUM OF TWO (2) IMAGES from your CAMERA OR CELLPHONE on this topic to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com. If you submit more than two photos, only the first two received will be included.
Submitted images will be displayed in the scrolling gallery seen at right. Please note that no one will be able to download copies of submitted photos.
Please include YOUR NAME and this week's TOPIC in the file name (e.g., John_Smith_Topic.jpg).
Maximum dimension (long edge) for submitted images is 4096 pixels; the maximum file size is 10MB. Pictures that exceed these limits will not be eligible for the galleries.
View our photo activity archives in either full-screen gallery or slideshow (with music) mode.
Visit the Plano Photography Club Facebook Page to Like your favorite Topic of the Week photos.
Raptor Photo Day
On October 10, 2020, the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center held its COVID-19 delayed Raptor Photo Day. This event was a great opportunity to experience taking photographs of their education ambassadors in a natural setting.
The BPRC set up perching throughout the park and let photographers take pictures of the birds with different backgrounds and lighting.
If you attended and photographed this event, we invite you to send A MAXIMUM OF 5-7 IMAGES from your CAMERA OR CELLPHONE to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com.
Submitted images will be displayed in the scrolling gallery seen at right. Please note that no one will be able to download copies of submitted photos.
Please include YOUR NAME and BPRC in the file name (e.g., John_Smith_BPRC.jpg).
Maximum dimension (long edge) for submitted images is 4096 pixels; the maximum file size is 10MB. Pictures that exceed these limits will not be eligible for the galleries.
View our photo activity archives in either full-screen gallery or slideshow (with music) mode.
President's Message
Get Out There!
Fall is finally here. The temperatures are a welcome relief from the hot summer sun. The cooler mornings and pleasant days are our invitation to get outside and enjoy nature. Fall provides us with many photographic subjects - everything from outdoor sports to the fall colors in the landscape.
October kicked off with our version of the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk at Arbor Hills in Plano. I hope you were able to take advantage of the beautiful day. I know that most - if not every - portrait photographer in Plano were there with their clients taking advantage of the weather to create family photos for birthdays, engagements, and even shots for that holiday card to be sent in December. It's not too early for us to get some of those memories recorded.
Check out our newsletter and this website. You will find several ideas for fall outdoor activities, include a chance to photograph raptors up close, a nature walk at the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney, and even a polo match. And don't forget the pumpkin festival at the Dallas Arboretum.
What are you waiting for? Get out there and enjoy the great outdoors. It's a great place to practice social distancing. TAKE your camera with you.
- Alan Daniel (October 2020)
Next Club Meeting - Thursday, November 19, 2020, at 7:00 PM (via Zoom)
Nock Wong: The Secrets Of His Success
Nock Wong
After retiring from a fulfilling career as an electronic engineer, Nock (who is also a US Army veteran) became interested in photography. Along with his lovely wife Siu, he joined the Plano Photography Club five years ago.
He participated in club photo outings, took PPC training classes, and watched many YouTube videos on photography and Adobe Lightroom. They upgraded their photography gear and began traveling to enjoy retirement and practice their newly found passion.
Nock began submitting images to monthly contests and has been twice recognized as PPC Photographer of the Year - first in 2017-2018 and then again in 2019-2020.
In this program - The Secrets Of His Success - Nock will reveal his secrets to making a winning image.
He particularly enjoys nature photography - including landscape, wildlife, and flowers - and travel photography. Nock has over 14000 images in these and other photography styles posted on his Flickr page.
Examples of Nock's Award-Winning Photos
November 2020 Contest
SUBMIT CONTEST IMAGE
The Plano Photography Club's November contest is a ELECTRONIC competition with the theme ABSTRACT.
Each club member may submit one photo to the competition. Remember that images that have placed in any earlier PPC contest are ineligible.
The maximum dimensions for electronic images submitted to the contest website are 4096 x 2160 pixels.
Your electronic submission must be uploaded to the PPC Competition Site before midnight CT Thursday, November 19, 2020.
For more detail on this month's contest requirements please visit Competitions | Competition Topics.
Latest Club News
Lightroom Classic Updated; Now Includes Color Grading Tool
Click to learn more ...
At its MAX conference, Adobe announced the release of version 10.0 of Lightroom Classic, its popular photo management and editing tool.
Here's a summary of the enhancements with links to additional information about each one:
Lightroom Classic 10.0 is available now through the Creative Cloud app on your computer.
Photoshop Updates Include Neural Filters and Sky Replacement
Click to learn more ...
At its MAX conference, Adobe announced the immediate availability of Photoshop 2021 for the desktop, which includes a number of AI-powered features like Neural Filters, Sky Replacement, Refine Hair selection, and more.
Here's a summary of the updates with links to additional information about each one:
Adobe Photoshop 2021 is available now through the Creative Cloud app on your computer.
Canon Explorer of Light Adam Jones Presentation Scheduled For October 27
REGISTER FOR ADAM JONES PRESENTATION
On Tuesday, October 27 at 7:30 PM (via Zoom), Adam Jones - a prestigious Canon Explorer of Light - will present Through the Lens of Adam Jones to area photography clubs and interested parties.
Adam Jones
Adam’s programs usually include topics such as real-looking HDR, focus stacking for unlimited depth of field, macro techniques, telephoto wildlife techniques, using full and fill flash, workflow, high ISO noise reduction, setting up your camera to operate the way you want, and composition and lighting. He always invites attendees to participate with questions and audience participation impacts the discussion direction.
This internationally recognized photographer explores the world through his nature, travel, and wildlife images. Jones’s award-winning photography is widely published in magazines, posters, calendars, books, and in national advertising campaigns for clients such as Canon, Ford, Eddie Bauer, Miller Beer and Honda.
Adam is recognized worldwide as an outstanding stock photographer with his images represented by Getty Images, Photo Researchers, and Danita Delimont Stock Photography. His work has sold for editorial and commercial uses in over 30 countries. Adam’s publication credits also include: National Geographic Books, Time, Life Magazine, National Wildlife Federation, Audubon, Sierra Club, Disney and hundreds of textbooks. In 1995 the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Contest selected Adam’s image from over 19, 000 entries, as the winner in the “In Praise of Plants” category. Adam is the sole photographer on eight coffee-table books.
In early 2006, Adam was selected to be one of Canon USA’s elite group of acclaimed photographers, “The Explorers of Light,” a program began in 1995 to celebrate and highlight the work of outstanding professional imaging creators. For more than two decades the Explorers have been inspiring and educating photographers of all levels. Today, the group is comprised of dozens of the most influential photographers in the world, each a master of their creative specialty. They share a common desire to contribute back to the industry with a willingness to share their vision and passion with others. Adam is a popular and respected workshop instructor and lecturer. Adam teaches photography workshops around the world helping students reach their full potential in the exciting world of digital photography. Adam is noted for his enthusiastic down to earth approach and his ability to communicate effectively with all skill levels.
Registration is required.
Adobe MAX Free For Everyone and Registration Now Open
Registration for the all-digital Adobe MAX 2020 event (October 20-22, 2020) is now open and free for all.
Back in May, Adobe announced both of its annual conferences, 99U and Adobe MAX, would be going all-digital amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Now, Adobe has opened up registration for its Adobe MAX 2020 conference, making it free for all who want to join the virtual version of ‘The Creativity Conference.’
According to Adobe, there will be 56 hours of "inspiration and learning," which will include live content demos, speakers, sneak peeks, celebrity appearances, and musical performances. The online event will feature more than 250 speakers. Both the main keynote and the breakout sessions will be available for all registrants. The headlining speakers include photographer Annie Leibovitz; recording artist, producer and director Tyler, the Creator; writer, director and producer Ava DuVernay; and actor and director Keanu Reeves. Dozens of other artists across all disciplines will have keynotes and breakout sessions as well.
Those who register will be entered into a sweepstakes to win a free MAX t-shirt and can begin crafting a schedule for virtual events they want to attend. Registering also provides access to instructor files and presentation downloads and an opportunity to engage with Adobe product experts.
You can register for Adobe MAX 2020 and look through the list of speakers on the Adobe MAX 2020 website.
Congratulations to PPC Members Who Won Awards at the State Fair of Texas Photo Contest
SFOT Creative Arts Photo Winners On Display (via YouTube)
The following Plano Photography Club member(s) received awards in the recent 2020 State Fair of Texas Creative Arts (Photography) competition:
Color - K121. Western Wear
Color - K125. Other Than In Texas (Animals/Birds/Reptiles)
Black and White - K130. Child/Children
Black and White - K138. Other Than In Texas
- Honorable Mention: Larry Petterborg
For a full list of 2020 Creative Arts (Photography) winners, please visit the State Fair of Texas results page. Congratulations to all those listed above.
Club Information
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