Photo Activities and Galleries
2021 Topic of the Week Photo Activity - Week 38
DRINK
Monday, September 20, 2021 to Saturday, September 25, 2021 (11:59 PM CT)
To participate, send ONE OR TWO 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(s) (e.g., JSamMalone_Drink_1.jpg).
The 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 gallery.
Visit the Plano Photography Club Facebook Page to Like your favorite Topic of the Week photos.
Full-Screen Views: Gallery | Slideshow | All Galleries and Slideshows
If you're planning ahead, next week's topic will be SOMETHING IN YOUR KITCHEN.
DIY Excursions - September 2021
ARTS, PUMPKINS, AND BIG TEX
With the weather (slowly) cooling down, we have several suggested DIY Excursions for you this month:
To participate, first attend one or more of these events between now and September 30, 2021.
Then send a MAXIMUM OF FIVE (5) IMAGES FROM EACH EVENT YOU ATTEND taken by either your CAMERA OR CELLPHONE to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com.
Please include YOUR NAME and ARTS, PUMPKINS, or BIGTEX (respectively) in the file name (e.g., John_Smith_StateFair_1.jpg).
The 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 gallery.
Depending upon how many photos we receive, each event may get its own gallery on the website.
Have fun, capture some great images, but be mindful of each event's COVID health and safety regulations (available on their websites).
Fall officially arrives on September 22 and I'm looking forward to both cooler temperatures and the changes to nature the new season will bring. It will still be a month or two before the autumn colors arrive, but photo opportunities are out there every day. Finding them sometimes just takes a bit of research. Fortunately, as club members, we have our own research library - the club website.
I'll give you an example. Last month, I and many other club members had the chance to photograph the Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 steam locomotive as it rolled through North Texas. When the event was announced, trains were something that I knew nothing about. But thanks to David Swinney and the wealth of information he posted on the website I was able to map a train chase route, set up a safe and realistic time schedule for the day, and pick some really great locations for photos.
I encourage all of you to check out the Resources tab on the website. You will find many categories of information with dozens of suggestions for places to take pictures or techniques for improving your photography and/or post-processing skills. I bet you'll be surprised at what you can learn.
September brings several big photographic events to the area, including the State Fair of Texas in Fair Park, Autumn at the Dallas Arboretum (where you'll see more pumpkins in one place than you can possibly imagine), and the Deep Ellum Arts Festival (an enormous three-day street festival). And don’t forget to check the Plano Photography Club website frequently for up-to-date information and additional ideas.
- Alan Daniel (from the September 2021 issue of The FLASH!)
Winners in the August Plano Photography Club photo competition were announced on Thursday, September 16, 2021, during the monthly club meeting.
Award recipients for the contest are listed below; their submissions are seen at right:
- Entry
- 1st: Close-up Lotus - Janet Yiu
- 2nd: Spotted Leaf - Martha Hedge
- 3rd: Back of the Sun - Shannon Hutchison
- HM: Sunrise at Mammoth Springs - Kenneth Godsey
- Intermediate
- 1st: We Were Here - Robert Shafer
- 2nd: National Memorial for Peace and Justice - Brian Clark
- 3rd: I'll Be Gone 500 Miles When The Day Is Done - David Swinney
- HM: You Gonna To Eat That?? - David Witherspoon
- HM: Sunrise Sandy Beach - Siu M Wong
- Advanced
- 1st: Mexican Alley - Anita Oakley (also Best of Show)
- 2nd: Union Pacific 4014 "Big Boy" - Jason Ware
- 3rd: Putting Our Heads Together - Linfen Hwang
- HM: Find A Way To Go Forward - Clive Fernando
- HM: Monsoon Sunset at Bryce Canyon - David Hutchison
- Master
- 1st: Morning Lily - Lois Lehman
- 2nd: Hooping It Up Together - John Lehman
- 3rd: Wrangler in a Snow Storm - Ron Hasty
- HM: Green Anole - Sharlott Hasty
- HM: Waiting For The Sunset - Santa Fe - Russell McGuire
Full-Screen Slideshow | Gallery | Judge's Commentary
Standings: All Classes | Entry | Intermediate | Advanced | Master
Congratulations to the winners and thanks to everyone who participated in the competition.
See you in October for the results of the September contest.
Next Club Meeting - Thursday, October 21, 2021, at 7:00 PM CT (via Zoom)
Behind the Lens with Equine Photographer Shelley Paulson
Shelley Paulson
Program Description: After a short introduction to the nuances of photographing horses, Shelley will share some of her favorite images and the stories behind them. From capturing a cowboy during a lightning storm to a tender moment between a horse and its owner to a high quality still photo pulled from a video clip, each example will give you insight into her vision and technical approach.
Bio: Shelley Paulson is an award-winning equine commercial, editorial, and stock photographer based in Minnesota. She has combined her deep love of horses with her passion for creating heartfelt, meaningful images to create a thriving full-time career.
Her work is known for its captivating light, emotional impact, creative composition, and rich color. It has been published worldwide and can be seen in various equestrian publications and in advertising for major equine brands such as Horse Illustrated, Western Horseman, Nutrena, and Farnam.
Her professional beliefs are expressed on her website as follows:
- I believe in creating photographs for brands and publications that want more than just pretty pictures. They want images that captivate their audiences with depth, emotional impact, and meaning.
- I believe in the power of photography to tell a story. Whether that is the story of a brand or product or an editorial story in a magazine, quality, heartfelt photographs can move our hearts or compel us to action. This is a business for me, but my passion for the craft of photography and my love for horses mean I will never be neutral about the work I do. Because of this, my clients always get my best work, done with the greatest of care.
- I believe in providing professional, yet personalized service to all my clients which means I am committed to honesty, efficient communication, being on time, delivering what I promised (or more!), being flexible, and doing all things in a spirit of cooperation, generosity, and kindness.
Examples of Shelley's Work
October 2021 Contest
SUBMIT CONTEST IMAGES
The theme for the October 2021 Plano Photography Club photo contest is OPEN (Print).
You may submit one image to the contest. Entries must be uploaded to the PPC Competition Site before 11:59 PM CT on October 21, 2021.
The maximum dimensions for electronic images submitted to the contest website are 4096 x 2160 pixels.
Please review the PPC Competition Rules and Process document and/or the October 2021 Print Contest Procedures if you have questions about how the club competitions work. If you need additional information, please contact the Contest Chair.
NOTE: You must be a Plano Photography Club member to submit an image to a competition.
Latest Club News
Raptor Photo Day Is Happening On October 9
When: October 19, 2021 from 7:30 AM to 10:00 AM CT
Where: Blackland Prairie Raptor Center, 1625 Brockdale Park Road, Lucas, TX 75002 (map, Lucas TX 75002
Cost: $25 pre-register and $30 at the door.
NOTE: Pre-registration closes the Friday at noon before the event. After that time you will need to show up and pay the $30 donation.
Raptor Photo Day at the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center is a great opportunity to experience taking photographs of their education ambassadors in a natural setting.
They set up perching throughout the park and let photographers take pictures of the birds with different backgrounds and lighting. For all ages and photography experience.
Photographer Needed
We have received a request for a photographer for a quinceañera party and we are passing this information along to our members.
Here are the particulars regarding this event:
- Location: event1310 (1013 E 15th St, Plano, TX 75074)
- Date: Saturday, October 9, 2021
- Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM CT
- Responsibilities: Group photos and casual shots of party (~100 guests)
If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Angelina Kenefick via email and let her know that you are a member of the Plano Photography Club.
PPC Member Photo Is A Finalist In Comedy Wildlife Photography Competition
PPC member and club officer Larry Petterborg is participating in the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, which are sponsored by an organization whose mission is to "widen understanding and engagement with global conservation - for the preservation of biodiversity and the health and enrichment of everyone on Earth."
One of Larry's images in the competition is a finalist for The Affinity Photo People's Choice Award.
You are invited to vote for Larry's photo "Just Checking" (seen at right) or any of 41 other funny wildlife pictures, and by doing so you make yourself eligible to win a new Apple iPad, courtesy of Affinity Photo.
Additional details, terms and conditions, and voting instructions are available on the Awards website.
Info On State Fair Media Credentials and Photographer Passes
As you no doubt know, the State Fair of Texas is returning to Fair Park in Dallas this year after being canceled in 2020. The Fair will run from September 24 - October 17, 2021.
If you are planning to attend, we want to make you aware of two different types of passes that you can request right now from the State Fair Public Relations Office:
- Media Credentials - permit you to enter the fairgrounds at no charge as a media member; the website does not address the question of whether professional photographic equipment is allowed.
- Temporary Photographer Passes - permit you to enter the fairgrounds with professional photography equipment, including tripods and/or monopods; drones are strictly prohibited for all attendees. NOTE: Temporary Photographer Passes DO NOT include admission to the State Fair of Texas.
These passes are issued on a first-come, first-served basis and not all requests are guaranteed to be fulfilled, so click on the links above to act quickly if you are interested.
As a reminder, please review the State Fair of Texas COVID-19 protocols for the latest health and safety information before visiting the fairgrounds.
Friends of Hagerman Photo Club Nature Photography Contest Now Open
Each September, the Friends of Hagerman Photo Club - which shares several members with our own club - sponsors a nature-themed photo contest. For a small fee per photo, photographers may enter as many photos as they wish into the competition.
Competition categories include Landscapes, Flora and Macro, Artistic, and Wildlife in both Beginner and Intermediate/Advanced divisions.
All photographers are invited to participate in the contest, regardless of age or skill level. Entries will be accepted from September 1 through September 30, 2021.
For contest rules, entry process details, and other related information, please visit the Friends of Hagerman Photo Club website.
Beavers Bend Fall Weekend
Friday, November 19, 2021, through Sunday, November 21, 2021
After two years away, the Plano Photography Club will return to Oklahoma's Beavers Bend State Park (northeast of Broken Bow) for a fall shooting trip.
The park (about three hours away from Plano by car) is located in the mountainous region of southeast Oklahoma along the shores of Broken Bow Lake and the Mountain Fork River. Guests traveling down the winding roads through the forests of pine and hardwood trees will find adventure, beautiful scenery, and plenty of activities inside this state park.
Towering timbers, crystal clear waters, and rugged terrain make this state park an outdoor lover's paradise. A constant-flow stream fed from the cold water of Broken Bow Lake forms a fishing stream with small waterfalls and rapids, offering great photo opportunities both morning and evening. Trails can take you up wooded hills for grand vistas. Broken Bow Lake and Hochatown State Park offer views of the hills for sunrise and sunset shots.
You are responsible for obtaining your own lodging; here are some suggestions on where to stay:
For additional information about this field trip, please see our Field Trips page.
Evans Caglage | Portfolio
Eugene Jabbour | Competitive Cameras
Brianna Burnett Photography