This page serves as an archive of all club news that appeared on the front page of the Plano Photography Club website in 2023.
More than sixty (60) Plano Photography Club members and guests were in attendance on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, for the club's annual holiday event at West Plano Presbyterian Church.
Fourteen (14) members produced thematic video slideshows to celebrate the year. Click on the image at the right to watch the show.
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 produced and submitted video slideshows for the party.
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 2024.
At the end of the holiday party, we premiered the Plano Photography Club 40th Anniversary video, which commemorates the history of the PPC with a particular focus on the last five years. Click on the image at the right to view the show.
We want to thank club historian Cindy Vaillancourt and club newsletter and slideshow chair James Stover for their contributions to the making of the video.
Party Favorite Recipe
Club member Bob Robinette's cranberry orange relish was a big hit at the holiday party. Several members even asked him whether he would be able to share the recipe.
He graciously agreed to do so, and we are posting it here to make it easily available to all, even those who did not attend the party.
Cranberry Orange Relish (adapted from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book)
Ingredients
- 2 medium oranges (if they aren’t juicy enough you may need to add a SMALL amount of orange juice)
- 4 cups fresh cranberries (this is more than a standard small bag)
- 1-2 cups sugar (I typically use 1 ⅓)
- optional: ¼ cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans (not used at the PPC holiday party)
Steps
- Wash and sort the cranberries.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the peel off the oranges. Cut the easy-to-remove skin from the center of the orange. Make sure the seeds are removed.
- Put some cranberries and some oranges in a food processor with a blade that will chop coarsely. Coarsely chop some of the cranberries. Repeat until all are chopped.
- Mix with the sugar and nuts.
Enjoy! Often I double the recipe at family gatherings. - Bob Robinette
October 2023
Save the Date for the PPC Holiday Party
Please plan to join us in person on Tuesday evening, December 5, 2023, 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.
Free Webinar On Viewing And Photographing The Upcoming Solar Eclipses
We want to make club members aware of another upcoming free webinar in advance of both the total solar eclipse coming in April 2024 and the annular solar eclipse later this month.
Hosted by esteemed photographer Lisa Langell, this presentation will delve into the world of eclipse photography with esteemed photographers Les and Mary Anderson.
This event is your gateway to mastering the art of capturing the upcoming US solar eclipses.
Date: Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Time: 5:00 PM CT
Duration: Approximately two (2) hours
What to expect during this webinar:
- Expert Guidance: Les and Mary Anderson, acclaimed photographers with years of eclipse photography experience, will share their wisdom, insights, and professional tips.
- Eclipse Essentials: Discover the essentials of photographing solar eclipses. From gear preparation to location scouting, you'll gain the knowledge to make the most of these remarkable events.
- Technique Showcase: Explore various photographic techniques to capture stunning eclipse images. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned photographer, you'll acquire valuable skills to elevate your craft.
- Creative Vision: Unleash your creativity and artistic vision during this visual journey. Les and Mary will help you unlock the potential for creating unique and captivating eclipse photographs.
REGISTER NOW (LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE)
NOTE: If you're unable to make this date and time or cannot stay for the entire length of the webinar, please register for the event anyway.
All registrants will receive a link to a recording upon completion.
September 2023
Adobe Announces Major Updates To Creative Cloud Photography Applications
Free Solar Eclipses 101 Webinar
We want to make club members aware of this upcoming free webinar in anticipation of both the total solar eclipse coming in April 2024 and the annular solar eclipse in October.
Date: Sunday, September 17, 2023
Time: 6:00 PM CT
If you're planning on viewing the much-anticipated 2024 total solar eclipse in the U.S. — or any upcoming solar eclipse — and you'd like to know more about what solar eclipses are, why they're so amazing, and how to view one, this free webinar is for you.
First, the presentation will cover solar eclipse basics. It will then take a deep dive into the 2024 total solar eclipse, including how to plan for the eclipse and how to view it safely.
By attending this webinar, you'll discover:
- What solar eclipses are and what makes them so spectacular
- How to safely view a solar eclipse
- What to expect and what you'll experience during a total solar eclipse
- How to prevent clouds and bad weather from spoiling your eclipse viewing
- Where to view totality during the 2024 total solar eclipse
REGISTER NOW
NOTE: If you're unable to make this date and time, please submit a registration anyway. All registrants will receive a link to a recording of the webinar after it's over.
This program is part of the NationalEclipse.com webinar series, one of many programs — both live and on-demand — that NationalEclipse.com is producing in the lead-up to the 2023 and 2024 eclipses.
Upcoming Virtual Training Opportunities
We want to make club members aware of two free virtual training opportunities coming in October/November 2023: the Photoshop Virtual Summit 5 and the Adobe MAX 2023 Creativity Conference.
Photoshop Virtual Summit 5 (October 30 - November 3, 2023)
20 expert instructors teaching 40 Photoshop classes over 5 days
Instructors include Bert Monroy, Matt Kloskowski, Jesús Ramirez, Corey Barker, Aaron Nace, Ben Willmore, Kristina Sherk, Sebastian Michaels, Glyn Dewis, Blake Rudis, Lisa Carney, Colin Smith, and many more
Every single training session is designed to take your Photoshop 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 | GET YOUR FREE PASS | GET INFO ON THE VIP PASS
Adobe MAX 2023 Creativity Conference (October 10-11, 2023)
Attend online sessions for free
100+ online sessions on Adobe products, including Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, Premiere, and more
Mainstage presentations
Creativity Super Sessions
Luminary sessions
Sponsor giveaways
ONLINE SESSION CATALOG | REGISTER FOR THE ONLINE EVENT
August 2023
PPC Members Recognized in State Fair of Texas Creative Arts Awards
On August 23, 2023, the State Fair of Texas released its list of 2023 Creative Arts Award winners.
There were several Plano Photography Club members honored in the Photography category, as follows:
BLACK & WHITE (K131. FLORA)
BLACK & WHITE (K132. CHILD / CHILDREN)
BLACK & WHITE, TEACHERS AND PROFESSIONALS (K150. PORTRAIT)
BLACK & WHITE, TEACHERS AND PROFESSIONALS (K152. ANY SUBJECT)
COLOR (K102. BIRDS)
COLOR (K109. PEOPLE)
COLOR (K110. RURAL)
COLOR (K121. WESTERN WEAR)
- 2nd: Debbie Conard
- HM: Larry Petterborg
COLOR (K122. STATE FAIR THEME)
COLOR, TEACHERS AND PROFESSIONALS (K144. PORTRAIT)
COLOR, TEACHERS AND PROFESSIONALS (K146. LANDSCAPE IN TEXAS / OTHER THAN IN TEXAS)
For a full list of winners, please visit the Creative Arts Awards results page. Congratulations to those listed above.
July 2023
PPC Member(s) Recognized in the July 2023 GSCCC Competition
The following Plano Photography Club member(s) received recognition in the July Gulf States Camera Club Council photo competition:
Monochrome Projected
1st HM: Portrait of Gordon and Veska - Vardan Aroustamian
To see the winning images and a full list of award recipients, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.
Take A Journey Into Early Photography
All club members are invited to experience a blast from the past by visiting the A.W. Perry Homestead Museum in Carrollton (map) for a special exhibit - "Through the Lens of Time: A Journey into Early Photography."
Explore the museum's 19th and 20th-century photography collection and the technology used to capture those images.
See how photography evolved from its humble beginnings during regular museum hours Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday from 11 AM - 1 PM CT.
Throughout the exhibition, guests will learn about how photography shaped our local and national history.
The exhibit - which is free for all ages - is open from July 11, 2023, through August 31, 2023.
PPC Contest Bootcamp
One of the best ways to improve your photography and get more out of your club membership is by competing in our monthly club contests. Receiving feedback from outside judges and seeing what others in the club are doing is a great way to learn.
But maybe you are intimidated by the prospect of choosing an image and putting it out for the world to see. To ease your worries, we would like to offer members in the Entry Competition Class access to individualized, private help with selecting and preparing images for club contests.
This includes - but is not limited to - selecting suitable photos for submission and making contest prints.
Master photographers in the club will act as mentors, providing feedback on potential contest entries and offering to print and mount your entries for the print contests (at cost).
If you are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity, please contact club Training Chair Dennis Fritsche.
The Dallas Center for Photography Says Goodbye
On Monday, July 3, 2023, Dallas Center for Photography (DCP) Founder/Executive Director Peter Poulides disclosed that the non-profit organization will close its doors in the coming weeks.
Here are excerpts from that announcement (read the full text):
"This is sad news to deliver, but DCP is coming to the end of its run. I founded our organization as a place where those who create and those who appreciate photography could come together to learn, share, or just enjoy this art so many of us have made part of our lives.
Over the past five years, we’ve welcomed thousands of people through our doors. If you are one of them, I hope you left with a little more excitement and appreciation for how the power of photography can enhance lives, even in small ways.
It is the natural course of things to rise and fall, to come into being and to pass away. Even as DCP was setting down strong roots in the greater arts community in Dallas, there was a growing gap between the resources supporting our organization and the financial needs of running it. [A]s a nonprofit, we are legally and morally charged with serving the community while being fiscally responsible and sustainable. It became increasingly clear that the gap couldn’t be managed, and shutting down now was the responsible thing to do for the organization and the community.
Along with the sadness of goodbye, I hope you will also celebrate our achievements as we mark five years of Dallas Center for Photography and the community that has grown up around it."
The DCP will continue with its scheduled classes and member events through July. Their last exhibition will open on July 22 and run through August 4.
June 2023
PPC Members Recognized in the June 2023 GSCCC Competition
The following Plano Photography Club members received recognition in the June Gulf States Camera Club Council photo competition:
Monochrome Projected
1st: Future-Uncertain - John Lehman
2nd: Don't Fall In - Jason Ware
Photojournalism Projected
1st HM: Before the Climb - Anita Oakley
To see the winning images and a full list of award recipients, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.
Updates to Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, and Camera Raw
On Tuesday, June 13, Adobe issued the following updates to the products covered under its Creative Cloud Photography Plan:
- Lightroom Classic v 12.4
- Easily add or remove Grain from a masked area of an image
- Make precise edits with the new Refine Saturation slider in Point Curve
- Get work done faster with Performance Improvements
- Support for new cameras and lenses
- Other enhancements
- Lightroom v 6.4
- Create edit replay in Lightroom for mobile
- Refine Saturation in Point Curve (Desktop only)
- Adjust Grain in a photo while using Masking (Desktop only)
- Support for new cameras and lenses
- Other enhancements
- Camera Raw v 15.4
- Fine-tune photos with Refine Saturation
- Easily add or remove Grain from a masked area of an image
- Support for new cameras and lenses
- Other feature enhancements
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:
DCC Holding Photography Exhibition This Month
The Dallas Camera Club is presenting its second annual photography exhibition and gallery show this month at the Goldmark Cultural Center in Dallas.
The show, "2023 Celebrating The Print," spotlights the photographic art of the club's members (some of whom are also members of the Plano Photography Club).
This year's exhibition includes 62 fine art prints from 34 photographers. The event and reception are free and open to the public.
Details are as follows:
Gallery Show Flyer (PDF)
Great Texas Balloon Race 2023
FULL ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE AND ADDITIONAL DETAILS
What if the Great Texas Balloon Race (GTBR) was combined with the US National Hot Air Balloon Championship and all of it took place in “The Balloon Capital of Texas?”
Ever chase behind a balloon team as they find a place to quickly set up, launch, and race to get to the first flag drop in the race?
We're inviting interested Plano Photography Club members to join us in Longview, Texas on Friday evening, June 16, 2023, and Saturday morning, June 17, 2023, for some amazing balloon photography.
Images From Last Year's GTBR: Alan Daniel - (mixed images including GTBR) | Cliff McKenzie | PPC Slideshow
Activities Schedule
Friday, June 16
A lot is happening, but the key events are the Special Shapes balloons at 8:15 PM and the Balloon Glow at 8:50 PM.
Saturday, June 17
Meet in front of the Maude Cobb Convention Center (100 Grand Blvd, Longview, TX 75604) at 6:15 AM. Look for fellow PPC photographers - they'll be the ones with a camera around their necks 😉. During the next 30 minutes, we will help you find a balloon team to "chase."
Follow your team to their launch site and after they take off, proceed to the “first drop.” You will have the first drop programmed into your smartphone.
After shooting balloons, wander off to downtown Longview and then Kilgore. It will be worth your time.
Meet the group at 11:00 AM at Country Tavern Barbecue (1526 Fm 2767, Kilgore, TX) (903.984.9954) for the Best Ribs in Texas.
Registration
IMPORTANT: Those planning to attend will need to register with the PPC (click the button below) to receive all club communications related to this event.
REGISTER WITH THE PPC FOR ALL COMMUNICATIONS RELATED TO THIS EVENT
Lodging
You are responsible for obtaining your own lodging (visitor guide/hotels and motels) for Friday evening.
FAQ
- How does this balloon event differ from the Plano Balloon Festival? The balloons take off.
- What if you only want to shoot the balloon race Saturday morning? You can, but do not be late.
Other Questions?
Contact Cliff McKenzie via email or phone (214.354.0795).
May 2023
PPC Members Recognized in the May 2023 GSCCC Competition
The following Plano Photography Club members received recognition in the May Gulf States Camera Club Council photo competition:
Color Projected
2nd HM: Half Dome's Summit Yosemite N.P. - Siu Wong
Nature Projected
1st: Mother's Love - Clive Fernando
Photojorunalism Projected
1st HM: Wings Over Dallas Mid-air Collision - Larry Petterborg
To see the winning images and a full list of award recipients, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.
2022-2023 End of Year Awards Announced
The following club members were honored during the PPC End of Year Awards at the May 18, 2023 club meeting.
Competition Class Winners
Winners were determined by the highest total image points from the ten monthly contests.
- Entry Level
- First Place: Eddie Yu
- Second Place: Maggie Hutchison
- Third Place: Rachel Allen
- Intermediate Level
- First Place: Parvin Stiles
- Second Place: Janice Goetz
- Third Place: Greg Rains
- Advanced Level
- First Place: David Swinney
- Second Place: Michael Farnham
- Third Place (tie): Mary Kell Ruehle / Jason Ware / Clive Fernando / Siu Wong
- Masters Level
- First Place: Anita Oakley
- Second Place: Dennis Fritsche
- Third Place (tie): Larry Petterborg / Nock Wong
Special Interest Contests
Members could submit one image in any or all 3 categories; there were 76 submissions this year.
- Nature (31 submissions)
- First Place: Greg Rains - "Rockwell Falls on the Hudson"
- Second Place: John Lehman - "coatimundi"
- Third Place: Jason Ware - "The Great Andromeda Galaxy"
- Portraits of People (23)
- First Place: Roger Begham - "Autumn Beauty"
- Second Place: Robert Shafer - "Mother and Son, Havana"
- Third Place: Mary Kell Ruehle - "Best Friends"
- Photojournalism (21)
- First Place: Larry Petterborg - "Wings Over Dallas Mid-air Collision"
- Second Place: Greg Rains - "Heavy Rescue"
- Third Place: Russell McGuire - "Where have all the workers gone?"
Images of the Year
Winners were chosen from all the first and second-place finishers in the 2022-2023 print and digital contests, respectively.
- Print Image
- First Place: Mary Kell Ruehle - "Farm to Table"
- Second Place: Greg Rains - "Peaceful Peggys Cave"
- Third Place: Jose Artiles - "Little Outhouse on the Prairie"
- Digital Image
- First Place: Christopher Stone - "The Light Is The Way"
- Second Place: John Copes - "2017 Spectaclet"
- Third Place: Jodi Smith - "Starry Night"
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 2022-2023 PPC Photographer of the Year is Eddie Yu.
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 2022-2023 PPC Presidential Recognition Award is Alan Daniel.
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 2022-2023 PPC Distinguished Service Award is Larry Petterborg.
Congratulations and thanks to all honorees mentioned above.
Change To Photographer of the Year Award Process
After a one-year study and many hours of work by several people, and in consideration of the club's continued growth, the Executive Council believes a change is needed in order to fairly determine the Photographer of the Year.
The new system will supplement the existing competition. It will essentially be a separate contest that considers all submitted images, no matter their Competition Level.
The revised process - effective with the 2023-2024 Competition Year - is as follows:
Each month, after completing the Competition Level scoring and awards, the judge will select the four best images, in their opinion, and give them a separate award as follows:
Best of Show - 5 points
2nd in competition - 3 points
3rd in competition - 2 points
Honorable Mention in competition - 1 point
Those point values will be totaled at the end of the year to determine the Photographer of the Year.
To enhance the prestige of this award the eligibility requirements for Photographer of the Year have been tightened - ALL TEN MONTHLY CONTESTS MUST BE ENTERED. This shouldn’t be a burden; all of the monthly contests can be entered in advance, not just during their contest month.
The current system for determining winners in each Competition Level and for advancement remains unchanged. A minimum of SIX monthly contests must still be entered.
April 2023
Club Officers Announced For 2023-2024
At the April 20, 2023 club meeting, members affirmed the following slate of officers and volunteers for the 2023-2024 PPC Club Year.
| President |
David Swinney |
| VP Activities |
Cliff McKenzie |
| VP Programs |
Greg Rains |
| Treasurer |
Jodi Smith |
| 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 |
Jerry Schlesinger |
| Historian |
Cindy Vaillancourt |
The club thanks outgoing officers Mary Ruehle, Michael Losurdo, and Sam Lucas for their service to the PPC.
Updates to Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, and Camera Raw
On Tuesday, April 18, Adobe issued the following updates to the products covered under its Creative Cloud Photography Plan:
- Lightroom v 6.3
- Easily remove noise from images using AI-powered Denoise (Desktop only)
- Make crisp edits using the new Masking enhancements (Desktop only)
- Improved video features (Desktop and mobile [IOS] only)
- Use Adaptive Presets to add a professional touch to your images
- Support for new cameras and lenses
- Lightroom Classic v 12.3
- Easily remove noise from images using AI-powered Denoise
- Make crisp edits using the new Masking enhancements
- Make precise edits with Curve
- Use Adaptive Presets to add a professional touch to your images
- Quickly identify all tools used to edit images
- Support for new cameras and lenses
- Camera Raw v 15.3
- Remove noise from photos using AI-powered Denoise
- Enhance facial hair and clothes with the People mask
- Support for new cameras and lenses
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:
The Election of Club Officers is Coming
The new club year begins on May 1, 2023.
At the upcoming April meeting, members in attendance will have the opportunity to vote on new officers and volunteers.
Here is the proposed slate of officers for 2023-2024:
| President |
David Swinney |
| VP Activities |
Cliff McKenzie |
| VP Programs |
Greg Rains |
| Treasurer |
Jodi Smith |
| 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 |
Jerry Schlesinger |
| Historian |
Cindy Vaillancourt |
If anyone else not listed here is interested in serving the club in some capacity, please contact club president David Swinney.
March 2023
What Comes After DPReview? There's Good News About That
As you may have heard, Amazon recently announced that on April 10, 2023, it would be shutting down DPReview, a well-known and respected website that provides valuable information and resources for photographers, including product reviews, photography news, and forums for discussion.
DPReview, which has been around for almost twenty-five years, housed some of the most complete data and knowledge related to digital cameras online.
The worldwide photography community was horrified by this news, as the loss of this website stood to remove a significant source of information and discussion from photographers of all levels.
Unsurprisingly, the internet has risen up to help retain the wealth of historical data currently found there, in the form of two new websites (with an assist from the Internet Archive):
- Digicam Finder
Your source of the most complete and accurate digital camera data on the internet (built and maintained by the DPReview community).
You can already search and filter all of the same 2,510 digital cameras that were on DPReview, using the same parameters. The goal was not just to preserve the data but to improve and extend it going forward. Digicam Finder is already 1) faster, 2) mobile-friendly, 3) has new data points, and, most importantly, 4) is open-sourced.
Soon, they will add Lenses, wire up more filters, pull in review data, and more.
- DPRevived
The structure of the DPReview discussion forums has been recreated there (without the original posts, unfortunately, but the community is being actively regenerated).
To get an overview of this effort and to see how to use these new resources, please take a look at the video embedded at right.
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 Saturday, April 22, 2023.
PPC Members Recognized in the March 2023 GSCCC Competition
The following Plano Photography Club members received recognition in the March Gulf States Camera Club Council photo competition:
Color Projected
2nd: Stairway to Heaven? - Russell McGuire
1st HM: Spiraling Thanksgiving - Cliff McKenzie
To see the winning images and a full list of award recipients, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.
Download The Free (But Dated) Version of the Nik Collection
During his March program presentation, Irwin Lightstone shared that his preferred software tool for black-and-white conversion was Silver Efex Pro, which is part of the Nik Collection plugins suite from DxO.
Google owned the product for a period of time in the early 2010s. When they chose to cease further development on it in 2016, they made their final release (known as Nik Collection 2016) available for free. They later sold the product rights to DxO which has since updated it multiple times and continues to sell it today.
DxO agreed to allow the continued distribution of the older version in hopes that it might drive customers to the newer product.
Club members may now download the Nik Collection 2016 from the club website if they want to try it out without the restrictions of a 30-day trial period.
Simply visit Resources | Photo Editing Software (Free) to access both the Mac (compatible with MacOS 10.7 and earlier) and Windows versions. Manuals for each of the included plugins are also available.
NOTE: This version of the Nik Collection is unsupported, and may not work with the latest versions of Adobe Photoshop.
February 2023
Plan Now For Annual Heard Nature Photography Contest
Jackie Ranney, Contest Marketing Coordinator for Heard Nature Photographers has asked us to share the following information with our members:
Have you been somewhere exciting lately? Visited a national or state park? Been to a zoo or aquarium? Visited your local arboretum? How about horseback riding in the woods? Been to a desert, the mountains, or on a cruise? There are lots of nature photography opportunities out there and chances are you've already taken advantage of them.
Now's the time to begin collecting new images and reviewing your past nature photography to submit in the 45th Annual Heard Nature Photography Contest in March 2023. After all, winning $100 cash for a Best of Show in your appropriate division isn't a bad deal! And even better, it’s all digital ... no printing, matting, delivery, or pickup! What could be more convenient?! And there’s something for everyone!
Note that there is no time limit for when the images were made and one does not have to be a member of the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary or of the Heard Nature Photographers Club in order to participate.
The fee for each submitted image (for adults) is $10 and proceeds from the contest benefit the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary.
To learn more about the contest, including the requirements for submitted photos, please visit the contest website, where you can also view winning images from the 2022 contest.
Updates to Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, and Camera Raw
On Tuesday, February 14, Adobe issued the following updates to the products covered under its Creative Cloud Photography Plan:
- Lightroom
- The February 2023 release of Lightroom desktop (version 6.2) and mobile (version 8.2) provides support for cameras, lenses, and bug fixes.
- In Lightroom for mobile (iOS), enhance videos using the Color Mix tool. Starting with version 8.2, Lightroom for mobile (iOS) will drop support for iOS version 14.
- In Lightroom for mobile (Android), you can access the new Adaptive Presets: Portrait. Also, easily navigate in the Edit view, and experience better edge support while cropping.
- In both Lightroom for mobile (iOS and Android), the healing brush no longer forces users into refine mode nor does it require tapping “done” between each stroke.
- Lightroom Classic v 12.2
- The February 2023 release of Lightroom Classic (version 12.2) provides support for new cameras, lenses, and bug fixes.
- Other Enhancements
- The Map module now shows lesser labels from Google, and Tracklog Time Offset now supports minutes.
- To undo changes in an image, holding Alt/Option key and selecting a step in History clears all steps above the selection.
- Support for exporting keywords with keyword tag options has been added.
- Experience improved keyword performance with more responsive keyword(s) workflows like addition, deletion, and search.
- Camera Raw
- The February 2023 release of Adobe Camera Raw (version 15.2) provides support for new bug fixes, cameras, and lenses.
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:
Special Training Opportunity - PSA Interclub Judging
The Plano Photography Club participates in the Photographic Society of America (PSA) Interclub Photo contests by submitting entries three times each year along with other photography clubs from around the world.
This month, we will also be a judging club and have the responsibility to score images for another group (not the one in which PPC is a competitor). Judging of projected color images will start on February 21, 2023, at 7:00 PM CT at the West Plano Presbyterian Church.
There will be a 3-member judging panel comprised of PPC Master Photographers scoring the entered photos. We anticipate that there be time at the end to ask our judges how they made their decisions and what they thought of the competition.
You are invited to come to this event to see some of the best images from other PSA-affiliated clubs and also to observe the judging process in real-time.
This will be a wonderful opportunity to see the judging process and become better acquainted with how judges think.
Volunteer Photographer Needed For McKinney Mardi Gras Dog Parade
Club member Terree Stone has asked that the following request be shared with all members:
Due to a scheduling conflict, a photographer is needed to take pictures of all (~100) contestants in the 21st Annual Krewe of Barkus Mardi Gras Dog Parade in McKinney, on Sunday afternoon, February 19, 2023.
Entrants are photographed from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM CT at a designated place in downtown McKinney's Dr. Glen Mitchell Park.
The parade is from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, with lots of opportunities for candid shots. There is an awards ceremony after the parade and this year there is an unveiling of a Benji statue.
This is a volunteer gig, but you will have the opportunity to sell copies of the images from your website.
If you are interested or want more information please contact Blynda Christian via email or text (214-675-7691). Blynda needs to get a commitment as soon as possible.
This is one of the most fun events I’ve ever attended!
January 2023
PPC Members Recognized in the January 2023 GSCCC Competition
The following Plano Photography Club members received recognition in the Gulf States Camera Club Council January photo competition:
Color Projected
1st HM: Sea Town - Sanjay Kaul
Monochrome Projected
2nd HM: The White Queen - Fred Manchester
Nature Projected
3rd: Here I Come - Alan Daniel
To see the winning images and a full list of award recipients, please visit the GSCCC competition results page. Congratulations to those listed above.
The North Texas Irish Festival Is Seeking Volunteers
The PPC will once again make photographer passes available to members for The North Texas Irish Festival (NTIF) in March of this year. More to come on that later.
But right now, we want to make you aware of the many volunteer opportunities available at the festival and a quickly approaching volunteer meeting where you can learn even more.
From the NTIF Volunteers web page:
Volunteers
Volunteer applications are now being sought for NTIF 2023. We have all kinds of openings available for all age groups and for families, church groups, singles groups, corporate groups, etc.
Why Volunteer
First and foremost - we all have a lot of fun! NTIF is a family, and we welcome everyone to become part of our family. Quite a few of our volunteers have been with us for years, and their children are now doing their part as volunteers, having grown up with us. Family indeed.
For each 3-to-4-hour shift worked you will receive a free beverage of your choice at the Festival. One 3-hour shift gets you free admission into the Festival on the day of your shift. Two or more 3-to-4-hour shifts get you free admission into the Festival on all three days plus you will receive a free NTIF volunteer T-shirt. We also have a limited number of free, close-in parking spaces - the earlier you sign up the more likely you will get free parking.
Many of our volunteers return year after year, often to work in the same area, but sometimes they like to try something new. Whatever your preference, you are a welcome member of one of the most dedicated and hard-working families in Texas.
How to Volunteer
New volunteers can either sign up online or just attend one of the volunteer orientation sessions planned for Sunday, January 29, 2023. Even if you sign up online attending the volunteer meetings is a good way to become reacquainted with old friends and get the latest information on what we are planning for this year's festival. If we get to the printers in time, you could also get your T-shirt early, plus a chance to buy more NTIF-branded items at a discounted price.
The 2023 NTIF Volunteer Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 29, 2023, at our host hotel, the Doubletree by Hilton Campbell Centre. The hotel is located at 8250 N. Central Expressway, Dallas, TX. Coordinators and Managers meet from 1 – 2 pm, followed by the general volunteers meeting. We will be meeting in the Ballroom located just behind the front desk reception area. We look forward to seeing everyone and kicking off NTIF 2023! Please check our Meeting page for more information.
We'll be sharing additional information about the club's visit to the North Texas Irish Festival very soon. Keep your eyes peeled.
Seeking Photographers For Dallas Quilt Show In March
Club member Jan de Meulder has asked that the following request be shared with all members:
For the last several years a small group of volunteer photographers, mostly PPC, have been covering the Dallas Quilt Show, by taking pictures of the 350+ quilts in competition and providing timely quality shots to post on the official Dallas Quilt Show website and related social media.
With a couple of volunteers not being available this year, Sam Lucas and I are looking for two (2) additional volunteers to take ~100 quilt pictures on the late afternoon/early evening of Thursday, March 9, 2023 and early Friday morning, March 10.
Maybe there are new club members who would enjoy something new and challenging (i.e., taking lots of shots under time pressure, with changing sizes, challenging light from the late sun or neon lights, alternating flash, and tripod, and so on…).
We also need to post-process them all in Adobe Lightroom, and manually frame the picture for every shot.
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.
PPC Training is Back
Our online training and in-person training sessions return this week after a well-deserved rest.
Once again, we greatly appreciate all of the instructors who have given their time and shared their knowledge. And a big thanks to all of you who attend and participate - it makes it fun.
We are starting 2023 with some strong live and online classes, as listed below.
| Thursday |
January 12 |
Online DCC/PPC |
Dennis Fritsche - New Masking Tools in LR Classic |
| Thursday |
January 19 |
Live |
Irwin Lightstone - Macro Photography |
| Carol Barlow - New and Prospective Member Orientation |
| Tuesday |
January 17 |
Online DCC/PPC |
Anita Oakley - Editing a Storm Photo |
| Thursday |
January 26 |
Online DCC/PPC |
Larry Petterborg - What Judges Look For |
| Thursday |
February 16 |
Live |
Dennis Fritsche - Shot Discipline and Support
|
Up-to-date training information is always available on the club's Training/Education page.
Invitation to Create New Website Banners
We are inviting all club members to create some new banners for use on the PPC website in 2023.
This year we are opening the contributions up to include your favorite photos from anywhere in the world - not just the city of Plano.
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)
- 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.
Tim Grey Webinar: "New Year's Resolutions for Lightroom Classic"
On January 11, 2023, starting at 1:00 PM Eastern Time, Tim will be hosting a free online presentation on the referenced topic.
During the presentation he will share tips to help you start the year off right with optimal settings and workflow practices.
Along the way Tim will be happy to answer questions from those attending the live online gathering.
If you'd like to join him for this educational presentation, or get access to an archived recording afterward, please complete the form here:
https://timgrey.me/webinar230111