Did you attend the Plano Balloon Festival from September 17-20?

If so, we want to feature your favorite images from the event in the slide gallery displayed on the right.

Photo submission: Send your best 5-7 photos to ppcsendphotos@gmail.com for posting in the gallery and viewing in a slideshow at a future club meeting.

Include YOUR NAME and the TOPIC in the file name(s), such as Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier_Balloons_1.jpg.

The maximum dimension (long edge) is 4096 pixels; the maximum individual file size is 10 MB.

Submission deadline: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026.

We look forward to seeing your photos from this popular annual event.

2025 State Fair of Texas photo by Pat Coble

Ready to flex your creativity?

Here’s a fun DIY challenge for all club members: take your camera or phone to the State Fair of Texas (September 25 - October 18) in Dallas' historic Fair Park and see what eye-catching shots you can capture.

This is a perfect chance to wander at your own pace, experiment, and let your imagination guide you.

The official 2026 State Fair of Texas commemorative theme and slogan is "Stars, Stripes, and Howdies!" This patriotic theme honors both the United States' 250th birthday and the State Fair's 140th anniversary.

Here’s how to get started:

• Pick Your Day(s)/Time: Head out solo or pair up with a friend—whatever feels right for you!
• Hunt for Inspiration: Look for quirky details, fun street scenes, neon lights, wild food, and anything else that grabs your attention.
• Try Something New: Play with different angles, try unique camera settings, or focus on a theme (like “textures,” “faces,” or “patterns”).
• Share What You Find: After your adventure, gather your best photos and share them for inclusion in a gallery on the club website. Everyone’s unique perspective will make for a great show!

Whether you go to the fair every year or it’s your first time, there’s always something cool to discover. Take it at your own speed, have fun with the process, and don’t be afraid to get creative.

Let’s see what amazing DIY fair images we can collect as a club! 

After you visit the fair, please send your best five to seven (5-7) photos from your experience(s); we will add them to a gallery on the club website and include them in a slideshow at a future club meeting. 

Include YOUR NAME and the TOPIC in the file name(s), such as ThomasMarsalis_StateFair_1.jpg. The maximum dimension (long edge) is 4096 pixels; the maximum file size is 10 MB.

Send all photos to ppcsendphotos@gmail.com; the submission deadline is Sunday, October 25, 2026.

Questions? Contact Club Activity Chair Lily Mak.

The Plano Photography Club announced the award recipients of its August contest during the club's monthly meeting on Thursday, September 17, 2026.

Detailed results are listed below; honored photographs are visible on the right.

Congratulations to the awardees, and thank you to all competitors.

• 1st: We are the same you and I - Adam Johnson
• 2nd: Red Sunset - Michael Ybarra
• 3rd: Getting Festive for the Fourth - David Prichard
• HM: Rose Reflection - Bernadette Dozier

• 1st: African Grey Heron on the Chobe River - Gary Allen (Honorable Mention Overall)
• 2nd: Back-lit Heron - Chris Fitch
• 3rd: Reddish Egret's Early Morning Dance - Rachel Allen
• HM: Echoes - Ray Davidson
• HM: Oregon Coast in Fog - Melanie Sandager

• 1st: Celebrating the 4th with a Twist - Daniel Dailey (2nd Place Overall)
• 2nd: Lines & Curves - Kay Hale (3rd Place Overall)
• 3rd: Double Strike - Heidi Heisel
• HM: Ready for Some Jazz - Lynn Barrett
• HM: Fast food - Dennis Hahn

• 1st: Portrait in White - Nancy Mack (Best of Show)
• 2nd: Caught-in-the-web - John Lehman
• 3rd: Catfish for Dinner - Alan Daniel
• HM: Route 66 Gas Station Ruins - Lois Lehman
• HM: Charlotte - Larry Petterborg

Full-Screen Slideshow Gallery of Photos Judge's Commentary Standings - All Levels

After a summer like this one, I am ready for fall.

Alan Daniel

September 1 marked the first day of meteorological fall, while astronomical autumn begins September 22. In other words, we probably have at least three more weeks of hot weather. 

The good news is that soon you will not have to stay inside processing images from your last outing. We have several photography opportunities planned for this month.

Last month, members got an early preview of one of our September activities at crew training for the Plano Balloon Festival. It was a fun morning with close-up views of several hot air balloons launching. This year’s festival (and our DIY activity) runs September 17–20.

At the end of September, a group of members will head to Colorado for a weeklong outing filled with opportunities to capture stunning images—and come home with a few good stories.

If you cannot join us, consider visiting the State Fair of Texas early. It opens September 25 and runs through mid-October. Be sure to stop by the photography exhibit in the Creative Arts Building to see the winning prints submitted by several of our members.

Attendance at our monthly meetings remains strong. Thank you to the visitors and new members who have joined us, and to all our members for making the Plano Photography Club such a fun and welcoming place.

Cooler weather is coming in October. I hope.