For the last two years I have volunteered as The Nature Conservancy's official photographer for their Hoochie fundraising event. In case you aren't familiar with TNC, you can learn more here. TNC is a conservation organization that, since its founding in 1951, has protected more than 119 million acres of land, 5,000 miles of rivers, and operates more than 100 marine conservation projects globally.
Our dear friend, Erin Vilines, is the event coordinator for the Hoochie and has pulled off an absolutely fabulous party two years in a row in the heart of Buckhead. Despite this year's toretial thunderstorm, the plans still went perfectly. In fact, the party was such a success that people didn't even notice the rain... until they had to get to their car.
Steve Hein with the Birds of Prey show was conducting hands down the best photobombs I've ever seen with this live bald eagle.
...and this was the moment I considered taking fewer photos with my flash.
One of the guests of honor was Chuck Leavell. Chuck is co-founder of The Mother Nature Network, an environmental news and information website that launched in January 2009. He is also most famous for playing keyboard with the likes of the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, and the Allman Brothers. He wasn't there to play, but was gracious enough to kick the night off with a blues riff and the Bradley Cole Smith Band.
To finish off, I cannot begin to tell you how amazing locally grown fresh hot pralines are. Possibly the best thing I've ever eaten.
