I had the amazing opportunity of photographing the 4th Annual Art Auction at Project Create, a non-profit organization in DC.  For those unfamiliar with the program, it assists DC's homeless children by giving them the gift of art.  They offer art programs staffed with dedicated teachers who make a difference in their lives by introducing them to an artistic experience.  It's a wonderful concept, and brilliantly executed by all those who give themselves wholeheartedly to the program. 

I am not much of an event photographer.  Indoors at night with artificial light and hoards of people is a little bit of a nightmare. for me and my particular equipment  For this, people were there to eat, drink, and bid on art for a good cause.  I refused to use an obnoxious flash, and didn't want to "pose" anyone, and also didn't want to catch them drinking or eating.  This was a difficult feat, mainly because instead of the wine & cheese that most of these events offer, Project Create had a TON of delicious food, from fruit and cheese to meatballs and chicken skewers.  I was too busy to drink more than a few sips of Diet Coke but my husband/trusty assistant made the rounds and confirmed that everything was as delectable as it smelled. :) 

I tried to remain as unobtrusive as possible, focusing in whenever I saw people studying the fantastic paintings on the walls or laughing in small groups.  And there were a LOT of laughs...people really seemed to enjoy themselves last night.  I hope that means they raised a lot of $$$ for the kids!!! :)

I ended up with roughly 200 pics and I pray they are what Project Create was hoping for!  My favorites are below.  :)  If you believe that all children are entitled to artistic exposure, please consider making a donation to this truly worthy cause:

http://projectcreatedc.org/get-involved/donate/

To see the complete event photographs, please visit my SmugMug gallery: 
http://gildedlily.smugmug.com/Photography/Events/Project-Create-2012/22777357_gfSndd