Vintage in the Valley 2016

For the second year in a row, our friends at the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley asked us to photograph their major annual fundraising event, Vintage in the Valley.

Hosted this year, as last, at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, the event brings together major donors and local media personalities in an exciting event to support the Club and to hear about some of the work the Club does to benefit children and families in the area. And, speaking of that, the Club serves over 12,000 children the Fox Valley. The importance of the Club to the kids it serves can't be overstated.

Hosting this year's event was Bill Jartz, news anchor for WBAY TV, the ABC affiliate in Green Bay. Jartz is also known as the Voice of Lambeau Field for Green Bay Packer home games.

This event again drew a sizable crowd who enjoyed a great meal and great wine.

Among the dishes served was a nicely prepared fillet mignon, with shrimp, asparagus and potatoes.

After the meal, Club CEO Greg Lemke-Rochon and Bill Jartz began the program. Below, Greg greets Bill as the event gets underway.

Part of the evening's program included an interview conducted by Greg Lemke-Rochon with Messiah Morning, the Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year for 2015.

Leading the fundraising auction, John Sweeney, author of the book The Innovative Mindset, brought energy, and his family, to the stage.

Earlier, we caught John Sweeney preparing for the night.

Working the crowd, Bill Jartz rallied attendees.

Once again, this was a great event, and it raised significant funding for a worthy and important organization. As for our shooting strategy, Denise covered the event with the Canon 7D mounting the EF 50mm f/1.8 "nifty fifty" and the EF 100mm f/2.8 L macro. Meanwhile, for the most part I shot with the 5D Mark III paired with the EF 135 f/2.0 L, switching occasionally to the EF 35mm f/2.0 IS. All great lenses in their own way, but, as nearly everyone who uses it agrees, that EF 135 f/2.0 L is special indeed.