This picture reminds me of the first photographic advice I received from my photojournalism instructor too many years ago. He said, “Go early. Stay late. Step into the crowd.”

Sean D. Elliot / The Day via AP
Sharon Preuss greets her son, Jason Preuss, after she pinned on his badge during a swearing-in for new firefighters for the New London, Conn., Fire Department, Jan. 7, 2011, in the City Council Chambers. Three of the seven new firefighters were hired to fill vacancies, and the other four were hired using federal grant money.