The mantra of many journalists who want to gain insight into, not just cover a story is 'Go early, stay late.' Its not something we always get to do. I often am hitting an event briefly before a sporting event or on my way back to the office before deadline, but when there is time it usually lends to either a better picture or at least an unexpected one--it always leads to a better understanding of your subject. This picture was taken before a forum style question and answer period with the democrat candidates for commissioner of Crawford County this evening. They were drawing numbers for the rotation of answering the questions posed by the panel in front of a small crowd. The actual forum was visually unimpressive and the ability to get behind the candidates was nearly impossible in order to show the whole story in a good way--if I did I would've been very disruptive to the event. So having this photograph made me feel better than just having the stage with three candidates behind a white clothed table against a blank wall with plastic plants and a window with some gawdy wooden shutter on the inside(describing it makes it sound more interesting than I thought--maybe I missed a picture actually??). I even tried to stay late because I caught wind of a person wanting to get all three candidates together for one informal question afterwards, but it never did happen--i needed a shot that showed all three and I know I missed several good picture possibilities trying to wait for this to happen. Had I not gone early the only pictures I would've gotten would have come from the forum and done little to gain more insight into the character of the subjects. Meadville Tribune photograph by Richard Sayer.