A note about our cover this week: Mike Ritter is a Dorchester resident and a fantastic freelance photographer. He is frequently called upon to cover some of the region’s biggest events.

Last year, he decided to turn his talents loose on one of his favorite hometown events: our own Dorchester Day Parade, which he has enjoyed as both a spectator and a participant since 2005.

“So many different people come together to celebrate Dorchester,” Ritter explained in a post last year. “I began thinking I’d like to photograph the parade crowd but in a more formal way than snapshots or street photography.”

In consultation with the Dorchester Day Parade Committee— and with help from his intern, Melissa— Mike used special equipment to take portraits of willing subjects along the parade route.

He took scores of photos that day and posted some his work on a Facebook page. It’s an outstanding record of the event that day and of the wonderful diversity of our community. We are pleased to present a sample of Mike’s work from last year’s Dot Day on our front page this week.

He plans to be back out on the parade route this Sunday for the next installment in his Dot Day project. Watch for him— and don’t be shy!

Bill Forry is the editor and publisher of the Dorchester Reporter.