Another Fourth of July has come and gone and, with it, another incredible fireworks display over the harbor.  I struggled in choosing a spot for this year’s show.  I had previously shot twice from Chandler Hovey park and once from Fort Sewall.  After scouting areas early this week, I decided on Crocker Park.  As I did in the past two years, I sought a vantage point from which I could include the crowd.  I found that seeing people in the image helped pull me in and make me feel like I was there (well, you know what I mean).

I set up on the rocks at Crocker Park and fiddled with settings as the first firework erupted.  I quickly adjusted and tried to capture one with its tail.  This was the best image that I captured during the early part of the show (and the blue hour).  You can make out the flares lining the harbor beginning at the lighthouse.

Only later did I realize that by shooting from this side of the harbor I had missed out on Mother Nature’s show with lightning illuminating us and competing with the fireworks for attention.  I did see plenty of lightning on the quick bike ride home though.  Enjoy this image until next year…