The Fourth of July is an amazing time of year to spend in Marblehead and is easily my favorite weekend for photographing the town.  The fireworks display often takes center stage but the harbor illumination that takes place beforehand is such a unique and beautiful tradition, that I’ve made it a point to try to capture it as well.

In 2015, I was on Marblehead Neck on July 4th and started off at this spot on Corinthian Lane capturing the flares lighting up the harbor in the last moments of dusk.  Hydrangeas in full bloom made for a perfect foreground with a harbor filled with boats helping balance the image.  The smoke from flares filled an otherwise clear dusk sky.

This image of the harbor illumination is #7 in the Top 10 of 2015 Countdown.