Marblehead’s Annual Fireworks display became an instant favorite and ‘must shoot’ event when we moved to Marblehead in 2008. Since then, I’ve shot the fireworks from various angles and locations. I had an idea for capturing this year’s show from the air but my night clearance from the FAA took longer than anticipated. Instead, I headed out the Pleon Yacht Club and fount a perfect spot from which to capture our show, the Beverly one in the distance as well as our lighthouse lit up for the night.
Another shot from this night became much more of a favorite but you’ll have to stay tuned for that one…
My original thoughts on this photo:
Earlier today, I shared images taken during past fireworks shows and realized there was a perfect spot on the Neck from which I could capture this year’s fireworks over Marblehead harbor. I made sure to scout out this spot at the Pleon Yacht Club earlier in the day during high tide to figure out compositions that would be available tonight. Shortly after 8pm, I left the party we had been attending on the Neck (site of the 2015 fireworks shots) and biked down to Foster Street.
I arrived in time to capture the harbor illumination with flares on either side of me. I captured them across the harbor at Crocker Park and next door at the Eastern Yacht Club. As I finished up shooting the flares, the first volley of fireworks went up over the harbor. Over the next 25 minutes, I shot from various spots along the large pier and lucked out with this exposure toward the middle of the show. My timing captured a volley of fireworks over Marblehead harbor as well as the distant show in Beverly (I think). You can make out a group of spectators on the float of the Eastern Yacht Club taking in the show as well as Marblehead Light decked out in its new led lighting reflecting in the still waters of the harbor.