Fireworks

Marblehead Fourth

This will be the first year since moving to Marblehead that I will miss the annual fireworks show. With that in mind, I thought I would share an image from last year's show that was years in the making and ended up offering me a completely new prospective on a Marblehead Fourth of July celebration. I purchased my drone several years ago and, shortly thereafter, obtained my drone pilot license for commercial photography. It was then that I realized what hurdles I would need to pass in order to realize this shot that I had envisioned. I had to devise [...]

By |2019-06-16T19:58:13-04:00July 4th, 2019|Categories: Fireworks|Tags: , , , |12 Comments

July Fourth Harbor Illumination

I've said it before but it bears repeating, my favorite part of the annual Independence Day celebration in Marblehead is the July fourth harbor illumination. In 2015, I had set up along Corinthian Lane and captured this 160 megapixel panorama of the entirety of Marblehead harbor lit with flares. The resolution on this image is incredible with 1:1 views showing people at Crocker Park! Hope you have a good spot picked out to celebrate the Fourth of July in Marblehead.

By |2019-06-23T14:06:41-04:00July 3rd, 2019|Categories: Traditions, Fireworks|Tags: , , |7 Comments

Magical Illumination

With temperatures due to pass 90 today and tomorrow, I was in the mood to look back at images from an equally warm Fourth of July this year. I have only shared one image of the harbor illumination that took place that night and thought this image would be a nice way to start the week. The sight of red flares lighting up the harbor remains my favorite part of the July 4th festivities in Marblehead. This year, I was able to capture the magical illumination on both sides of the harbor from my spot along the causeway and with [...]

By |2018-08-05T22:46:14-04:00August 6th, 2018|Categories: Fireworks|Tags: , , |10 Comments

Abbot over the Flares – Annual Harbor Illumination

Fireworks are used to celebrate Independence Day in just about every town in the United States but the annual harbor illumination makes Marblehead a truly unique spot to celebrate the birth of this country. I had decided to shoot the show from the causeway this year in large part because it offered some new vantage points for capturing the red flares encircling the harbor. At 8:45pm the red lights began to glow and hit their peak at 9:00pm. I was able to capture images of Marblehead Light, Fort Sewall, and this one of Abbot Hall standing tall over the flares [...]

By |2018-07-05T20:46:15-04:00July 6th, 2018|Categories: Fireworks|Tags: , , |0 Comments

Marblehead Fireworks from the Causeway

I had grand plans for this year's Marblehead fireworks show and spent a week planning and prepping for the show. I had received a waiver from the FAA for flying at night and planned to try to shoot the show from the air with a backup plan to have my real camera on the ground.  Good thing I had a backup plan... So to prep for using the drone, I visited the causeway at night to practice flying and focusing as well as figure out settings. I also practiced launching and catching the drone by hand to make I could [...]

By |2018-07-04T22:41:44-04:00July 4th, 2018|Categories: Fireworks|Tags: , , , |1 Comment

Flares around the Harbor

I'm not sure about anyone else but time seems to be flying by as we approach the Fourth of July. The Festival of Arts begins this weekend and fireworks are due to be fired over the harbor in one week! I decided to look back in my 'to be published' folder for images from past Julys and found this shot of the harbor illumination with lit flares around the harbor leading up to the fireworks show. The harbor illumination is my favorite part of the night as it is such a unique Marblehead tradition. If you want to scout out [...]

By |2018-06-26T20:03:09-04:00June 27th, 2018|Categories: Fireworks|Tags: , , |0 Comments

Independence Day in Marblehead

I hope no one is tired of images from Independence Day in Marblehead.  Having decided to shoot from the Pleon pier this year, I had almost too many vantage points from which to capture the incredible display.  I shared my favorite shot of fireworks and an image of the harbor illumination but in this image, I was able to capture both (plus an illuminated Marblehead Light as a bonus). As this shot was taken early in the festivities (9:06pm), the flares were still going strong.  You can easily see the bright red glow along the edge of the pier but [...]

By |2017-07-16T20:55:29-04:00July 19th, 2017|Categories: Fireworks|Tags: , , |6 Comments

Lighting up the Eastern Yacht Club during the Harbor Illumination

While the Marblehead fireworks display is an impressive show (and this year's seemed especially awesome), I'm a much bigger fan of the harbor illumination that immediately precedes it.  One of the reasons I decided to shoot from the Pleon this year was its multiple vantage points for capturing the red flares encircling and illuminating Marblehead harbor. As the flares began to glow at 8:45pm, I shot toward Abbot Hall and then worked my way around.  Before long, there appeared a nearly endless display of glowing flares around the Eastern Yacht Club.  With the flares along the pier in the foreground, [...]

By |2017-07-05T20:08:16-04:00July 6th, 2017|Categories: Fireworks|Tags: , , |14 Comments

Fireworks over Marblehead Harbor

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 [...]

By |2017-07-04T22:26:04-04:00July 4th, 2017|Categories: Fireworks|Tags: , , |21 Comments

Marblehead Fireworks – Best Places to Watch the Show

After ten years of shooting the Marblehead fireworks display, I realized I haven't create a single page from which one could find the best places to watch what is easily the best show on the Fourth of July.  Below you will find photos from each of the major locations around Marblehead Harbor from which to watch the Independence day celebration that takes place each year on July 4th beginning with a harbor illumination beginning at around 8:45pm and the fireworks display at 9:00pm. Check the map at the bottom of the page for each location. [...]

By |2017-07-04T08:13:57-04:00July 4th, 2017|Categories: Fireworks|13 Comments