Dragon’s Breath

A fun start to the New Year with a fortunate capture during the annual Epiphany tree burning. I normally post first thing in the morning but this seemed more fitting as an evening share... I have shot the Christmas tree bonfire from almost every angle over the past few years since its resumption - slightly above from the Neck Run Cafe, across the water from Red Steps off Cliff Street and way above with my drone. I hadn't yet shot from across the causeway and so that was my destination on Thursday, January 6. I arrived to my spot before [...]

By Eyal Oren|2022-01-09T17:30:50-05:00January 9th, 2022|Categories: Traditions|Tags: bonfire, epiphany, Riverhead beach, tradition|0 Comments

Under the Gathering Clouds

Last night's storm brought to mind this outing in mid-August when gathering clouds made the sky nearly as interesting as the harbor. I had arrived at Riverhead Beach just as a storm approached and shot a few frames before heading out for other locations and lucked out with a great sunset and rainbow at Castle Rock. Here I decided to include more of the sky than the harbor but love that I could fit both Abbot Hall and Marblehead Light in the composition.

By Eyal Oren|2020-11-15T21:53:25-05:00November 16th, 2020|Categories: Storm|Tags: clouds, Riverhead beach|1 Comment

Epiphany Tree Burning – Tonight at Riverhead Beach

The annual Epiphany tree burning takes place tonight (Monday, January 6) at 6:30pm at Riverhead Beach. The town has been collecting Christmas trees for the past two weeks and piling them at Riverhead for this annual bonfire tradition. Watching trees burn raises a number of environmental concerns but, interestingly, the bonfire is far preferable to placing them in a landfill and is pretty much net carbon neutral according to The Carbon Trust: For a 2 metre tall real Christmas tree, with no roots, the carbon footprint is 16kg CO2e if it ends up in landfill. This is because the tree [...]

By Eyal Oren|2020-01-05T21:17:51-05:00January 6th, 2020|Categories: Traditions|Tags: bonfire, epiphany, Riverhead beach, trees|0 Comments

Epiphany Bonfire at Riverhead Beach

Last night, the annual Epiphany tree burning took place with collected Christmas trees arranged in a pile at Riverhead Beach and set aflame with flares to create a massive Epiphany bonfire. I brought my kids with me and we separated while they watched and I searched for new vantage points to shoot the huge flames and gathered crowd. I tried walking over to the causeway but the 20 mph winds were throwing smoke and embers in that direction so I had to come up with a plan B. I shot a few frames as well as a short video from [...]

By Eyal Oren|2024-01-07T18:02:58-05:00January 7th, 2019|Categories: Traditions|Tags: bonfire, Christmas, epiphany, Riverhead beach, trees|1 Comment

Epiphany Tree Burning – Tonight at Riverhead Beach

The annual Marblehead Epiphany tree burning is tonight at Riverhead Beach. The tradition of lighting collected Christmas trees resumed in 2016 and has been taking place on January 6th every year since (with the one exception last year when it was delayed 2 days due to arctic cold - remember that?) This image was captured last year when the delay meant the tree burning took place under falling snow and made for some incredible photo opportunities. I was set up across the street at the Neckrun Cafe where the slight elevation combined with my longest lens allowed me some really [...]

By Eyal Oren|2019-01-02T20:48:49-05:00January 6th, 2019|Categories: Traditions|Tags: Christmas, epiphany, people, Riverhead beach, tree|3 Comments

Looking out at the Harbor

As the calendar inches toward April, I have been awed by how empty Marblehead harbor remains. Much of that is due to the repeated Nor'Easters that have marked the start of spring. The lack of boats made me stop at this image in my 'to be published' folder. I captured this shot from the rocky shores of Riverhead Beach on a mid-August evening. I could not have asked for better light with the incredible clouds reflecting the late light of day and spilling that light down onto the harbor. The expansive view includes much of mainland Marblehead and the Neck [...]

By Eyal Oren|2018-03-25T17:18:26-04:00March 26th, 2018|Categories: Sunset|Tags: Marblehead Harbor, Riverhead beach, sunset|6 Comments

Epiphany Bonfire in the Falling Snow

Tonight's epiphany bonfire in the falling snow couldn't have been more magical and I almost gave up on shooting it... I made it home from work a little after 5 and had enough time to change and drop off my son at basketball practice before heading to Riverhead beach and the annual (though belated) epiphany bonfire. I arrived as the first flames rose from the pile of Christmas trees and turned into the Devereux parking lot only to find far more parked cars and far less room than I expected. I turned into what appeared to be the last open [...]

By Eyal Oren|2018-01-08T20:17:44-05:00January 8th, 2018|Categories: Traditions|Tags: bonfire, epiphany, Riverhead beach, snow, tradition|8 Comments

Summer Sunsets are the Best (name this beach)

Today's image comes from a never-ending Summer sunset that took place on July 18th. I started shooting this sunset at 8pm on Parker Lane and it finally finished up at 8:18pm as I made my way to the small beach along the harbor on the Neck side of the causeway. I guess this is still considered part of Riverhead Beach as I can't find any other names for this small beach. If you know of its proper name, please let me know.

By Eyal Oren|2017-05-30T21:06:51-04:00May 31st, 2017|Categories: Beach|Tags: beach, Riverhead beach, sunset|3 Comments

Epiphany Bonfire at Riverhead Beach

For the second year in a row, the town of Marblehead gathered its Christmas trees onto Riverhead Beach and set them ablaze in the tradition of the Epiphany bonfire. This annual tradition took place for years until the new causeway was built and then was put on hiatus until its resumption last year. That was the first time I had the pleasure of witnessing the massive bonfire of Christmas trees with families gathered to witness the beautiful sight. With a new Phantom 4 Pro in hand, I decided to capture this year's Epiphany bonfire from the air. I set off [...]

By Eyal Oren|2017-01-06T19:44:48-05:00January 6th, 2017|Categories: Aerial|Tags: aerial, bonfire, Riverhead beach, tradition|20 Comments

Top 10 of 2016 – #8 – The Christmas Tree Bonfire

We moved to Marblehead in May 2008 just as the causeway was being re-built and, as such, had never witnessed the annual Christmas Tree bonfire tradition. On January 6, the tradition was resumed and I was awed by the site of the incredible bonfire and, even more, the gathered crowd reflected in the flame light. Here is #8 in my Top 10 of 2016 countdown - make sure you visit Riverhead Beach on Friday, January 6 for the 2017 edition of the bonfire.

By Eyal Oren|2016-12-18T10:32:13-05:00December 21st, 2016|Categories: Favorite|Tags: bonfire, Christmas, favorite, Riverhead beach, tradition|10 Comments