I was hired to shoot some of the festivities surrounding the Star Spangled Spectacular in Baltimore celebrating the bicentennial of the Star Spangled Banner.  Tall ships and vessels from around the globe were anchored in the Inner Harbor for the festival providing many options for great images.  My main assignment was the fireworks.  I was granted access to the rooftop of a building on Pratt Street.  Twelve stories up provided a nice vantage point.  My view of the fireworks ignited from the barge anchored in the middle of the Inner Harbor was obstructed by the World Trade Center, but it was the correct position for the specific images I needed.  The show was incredible.  I got the images I needed even though the fireworks produced a bit more (actually, a ton more) smoke than I expected.  Still, Baltimore produced an incredible display stretching from the Inner Harbor to the Key Bridge.  Below are a few images from the few hours I was there.  The celebration is actually a week long.  I wish I had more time to visit some of the other festivities.

Take Care,

Two above images: the Kalmar Nyckel, out of Wilmington, DE.   http://www.kalmarnyckel.org/

The USCG Barque Eagle, WIX 327, out of New Loundon, CT.    http://www.cga.edu/eagle/

View of the The National Aquarium and the Inner Harbor, Baltimore.   http://www.aqua.org/

Photographing the National Aquarium.

Pratt Street and the Inner Harbor, Baltimore.

Fireworks over the Inner Harbor, Baltimore.

Set up for some shots before the fireworks.

Sailors enjoying a bit of leave.