(Sometimes)

This past weekend was July 4th weekend. The big show sponsored by Macy’s took place on the East River between Brooklyn & Manhattan, with a whopping production cost of $6 million. I heard about the road closures & wasn’t on assignment that day, so couldn’t get myself to tackle the crowds & barricades…

That’s when I read about the local fireworks planned in Coney Island. Good thing it happened the same evening as Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest, which I was planning to photograph at noon. I got to take an editing break in between, heading back out shortly before the evening show.

There were many more people than I had imagined, and I got overwhelmed on the boardwalk. But getting to the beach, I quickly became enchanted by the atmosphere. I stumbled upon V. who was selling $1 sparklers to spectators with her children, and tagged along for a bit.

👉 When a big social event takes place, do you ask yourself what it could look like at a smaller, community scale? At the nearby park? The local diner? Your neighbor’s house?

It helps transform a widely relatable moment—often depicted in similar ways—into something more personal and memorable.

(See more on Instagram: here and here)