This monochrome photograph divides the frame into three horizontal layers. The bottom third contains dark water dotted with small sailboats, while the middle section features the dense skyline of the North End and Financial District. Above the buildings, a dark sky filled with light clouds serves as the backdrop for the word BOSTON. These large, capital letters stretch across the entire width of the upper frame, overlapping both the clouds and the tops of the tallest structures.

The low viewpoint emphasizes the distance between the small boats in the foreground and the varied architecture of the city. Among the rectangular skyscrapers, the Custom House Tower stands out with its distinct clock face and pointed roof. The dark tones of the water and sky contrast with the lighter shades of the buildings, while the bold lettering adds a graphic element to the natural and urban scenery captured during the boat trip.