A slightly distant starboard bow view of the light cruiser HMS 'Aurora' (1913) at moorings in Harwich off Shotley, with the River Stour on the left and Orwell on the right. The ship is being painted with a camouflage pattern by the crew. Some of the crew can be seen on boards suspended over the starboard bow, while others are lowered on ropes painting the funnels. The tower of the shore base HMS Ganges can be seen the background off the bow of the ship. The photographer was likely to be standing near/on the pier at Harwich looking northwest. Off the starboard bow is the netlayer HMS Prince Edward (1887). The bow to fore funnel of the netlayer is out of the picture.

The negative has blemishes and under exposed areas that slightly obscure the bow of the ship.