Pink Moon of April
At the beach 4/12/25
Looking in Facebook yesterday 4/11/25 I noted a meme of interesting phenomenon stating there would be a full, pink moon on the evening of Saturday 4/12/25. Per the post the moon would rise at 7:50 pm and reach peak fullness at 8:22 p.m. Being interested in such photographic opportunities, I decided it would be a great evening to spend quality time at the beach. You see, I reside on the East coast of Central Florida and the moon would be in the East.
My wife and I picked up her 83 year old uncle and his roommate at 6 p.m. and headed to the beach, cameras in hand. We ate at a quaint Italian eatery in Melbourne Beach: She had grilled chicken Alfredo and the other 3 of us shared a white pizza with pepperoni. While the food was excellent, we hurried the waitress to move our order along as my cell phone .. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra with excellent camera, was burning a hole in my pocket.
Boxing up the leftovers, we hit the beach, pausing occasionally to frame a few pics over the trees and such along the way. Then I hit the sand and framed a few shots around persons, signs, a beautiful red lifeguard stand and other such items. The experience was wonderful and affirming for all four of us. Above, and below, are some of the results thereof. Each pic was taken by myself although some editing has been done for saturation, tint, and so forth. I hope you like them.
Mostly I was applying the red contrasts, dark, and tint but here I thought some blue would work well.
This is me on the little boardwalk unsuccessfully hiding in the shadows.
This lifeguard stand was right down from us on the shoreline and I figured a little enhancement could make it really nice as a backdrop.This pic makes me want to write a poem about a heartbroken and forlorn lifeguard suffering from guilt after not managing to save someone. So melancholy and lonely.
There it sits…
Symbol of safety…
Sign of the oceanic savior
Tasked with the safety of others
Whom he doesn’t even know…
Once bright, clean …
Now empty …. Tainted…
Tainted red with the blood of the lost…
The Drowned …
Neptune’s waterlogged orphans…
It’s steward searching ever the depths
Struggling to right the wrong
To swim that hair faster
Begging Neptune to relent
To let loose his seaweed bedecked grasp
To allow her just ten more seconds
Precious seconds of air
Life sustaining
One more gasping breath
One more chance to pull oxygen
Into deprived, screaming, watery lungs…
Just a shred of extra stamina to stay afloat
A mere sixth of a minute
Just a tiny burst of speed
To get there …
Grasp that sinking hand in his
Swim … Stroke for the dunes
Pull her from the greedy waters
Pump the salt laden water from her body…
Lifeguard no more…
He swims forever …
Searching…
Diving…
Seeking…
Praying to save just one last soul
From a watery grave…
Perhaps that someone shall be you
…
…
Lifeguard goes down for third time
As the pink moon shines translucent through
His diaphanous soaked soul…
Will he come back up?
Life vest buckled… Float streaming behind …
Will she be in his arms?
Or will he swim once more into eternal damnation …?
Here I darkened the background after making a luminous sky with nice contrasts. I don’t know the people here, but they are a lovely shot. Very Florida spring.
I thought the purple and red applied here came out stunning. Opinions?
Made the pink moon a fire in the night. I love sun and/or moon over the ocean. The plants on shore are nicely framed by the reflected lunar stillness. They look like a tiny line of marching soldier fairies in the sand.
Can’t have Florida beach pics without you include some Palm Trees. This looks like the beginning of a nice storm.
My tribute to Louis L’Amour.
And a nice quiet shot of waving shrubbery on the shoreline.
The last pic here is the elderly uncle’s roommate, my friend Joe. Below are my wife and her uncle, my dear friend, Cliff. At 83 years old he doesn’t get around too much. This beach photography excursion complete with white pepperoni pizza was a real treat for him.
Let me know in comments and likes what y’all think of my photo work. I appreciate you stopping by to peruse.
My lesson learned: Night Mode makes night pics look like day pics.
About the Creator
Andrew C McDonald
Andrew McDonald was a 911 dispatcher for 30 yrs with a B.S. in Math (1985). He served as an Army officer 1985 to 1992, honorably exiting a captain.
https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Keys-Andrew-C-McDonald-ebook/dp/B07VM843XL?ref_=ast_author_dp
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Comments (3)
Well-wrought! All the photos were stunning, but the one with the lifeguard chair was my favorite, and I enjoyed the accompanying poem too! I think we can all think of someone we wish we could have saved, even if it wasn't our place to do so.
Loving your photos <3 Looks like yall had such a blast out on the beach <3
Omgggg, your photos are stunning! Also, what is white pizza? Hehehe