Photographer Thrilled with Two-Year ET Photo Recreation

Michael Meighan, a photographer from Cardiff, expressed his excitement after successfully recreating a famous scene from the 1982 film “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” This project, which took nearly two years to realize, involved him and his friend, Nathan Edwards, collaborating remotely to capture the iconic moment of Elliott’s BMX bike flying past the Moon.

Successful Recreation of an Iconic Film Scene

The recreation took place during the first full Moon of the year on Eglwysilan Mountain, located in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Edwards, a 33-year-old plasterer from Cwmbran, pushed his bike uphill to achieve the desired angle while Meighan set up his camera from 1.4 miles (2.3 km) away in Treforest, Pontypridd. Despite the distance, they maintained contact through phone calls, which intrigued local residents who observed Meighan’s large camera lens pointed towards the Moon.

Planning and Challenges

Meighan and Edwards began planning this photo recreation back in 2021, after finding inspiration during another photography session under a full Moon. Over the course of two years, they identified various locations and made several attempts. However, weather conditions and the Moon’s position often hindered their efforts.

• Weather issues: Unpredictable conditions disrupted several attempts.
• Location alignment: A mobile app was used to track the Moon’s trajectory.
• Limited opportunities: There are typically 12 full Moons each year.

Finally, last Saturday’s clear skies aligned perfectly with their calculated positioning. The duo was thrilled to have captured the moment they had envisioned for so long. After they completed the shoot, they celebrated at a local pub, sharing a joyous embrace.

Friendship and Dedication

Meighan praised Edwards’ dedication and enthusiasm throughout this project, emphasizing how crucial his friend’s commitment was to bringing this idea to life. Edwards ingeniously secured a teddy bear wrapped in a blanket to replicate E.T. in the basket of his bike, enhancing the authenticity of their recreation.

As Meighan aptly put it, “We were over the Moon to finally get this one.” His appreciation for the shared journey and the outcome shines through this creative endeavor.