Photographer over the Moon with ET picture recreation two years in the making

A photographer says he’s “over the moon” after recreating an iconic scene from the movie ET in a photo that was almost two years in the making.

Michael Meighan and his friend Nathan Edwards have repeatedly tried to recreate the scene in the 1982 hit movie in which Elliott’s BMX – with ET in the basket – flies past the Moon.

During the first full moon of the year last weekend, the planets finally aligned as plasterer Edwards pushed his bike uphill and into position on Mount Eglwysilan in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Meanwhile, as Meighan watched through his viewfinder from 1.4 miles (2.3 km) away on a residential street in Treforest, Pontypridd, the pair kept in touch by phone, attracting the attention of nosy homeowners.

“They came out wondering what it was when they saw a man with a huge camera lens next to their house,” recalled Meighan, 39, from Cardiff.

The maintenance support worker showed them through his camera the scene of Edwards “huffing and puffing” on the other end of the phone as he sat down after a five-minute uphill bike push.

Edwards, 33, of Torfaen, Cwmbran, had secured a plastic wash bowl, complete with a teddy bear wrapped in a blanket, in place to make it look like ET was sitting in front of his bike.

He then stood up and waited for his friend to receive the vaccine, which they first started planning for in 2024.

Meighan said he and Edwards had previously scouted other locations and experimented with the movie recreation scene using a phone app to determine the necessary locations given the expected position of the Moon.

But opportunities for success were limited to 12 full moons in a typical year until perfect weather conditions arrived last Saturday night.

“We were over the moon to finally get this,” Meighan said.

“We tried to make that shot a few times.

“The weather has ruined us, [also] We couldn’t achieve alignment due to where the Moon was rising, but we finally got to this point.

“The actual planning is the hard part. Once it’s planned, it’s very easy to implement.”

They shared a “big hug” and then celebrated at a nearby bar.

Meighan appreciated her friend’s determination, as the plan was first discussed two years ago after another full moon photo shoot.

“He’s a great person, a great friend, and this wouldn’t have been possible without him,” Meighan said.

“The enthusiasm he showed and his determination to pick up the bike and go anywhere and do it for that image is just amazing.”