Imagine a photographer who’s absolutely thrilled after nearly two years of hard work culminates in a stunning recreation of a beloved scene from the classic film E.T. This is exactly how Michael Meighan feels about his latest achievement.
Teaming up with his friend Nathan Edwards, Meighan set out to capture that unforgettable moment from the 1982 movie where Elliott rides his BMX bike with E.T. nestled in the basket, soaring past a luminous full moon. After numerous attempts to recreate this iconic shot, the stars finally aligned—quite literally—during last weekend's first full moon of the year.
The duo chose Eglwysilan Mountain in Rhondda Cynon Taf as their location, where Edwards, a plasterer by profession, pedaled uphill to position his bike perfectly for the shot. Meanwhile, Meighan stationed himself 1.4 miles (or 2.3 kilometers) away on a residential street in Treforest, Pontypridd, keeping in touch with Edwards via phone throughout the process. Their unusual setup sparked curiosity among local residents, who emerged from their homes to see what was going on when they spotted Meighan wielding a large camera lens.
Meighan, 39, from Cardiff, recounted the amusing scene: "They came out wondering what was happening when they saw a man with a huge camera lens next to their house." He even shared the view from his camera with the intrigued neighbors while Edwards was on the other end of the phone, breathlessly getting ready after pushing his bike up a hill for five minutes.
To make it appear as though E.T. was really on the bike, Edwards, 33, from Cwmbran, Torfaen, cleverly secured a plastic wash bowl with a teddy bear wrapped in a blanket, simulating the iconic alien's presence. Once he was ready, he patiently waited for Meighan to line up the perfect shot, a plan they had started discussing back in 2024.
Prior to this successful attempt, both friends scouted various locations and used a phone app to calculate the best angles for capturing the moon's desired position. However, with only twelve full moons each year, they faced many challenges in finding the right conditions to finally make their vision come to life—until they were blessed with ideal weather last Saturday night.
"We were over the Moon to finally get this one!" exclaimed Meighan. "We’ve tried for this shot several times, but the weather has often thrown a wrench in our plans. Aligning everything perfectly with the moon's position was tricky, but it all came together at last. The planning is where the real challenge lies; once that's done, executing it is straightforward."
After successfully capturing the image, the two friends celebrated their achievement with a heartfelt hug and a visit to a nearby pub.
Meighan took a moment to express his admiration for Edwards, reflecting on how the idea for this shoot first emerged during another full moon photoshoot two years prior. "He’s an amazing person and a fantastic friend. Without him, none of this would have been possible," Meighan said. "His enthusiasm and dedication to grab the bike, drive to a random location, and do all this for the sake of one image is truly remarkable."
