{"id":11194,"date":"2026-01-10T22:58:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-10T22:58:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=11194"},"modified":"2026-01-10T22:58:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T22:58:28","slug":"photographer-over-the-moon-with-et-picture-recreation-two-years-in-the-making","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=11194","title":{"rendered":"Photographer over the Moon with ET picture recreation two years in the making"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 gtLOOD\">\n<div data-testid=\"hero-image\" class=\"sc-5340b511-1 cMIbKV\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.files.bbci.co.uk\/bbcdotcom\/web\/20251210-151139-37baf2dfdd-web-2.36.1-1\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 gUePlo hide-when-no-script\" aria-label=\"image unavailable\"\/><img sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/213d\/live\/295d3e70-ee26-11f0-a27d-a1f53bc65a41.jpg.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/213d\/live\/295d3e70-ee26-11f0-a27d-a1f53bc65a41.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/213d\/live\/295d3e70-ee26-11f0-a27d-a1f53bc65a41.jpg.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/213d\/live\/295d3e70-ee26-11f0-a27d-a1f53bc65a41.jpg.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/213d\/live\/295d3e70-ee26-11f0-a27d-a1f53bc65a41.jpg.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/213d\/live\/295d3e70-ee26-11f0-a27d-a1f53bc65a41.jpg.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/213d\/live\/295d3e70-ee26-11f0-a27d-a1f53bc65a41.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/213d\/live\/295d3e70-ee26-11f0-a27d-a1f53bc65a41.jpg.webp\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Michael Meighan Silhouette of boyish character in an anorak straddling a stationary BMX bike with an object in its front basket on a mountainside framed by the full Moon behind\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA\"\/><span class=\"sc-5340b511-2 jVqbAn\">Michael Meighan<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"sc-536eff7b-0 gnQokQ\">&#8220;We were over the Moon to finally get this one,&#8221; said Michael Meighan<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">A photographer says he is &#8220;over the Moon&#8221; after recreating an iconic scene from the movie ET in a photo that has been almost two years in the making. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Michael Meighan and his friend Nathan Edwards have tried repeatedly to recreate the scene from the 1982 hit film, when Elliott&#8217;s BMX &#8211; with ET riding in the basket &#8211; flies by the Moon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">The planets finally aligned during last weekend&#8217;s first full Moon of the year, when plasterer Edwards pushed his bike uphill and into position on Eglwysilan Mountain, Rhondda Cynon Taf.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Meanwhile, Meighan watched through his viewfinder from 1.4 miles (2.3km) away on a residential street in Treforest, Pontypridd, while the pair kept in contact by phone &#8211; attracting the attention of curious householders.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;They came out wondering what was happening when they saw a man with a huge camera lens next to their house,&#8221; recalled Meighan, 39, from Cardiff.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">The care support worker showed them the scene through his camera with Edwards &#8220;huffing and puffing&#8221; on the other end of the phone while getting into position following a five-minute uphill bike push.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 gXrNRM\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-5340b511-1 cMIbKV\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.files.bbci.co.uk\/bbcdotcom\/web\/20251210-151139-37baf2dfdd-web-2.36.1-1\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 gUePlo hide-when-no-script\" aria-label=\"image unavailable\"\/><img sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/1e6e\/live\/a8470240-ee47-11f0-b385-5f48925de19a.jpg.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/1e6e\/live\/a8470240-ee47-11f0-b385-5f48925de19a.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/1e6e\/live\/a8470240-ee47-11f0-b385-5f48925de19a.jpg.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/1e6e\/live\/a8470240-ee47-11f0-b385-5f48925de19a.jpg.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/1e6e\/live\/a8470240-ee47-11f0-b385-5f48925de19a.jpg.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/1e6e\/live\/a8470240-ee47-11f0-b385-5f48925de19a.jpg.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/1e6e\/live\/a8470240-ee47-11f0-b385-5f48925de19a.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/1e6e\/live\/a8470240-ee47-11f0-b385-5f48925de19a.jpg.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Michael Meighan Two photographs of two men edited side by side. Nathan (left) is pictured wearing a black puffer coat with a hood and smiles at the camera. He has brown hair, brown eyes and a brown beard. Snow can be seen on mountains behind him. Michael Meighan (right) looks blankly into a camera. He has blue eyes, a brown goatie beard and brown hair. He wears a navy t-shirt and white brick can be seen in the background. \" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA\"\/><span class=\"sc-5340b511-2 jVqbAn\">Michael Meighan<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"sc-536eff7b-0 gnQokQ\">Michael Meighan (right) and his friend Nathan Edwards (left) have spent two years trying to recreate the image<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Edwards, 33, from Cwmbran, Torfaen, had fastened into position a plastic wash bowl complete with teddy bear wrapped in a blanket to make it look like ET was sitting on the front of his own bike.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">He then stood and waited for his friend to get the shot which they first began planning in 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Meighan said he and Edwards had scouted other locations and attempted the movie recreation scene before by using a phone app to pinpoint their required positions given the expected location of the Moon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">But opportunities for success had been limited with 12 full Moons in a typical year &#8211; until they got the perfect weather conditions last Saturday night.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 gXrNRM\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-5340b511-1 cMIbKV\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.files.bbci.co.uk\/bbcdotcom\/web\/20251210-151139-37baf2dfdd-web-2.36.1-1\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 gUePlo hide-when-no-script\" aria-label=\"image unavailable\"\/><img sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/7d3f\/live\/e98daef0-ee26-11f0-b216-81b5f104816e.png.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/7d3f\/live\/e98daef0-ee26-11f0-b216-81b5f104816e.png.webp 320w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/7d3f\/live\/e98daef0-ee26-11f0-b216-81b5f104816e.png.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/7d3f\/live\/e98daef0-ee26-11f0-b216-81b5f104816e.png.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/7d3f\/live\/e98daef0-ee26-11f0-b216-81b5f104816e.png.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/7d3f\/live\/e98daef0-ee26-11f0-b216-81b5f104816e.png.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/7d3f\/live\/e98daef0-ee26-11f0-b216-81b5f104816e.png.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/7d3f\/live\/e98daef0-ee26-11f0-b216-81b5f104816e.png.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Getty Images | Corbis Historical ET, wrapped in a white blanket, sits in a basket on the front of Elliott's bike as the boy, wearing a bright red hoody, rides along a street with a group of friends\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA\"\/><span class=\"sc-5340b511-2 jVqbAn\">Getty Images | Corbis Historical<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"sc-536eff7b-0 gnQokQ\">Elliott and his friends try to help ET evade capture in Steven Speilberg&#8217;s movie from 1982<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;We were over the Moon to finally get this one,&#8221; said Meighan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;We&#8217;ve attempted to get this shot a few times.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;The weather has messed us about, [also] not being able to get the alignment due to where the Moon is rising, but it finally came to.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;The actual planning is the hard part. Once it&#8217;s planned, it&#8217;s very simple to execute.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">They shared a &#8220;huge embrace&#8221; and celebrated in a nearby pub afterwards.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 gXrNRM\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-5340b511-1 cMIbKV\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.files.bbci.co.uk\/bbcdotcom\/web\/20251210-151139-37baf2dfdd-web-2.36.1-1\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 gUePlo hide-when-no-script\" aria-label=\"image unavailable\"\/><img sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/be50\/live\/48397100-ee4a-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.jpg.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/be50\/live\/48397100-ee4a-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/be50\/live\/48397100-ee4a-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.jpg.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/be50\/live\/48397100-ee4a-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.jpg.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/be50\/live\/48397100-ee4a-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.jpg.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/be50\/live\/48397100-ee4a-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.jpg.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/be50\/live\/48397100-ee4a-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/be50\/live\/48397100-ee4a-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.jpg.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Michael Meighan Photograph of a large grey teddy bear attached to a washing basket at the front of a pedal bike. A blue blanket can be seen draped over the teddy's head. The bike is placed inside a kitchen area of a home, shoes can be seen behind it on the wooden floor.\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA\"\/><span class=\"sc-5340b511-2 jVqbAn\">Michael Meighan<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"sc-536eff7b-0 gnQokQ\">Edwards used duct tape to secure a teddy bear wrapped in a blanket to make it look like ET was sitting on the front of his own bike<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Meighan paid tribute to the commitment of his friend, as the plan was first discussed following another full Moon photoshoot two years ago.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;He&#8217;s a fantastic person, a fantastic friend and without him this would not be possible,&#8221; said Meighan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;The enthusiasm that he shows and the dedication to grab the bike, drive to a random location and to do that for sake of this image, it&#8217;s just brilliant.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>#Photographer #Moon #picture #recreation #years #making<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Michael Meighan &#8220;We were&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11195,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[242],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11194"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11194"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11194\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}