Twelve years in the making: Barry Bowditch’s perfect moon shot
The photo quickly went viral, amassing nearly 1 000 shares and 23 000 likes on Facebook. Even the pilots reached out to Barry for a copy.
It took local photographer Barry Bowditch 12 years to capture what he calls a ‘once in a lifetime’ shot.
The stunning photo, taken on the morning of July 22, shows Safair Flight SFR411 silhouetted in front of a full moon.
The plane, a Boeing 737, had taken off from King Shaka International Airport that morning and was bound for Johannesburg.
“It’s really the only flight path that gives that photo opportunity from Ballito,” said Barry.
“I caught it as it was turning inland for Johannesburg and luckily everything just lined up in terms of altitude and angle.”
Taken from his garden in Ballito, the photo has been something of a white whale for Barry, who is a self-described lover of both the moon and aircraft.
“I’m somewhere between an aircraft nut and a lunar-tic! I have even visited the Boeing factory in the US,” he said.
“I have been taking photos of aircraft ever since the airport moved out here and this is always the shot I was trying to get.”
Barry initially thought he might have missed the opportunity when he woke up to find the plane had already taken off while checking his flight radar app.
But he rushed out with his camera in hand and managed to grab the photo at the perfect moment.
“The only thing I would change would be to use a 100-400mm lens, but the 100-200mm is the one I had on the camera at the time,” he said.
For the photo, he used a Canon R6, setting it to a fast shutter speed, narrow aperture and low ISO to ensure both the plane and moon were in sharp focus and that extra ‘noise’ was minimised.
And the decades of experience and patience, combined with the right equipment, made for his ideal photo.
“The combination of the moon and the airplane represents the perfect blend of natural beauty and human achievement,” he said.
“The moon, with its serene and timeless presence, juxtaposed with the dynamic and modern element of an airplane, creates a powerful and captivating image.”
Even the pilots have reached out to ask him for a copy.
You can find it on his Facebook page at Barry Wray Bowditch Photographer.
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