Photographing a rocket transiting the moon is a rare sight that requires serious skill. Pascal Fouquet, a photographer from Orlando, Florida, was able to capture such a shot and was chosen as the United States’ National Award first place winner for the Sony World Photography Awards 2024. This awards program is a partnership between Sony and the World Photography Organization and receives hundreds of thousands of photo submissions from around the world.
Fouquet took his winning shot during the USSF-52 mission launch, just before the new year. He only had less than 48 hours to prepare for the opportunity to capture the shot. Fouquet settled on an unconventional location, an open field behind a hospice center 13.8 miles away from the launch pad.
Using a Nikon D850, Fouquet set his camera to capture the details of the moon, not the rocket. His shutter speed was set to 1/1600 of a second to capture the split second moment Falcon Heavy passed in front of the moon. This was the seventh launch for the Space Force’s secretive X-37B space plane, which remains in orbit at the time of this publication after its last mission lasted 908 days.
The photograph showcases Fouquet’s skill and dedication to capturing such a rare and unique moment. His work has been recognized and awarded at a national level, showcasing his talent as a photographer. The partnership between Sony and the World Photography Organization provides a platform for photographers like Fouquet to showcase their work and receive recognition for their skills.
Overall, capturing such an event is no easy feat but with skill and dedication it can be achieved successfully as shown by Pascal Fouquet’s award-winning photograph!
