Chasing a Plane Across the Moon
Agustín Ferrando Trenchi became a little obsessed with the moon as a kid. As an adult, he’s taken tons of photos and hundreds of hours of footage of the moon. After seeing an airplane fly close to the moon while he filmed, Trenchi began a quest to capture a plane flying across the face of the moon.
Over the course of 10 years, he took photos and videos of birds and statues silhouetted by the moon, but planes eluded him.
I realized if I wanted to film this, I was going to have to try a different approach. It wasn’t just going to happen by accident. So in February of this year, taking advantage of being in London, I decided to go near one of the busiest airports in the world to maximize my odds as much as possible.
But while we were on our way, I had second thoughts. I felt like it took the fun out of it. It didn’t make sense to force it that much either. So we got off.
I’m not going to spoil the video, but the whole thing is just so lovely — a meditation on obsessions, journeys, and finding meaning in your life. (via virginia)
Comments 3
What a video! The filmmaker so perfectly models what it’s like to have a joyous and idiosyncratic hobby/obsession, how to delight in small gifts from the universe, and how to use a self-assigned project as an excuse to be together with family and friends. What a rich, beautiful, funny, even poignant example of how to live a meaningful and artistic life.
This reminds me of another fun entry in this genre, Willem Verbee,k’s videos about photographing Morro Rock.
This is some of the best 12 odd minutes I have spent in my life. You think you're watching a homemade video about a guy with a pointless but heartwarming pursuit, and you are, but you are taking in so much more. It reminded me of Odysseus, laying on the raft, letting the tides and the wind take him. Honestly, I cried at the end. So good. 10/10.
I know I'm a little late to the game but want to add that this was very enjoyable. If you like photos of planes transiting the moon, check out Mark Garfinkel:
http://www.pictureboston.com/aviation/
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