Orlando photographer wins top prize in international contest for SpaceX moon shot
While plenty of Central Florida photographers seek out rocket launches for stunning visual imagery, Pascal Fouquet goes out of his way to incorporate Orlando landmarks into the frame.
While juxtaposing foreground and background, he’s captured rockets launching out of Volcano Bay, the spire at Plaza Live, through downtown Orlando and above the Eatonville sign. During a launch of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy carrying the X-37B spaceplane into orbit, Fouquet captured the rocket silhouetted against a full moon, boosters blazing with more than 5 million pounds of thrust.
The stars (and moon and rocket) were in alignment on Dec. 28, 2023, for the 30-year-old to snap an award-winning frame from Titusville, about 14 miles away from the launchpad. Fouquet’s photo placed first in the United States for the 2024 Sony World Photography Awards. Over 395,000 images from more than 220 countries and territories were submitted for this year’s contest, according to alphauniverse.com.
“The second I got into photography, I wanted a cool shot like a rocket going through the moon,” he said. “It was a lot of patience and waiting for the right time, the right weather and everything.”
As the United States national award winner, Fouquet will receive Sony digital imaging equipment and will be included in a book and exhibition showcasing winning images, which will be on display in London this spring.
The Orlando-based photographer of Haitian descent has long been interested in gazing upward at things that can be spotted in the sky.
“I do plane watching, bird watching and rockets. Anything in the sky, that’s my specialty,” said Fouquet, who works as a safety analytics manager by day. “I want to keep photography fun. I’ve seen so many people burn out on the hobby they love or their passion because they made it their life.”
While photography has been an interest since 2019 when Fouquet’s sister gifted him an SLR camera, recently, he has found new outlets for showcasing his work, including the College Park Gallery, Gallery MCO at Orlando International Airport and the City of Orlando’s Black History Month exhibition in the Terrace Gallery.
“My life went from 0 to 100 real quick with my hobby,” he said, giving credit to his friends and the Central Florida arts community for encouraging him on his journey. “I’ve been putting myself out there more. I was trying to keep my photography local. Now it’s international.”
Fouquet’s normal spot for hanging out and spotting planes, rockets and other celestial objects is Colonel Joe Kittinger Park on the western side of Lake Underhill.
“I think it’s one of the most unique spots in Orlando. You have the planes landing at MCO and Orlando Executive Airport,” he said. “You have the moon and the sunrises too.”
The typical tools of choice for the photographer’s work are a Nikon D850 and a Nikkor 200-500mm lens, both of which he purchased from Colonial Photo & Hobby. Along with hard work and having the right equipment, getting an award-winning shot is also a matter of luck and timing.
“It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime chances where everything worked out,” Fouquet said.
See the winning images at worldphoto.org and read about Fouquet’s shot at alphauniverse.com. Follow the photographer on Instagram @pf.photography__ or online at pfphotos.art.
Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.
