An Amazing 14-Vehicle Light Painting in a Garage Condo
We started 2025 out with a bang! Joannie and I hit the road in late January to exhibit our light painting photography at the Cars on 5th Concourse in Naples, Florida. We had a great time, saw hundreds of amazing cars, and met lots of great car owners too. I even had the opportunity to do a bunch of wildlife photography on the trip!
The person that helped set this up for us was a guy named Steve. We met him at "Back to the Fifties" at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds back in June 2024. (As a side-note, we were there once again in June 2025.) Steve told us that we just had to attend Cars on 5th, and he actually helped to make that happen!
We had 2 light painting projects lined up for on the way down and back, but Mother Nature had other ideas. They were rescheduled for much warmer days in the springtime. However, while we were in Florida, we did photograph three light painting projects. This is the first of those that Joannie and I created for Steve in his amazing garage!
Please check out the full story by clicking on the button below.
Included in this one-of-a-kind light painting project are a 1957 C1 Corvette, a 1960 C1 Corvette, a 1965 C2 Corvette Coupe, a 1969 C3 Corvette Coupe, a 1993 C4 Corvette Convertible ZR1, a 2013 50th Anniversary Edition C6 Corvette Convertible, a 2016 C7 Corvette Convertible Z06, a 2024 Chevrolet Z06 Corvette Coupe 3LZ, a 1933 Ford Sedan, a 1953 Chevy Truck, the shell of NASCAR #24, a 1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL, a 1959 Chevrolet El Camino, and a 1964 Chevrolet El Camino!
Light painting a Route 66 Diorama (circa 1958)
When we went to visit Steve's garage condo, we were greeted by an amazing Route 66 diorama right as we walked in the front door! As a former model railroader, I was blown away! I just had to light paint it!
It was created by a guy named Don Bonin. It took Don nearly 3 years to design and build this amazing tribute to Route 66! To read a lot more about this cool light painting project, click on the button located under the 3rd section.
Because its a whopping 20 feet wide, and located just inside the front doors, we decided to break it up into a 3-piece panorama. The section you see below is the left side of the diorama. Included in this section are Cline's Garage, Cline's Flying C Ranch, the Flying C Cafe, and Homer's Used Cars Parts Junkyard, all circa 1958.
The left section of the Route 66 diorama features Cline's Garage, Cline's Flying C Ranch, the Flying C Cafe, and Homer's Used Cars Parts Junkyard. Oh yeah, tther''s lots of cool period cars and trucks from the Franklin Mint too!
The center section of the Route 66 diorama (below) features the centerpiece of the display, the Tower Court. This is as it looked in the 1940's. During that time period, it was common for motels to be called "courts". The fancier ones, like this one, all had a garage for each unit.
The Tower Court is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Here's the centerpiece of the Route 66 diorama, the Tower Court. It was very common at the time to call motels "courts".
On the right side of the Route 66 diorama (below) we've got the "Don Bonin" Chevrolet Dealership and a Standard Service Station. The Chevy Dealership was located on Route 66 in Kansas (it was actually a Ford Dealership at one time), and the Standard Service Station was in Illinios. The button below will take you to the very entertaining "Rest of the Story".
The far left section of Steve's Route 66 diorama (circa 1958). Featured here is the Don Bonin Chevrolet Dealership (named after the creator of the diorama), and a Standard Gas Station, both in amazing detail!
A Cool Light Painting of a 2024 Ford Mustang GT Performance
Up next, we have the third light painting project that we created on our Florida trip. This one's a pretty light painted photograph of a 2024 Mustang GT Performance as well as their beautiful home in Fort Myers, Florida.
This beautiful combo belongs to Bob and his wife Sharyl. Bob is the brother of our long-time friend Sally and her husband Wayne. We went over to visit Bob and Sharyl at their home and Bob made the "mistake" of showing us his Mustang GT. I just had to light paint it!
It was a little complicated due to the brightest street light I've even seen in a residential nieghborhood, but we did manage to pull it off. The whole story is on our blog (which is linked below).
Besides the world's brightest street light, the other "unique" thing about this project was when the city's sprinkler system came on during the photography! It got us, and our camera gear wet! Thankfully, we were almost done with the light painting photography. But it did make for some wild moments as we scrambled to protect the camera gear from getting wet(er)!
A cool light painting of Bob and Sharyl's beautiful home, and Bob's "toy", a hot 2024 Mustang GT Performance!
Light Painting a Watkins Glen Grey 2019 Corvette Grand Sport in a Cave in Southern Missouri
In late April, I made a return trip to "Corvettes in Paradise" in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri - my third year in a row. I didn't know it when I left home, but I'd be creating light painting in a location that I never would have imaged, especially for a Corvette! A cool (and huge) cave!
Darin & Krista, along with their friends, Randy and Pam, were wonderful hosts that evening. As darkness approached, we saw lots of bats flying in and out of the cave, but I was unsuccessful in capturing them with the camera. It was simple too dark and they were way too fast!
Darin likes to think of this beautiful Corvette as his "Batmobile". Well, after light painting it in this unusual location, it does kinda resemble that iconic car! Very cool!
Check out the full story at the link below. This project turned out so cool, and it looks amazing printed on metal (as they always do)!
Darin & Krista's very own "Bat Moblie", a 2019 Watkins Glen Grey Corvette Grand Sport. Light painted, of all places, in a cave in southern Missouri!
Light Painting Corvettes and Quarter Horses at "Horsepower Farm"
This was one of the projects that we were hoping to create for my friend, Jim, back in February. But it was simply too cold.
We've had dogs in several light painting projects over the years. However this time, we upped the ante and added two racehorses along with a pair of amazing Corvettes!
These two Quarter Horses are "Boujee", an 8-year-old, and "Rookie", a 12-year-old. Both of these beautiful horses have competed, and placed, in Amateur Pro Association (APA) women’s barrel racing with Jim's daughter, Madison, at the reins!
The "other" horsepower that we've got are a 1967 C2 Corvette Roadster Convertible L79, as well as a 2023 C8 Corvette 70th Anniversary Edition Z51! Truly lots of horsepower in this beautiful light painting!
I met Jim in 2024 at "Corvettes in Paradise" at the Lake of the Ozarks Corvette Club Show. His stunning '67 Corvette won me over. I presented him with my "Photographers Choice Award", and plans were made to light paint it sometime in the future.
Well, after having to scrap the project (twice) in February due to unseasonably cold weather in Alabama (it was in the teens at night), we got it "in the can" in the days following the 2025 Lake of the Ozarks Corvette Club Show (LOCC) in late April. The weather was far more cooperative, despite the fact that we hit the dew point later in the evening.
Jim, and his daughter, Madison, positioned Boujee and Rookie for their portraits. Both horses handled being photographed with strobes pretty well, although Boujee wasn't exactly thrilled. Mother Nature supplied quite the sky for us that night!
A pretty light painting project that features the client's beautiful home, as well as a pair of Quarter Horses, and two Corvettes - a 1967 C2 Corvette Roadster Convertible L79, as well as a 2023 C8 Corvette 70th Anniversary Edition Z51.
Light Painting Logging Equipment for Fornengo Forest Products
It was early May, and it was finally getting nice out in the northern states! Back in December, I was contacted by Fornengo Forest Products about creating something cool for them once it got warm out. On my way to Motorhead Madness in March, I met with them at their headquarters in Danbury, Wisconsin to discuss what they were looking for.
We scheduled three different projects, over three nights, in early May. Thankfully, Mother Nature was cooperative and gave us dry weather all three evenings and we got all of them "in the can"!
The first of the three light painting projects had several pieces of forest harvesting equipment in it! Featured in this cool image from left to right) are a John Deere 2154G Swing Machine, a John Deere 948L-II Grapple Skidder, a Pro Pac Delimber, two SERCO 300 Series Loaders - both with 72" SERCO Saws, a Tigercat 5400 Felling Saw, a Tigercat 625E Skidder, and a Tigercat X830E Feller Buncher.
It took until almost 1:00 AM to do the light painting part of this project! But boy, is it cool!
A beautiful light painted photograph of six forestry harvesting machines with accessories. This unique image was created for Fornengo Forest Products located in Danbury, Wisconsin. Featured in this cool image are a John Deere 2154G Swing Machine, a John Deere 948L-II Grapple Skidder, a Pro Pac Delimber, two SERCO 300 Series Loaders, both with 72" SERCO Saws, a Tigercat 5400 Felling Saw, a Tigercat 625E Skidder, and a Tigercat X830E Feller Buncher.
Light Painting More Logging Equipment for Fornengo Forest Products
The night after we created that cool image above with six forest harvesting rigs, we were at it again! This time, it seemed like a simple one, with "only" two rigs in the image. However, the Waratah HTH623C Harvester Head had other ideas. It's attached to the Tigercat H822E Skidder (the rig on the right).
The ground was just a little soft, and that Harvester Head was so heavy, that it moved - very, very slowly, all evening long! Well, when light painting anything, any movement is a bad thing as none of the images will line up in post-production. Michael spent quite a bit of time realigning all of the parts of this log cutting machine.
The John Deere 1210 Forwarder (on the left side) was a real good boy, and didn't move at all!
The second light painting project for Fornengo Forest Products had a John Deere 1210 Forwarder and a Tigercat H822E Skidder with a Waratah HTH623C Harvester Head. The "blue hour" sky looks pretty in the one too! We were in Danbury, Wisconsin for this unique project.
Light Painting a Corvette with Lumber Hauling Trucks
On the third night, we created a light painting of a rather unique combination of vehicles. This one-of-kind artwork has a 2023 Kenworth T880, a 2024 Mack P164T, and, of all things, a 2006 Corvette Z06 in it!
The Corvette belongs to their father, Tim. When I met with them back in March and found out that dad owned a Vette, I had to suggest putting in in a light painting. And, they did!
This was a really fun project to photograph that night. Many of their family members were on hand. In fact, Brandon & Tanya's son, Caleb, was my "Camera Trigger Man" that night!
Also on hand were their friends, Ray & Anne, from just down the road! I had the opportunity to light paint their cool '79 Trans Am and '79 Chevy truck in the fall of 2024! Look for that pretty image and story in our "Light Painting Stories - 2024" page.
A unique combination of light painted vehicles created for Fornengo Forest Products in Danbury, Wisconsin. We've got a 2023 Kenworth T880, a 2024 Mack P164T, and, of all things, a 2006 Corvette Z06!
Light Painting Forestry Harvesting Equipment Before Sunrise
We mentioned earlier that there were three projects scheduled for Fornengo Forest Products. And, yes, only three were "scheduled". However, on the evening of the first project, Josh and I were talking once we had the machinery in place and were waiting for it to get dark out.
I was really blown away by the size of the saw blades on the SERCO 300 Series Loaders - both with 72" SERCO Saws. In the image that we were about to light paint that night, one of the saw blades was visible, but it wasn't extremely "noticeable" in the image full of lots of cool stuff. I suggested setting up a second camera to showcase them form the other direction, and if we had the time, do a light painting from that angle.
Well, we finished with the intended project pretty late that night - actually, it was the following morning! At around midnight, I sent Josh and Brandie home. Josh had to be back on-site in just a few hours, and they had at least a 45 minute drive just to get home to bed!
I put the finishing touches on the first project after they left. Then, I had a decision to make. Do the second version, or go to my hotel and get to bed? You probably know what I decided to do!
When I put the finishing touches on this one, I did a long exposure to see with the sky had going for it. Well, the sunrise was in its very early stages, and it looked amazing! That's what can happen in the longest days of the year in Wisconsin!
A beautiful sunrise light painting of forestry harvesting equipment created for Fornengo Forest Products. This one features a A SERCO 300 Series Loader with a 72″ SERCO Saw, a John Deere 2154G Swing Machine with a Pro Pac Delimber, and a second SERCO 300 Series Loader with a 72″ SERCO Saw. You can really see those huge saw blades in this version!
Light Painting a Mosaic Black Metallic 2018 ZL1 1LE Camaro
We created this one for Sandra in Jay Cooke State Park in Carlton, Minnesota. If the weather cooperated, this would be the first of six light painting projects in five nights in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin!
Sandra discovered, and commissioned us to create a light painting of her amazing Camaro at Motorhead Madness in Duluth back in March. She was pretty jazzed when she saw the artworks in our booth!
We got this one done photographed with little to no problems from Mother Nature, although it did rain earlier in the day. The location that Sandra selected was this beautiful vista overlooking the St. Louis River in Jay Cooke. Just so darn pretty!
A pretty light painting of a Mosaic Black Metallic 2018 ZL1 1LE Camaro. We created this one in Jay Cooke State Park in Carlton, Minnesota.
Light Painting a 1915 Ford Model T and a 2008 Ford Shelby Mustang
I met both Judy and Kim at Motorhead Madness in March. Judy's Shelby Mustang was so amazing that I awarded it with my "Photographer's Choice Award". Kim's 125-year-old Model T is quite the car in it's own right as well.
Judy's Shelby Mustang is actually autographed by 2 members of the Shelby family, one of them being none other than Carroll Shelby himself! When we met them to see the location that they had in mind for the light painting, Judy asked me if I'd be okay with having Kim's Model T in the image too. Oh yeah!
It rained a lot that afternoon and we almost cancelled the project for the night. Then, there was a little break in the weather, so we gave it a go. We managed to get the photography done just as it started to rain again. As they say, timing is everything!
Seven Muscle Cars in One Light Painting!
The night after we created Kim and Judy's wonderful light painting, we were in far northern Minnesota for what turned out to be another really amazing light painting project - 9 muscle cars!
We travel to Chris and Karen's home to create a stunning light painting of the cars that Chris has restored over the years. Eight of them were salvage cars, just one was purchased new. All of them are very, very, cool!
Heavy smoke form the nearby Canadian wildfires made for a rather boring sky. So, Michael "swapped" the dull sky for an Aurora Borealis photograph that he created in May of 2024. He captured that image (right in the heart of the Twin Cities) on the night where the northern lights were seen in all 50 states! We can only imagine what the northern lights were like over their house that night!
Light Painting 3 One-of-a-Kind Vehicles
The morning after we completed the photography for Chris and Karen, we traveled south into northern Wisconsin for a pair of amazing car light painting projects.
The first one included 3 truly one-of-a-kind vehicles. It is very difficult to describe just how amazing these two trucks and car are. The man that literally build them is a very talented craftsman named Myron. All three vehicles were created using parts from all types of other vehicles as well as tons of custom parts that Myron created by hand!
When he commissioned us to create this project for him at Motorhead Madness in March, there were going to be two trucks in the light painting. One of them is a stunning "Ruby Slipper Red" 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air that Myron turned into a very upscale "El Camino like" pickup truck! The second truck is a Raspberry colored 1978 Chevy Custom 3/4 ton pickup that you have to see to believe!
When Joannie and I arrived at their home, Myron asked me if it was ok to add another vehicle to his light painting, a 1939 LaSalle Rat Rod! Oh yeah!
He explained that when he saw us in March, that car was just parts laying on his shop floor. In just 3 months he had it together enough that it could be in the artwork. It doesn't have an engine or interior of any kind (yet), but, it was now a car! We got it into position using Myron's riding lawn mower to tow it into place!
The whole story, which list dozens of the modifications and specs, can be enjoyed by clicking the button below the cool final artwork.
Myron's amazing light painting artwork of his 3 one-of-a-kind vehicles. We've got a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air "El Camino like" pickup truck, a 1939 LaSalle Rat Rod, and a 1978 Chevy Custom 3/4 ton pickup. Amazing craftsmanship!
Still to come: 2 more light paintings (of one cool car) from our five-night light painting tour in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin!
We've also got several other projects scheduled to be created that we booked at Motorhead Madness in Duluth. Including one with 10 vehicles (all Fords)! We just need some consistent (dry) weather up here in Minnesota and Wisconsin!
We also have 3 projects lined up in Oklahoma and another in Arkansas!
And, we just booked (at least) 3 more projects, including one with a Bell Helicopter, at EAA's AirVenture in Oshkosh! Lot's of cool things in the pipeline!