Light Painting Stories - 2024

Here are our light painting projects that we created in 2024. Each image has a link to its full backstory found on our sister website's blog at Michael Anderson Photography. Just click on the button under the photograph and you'll be taken there! Thank you!

Light Painting a 2023 Z06 Corvette - Version One 
Once again, I traveled to Missouri for the Lake of the Ozarks Corvette Show. These guys put on such an amazing show each year, and I'm always excited to return!
The first light painting project that I had lined up was this amazing 2023 Z06 Corvette! The owners of this amazing car, Mike and Sandy, know the owner of this beautiful location that overlooks Lake of the Ozarks.
Besides the spectacular view from here, the land owner has the actual flying saucer from the Hollywood hit move, "Men In Black"! You'll see another image featuring that flying saucer shortly.
A pretty light painted photograph of a stunning 2023 Z06 Corvette and the flying saucer from the Hollywood hit movie, Men In Black.

Mike and Sandy's amazing 2023 Z06 Corvette and the flying saucer from the Hollywood hit movie, "Men In Black".

Light Painting a 2023 Z06 Corvette and a Flying Saucer - The Rest of the Story
Light Painting a 2023 Z06 Corvette - Version Two
As I was setting up for the previous light painting featuring the front two-thirds view of the car, I thought it might be cool to due a second light painting showcasing the rear two-thirds view of this amazing Z06 Corvette. I had multiple cameras and two tripods along, so why not?
I asked Mike and Sandy if they liked the idea of a second version of the whole car, and they did! Not only did we create the two full body versions of their stunning Corvette Z06, but we also did five more light paintings that featured parts of their Z06!
We did both the front and rear end views, the "frunk", the amazing interior, and the engine compartment too! See below for those unique light paintings.
The light painting of the front end of the Corvette Z06.
The light painting of the front end of the Corvette Z06.
Light painting of the Z06's "frunk".
Light painting of the Z06's "frunk".
Light painting of the cool rear end of the Corvette Z06.
Light painting of the cool rear end of the Corvette Z06.
Here's the interior's light painting. It was very challenging trying to figure out how to place the camera in there!
Here's the interior's light painting. It was very challenging trying to figure out how to place the camera in there!
A cool light painting of the Corvette Z06's engine compartment.
A cool light painting of the Corvette Z06's engine compartment.
The Story Behind the Light Painting of a 2023 Z06 Corvette
Light Painting the Flying Saucer from "Men In Black"
Just for fun, I decided to take artistic license and create a light painting from Mike and Sandy's project, just for us. 
We would be displaying our light paintings at the 2024 Air Adventure in Oshkosh once again in July. I knew that having something like this in our booth might be an attention getter. And, it certainly was!
After all, it is a FLYING Saucer (and that Z06 Corvette can really fly too!)
A cool light painted photograph of a 2023 Corvette Z06 and the flying saucer from the Hollywood hit movie, "Men In Black".

My version of the cool light painting of Mike and Sandy's amazing 2023 Corvette Z06, and the flying saucer from the Hollywood hit movie, "Men In Black".

Light Painting a 1958 C1 Corvette
This stunning black and silver 1958 C1 Corvette was sitting directly across from my Light Painting Booth at the Lake of the Ozarks Corvette Show. That's just not fair!
I enjoyed this beautiful Corvette so much that I awarded it one of my two "Photographer's Choice Awards" at the show! (The second winner's Corvette has not been light painted yet, but it will be in 2025.)
The Corvette's owner, Karl, and I light painted his stunning black C1 the night before I headed back home to Minnesota. While we were at it, we created a second light painting of the Corvette's Cove and the beautiful red interior too!
A cool light painted photograph of a beautiful black and silver 1958 C1 Corvette created near Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri.

A cool light painted photograph of Karl's wonderful 1958 C1 Corvette. We created this cool image near Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri.

A cool light painted photo of the Cove and interior of a beautiful black and silver 1958 C1 Corvette.

A cool light painted photograph of the Cove and interior of a Karls' beautiful black and silver 1958 C1 Corvette.

Light Painting a 1958 C1 Corvette
Light Painting a 1977 Pontiac Firebird
I saw this stunning 1977 Pontiac Firebird at Motorhead Madness in March of 2024, in Duluth Minnesota. Ron & Nikki, owners of North Speed & Restoration in East Bethel, Minnesota, had it on display there. Their company did the restoration, and they knocked it out of the park!
After talking to them at the show, I just had to create a light painting this beautiful car! Ron and I light painted this one on a beautiful May evening and had the finished artwork completed in time of their Open House in early June. It's now on display in their lobby.
A beautiful light painted photo of a 1977 Pontiac Firebird in front of North Speed & Restoration in East Bethel, Minnesota.

A beautiful light painted photograph of a stunning 1977 Pontiac Firebird. We created this pretty image in front of North Speed & Restoration in East Bethel, Minnesota. They did the restoration of this amazing car.

Light Painting a 1977 Pontiac Firebird - The Rest of the Story
Light Painting Five Corvettes at "The Lodge"
One of the Corvette's in the light painting above, the 2019 Arctic White ZR1 (on the far left), was the "Best of Show" winner at the 2024 Lake of the Ozarks Corvette Show. As the winner, I presented them with a gift certificate to be used towards a light painting of their fantastic Corvette.
In early May, I flew down to Texas to create this stunning artwork for them. 
The next evening, we created a light painting inside "The Lodge" that featured just that Corvette ZR1.  It was truly "wild", as you'll see next.
A beautiful light painted photograph of five Corvettes created in front of a hunting lodge. The five Corvettes are: a1966 Corvette Stingray Convertible, a 2004 Corvette C6 Z06 Leman’s Commemorative Edition, a 2013 Corvette 60th Anniversary ZR1, a 2019 Corvette ZR1, and a 2023 Corvette Z06.

A stunning light painted photograph of five Corvettes created in front of a hunting lodge. The five Corvettes features are: a1966 Corvette Stingray Convertible, a 2004 Corvette C6 Z06 Leman’s Commemorative Edition, a 2013 Corvette 60th Anniversary ZR1, a 2019 Corvette ZR1, and a 2023 Corvette Z06.

Light Painting Five Corvettes at "The Lodge" - The Rest of the Story
Light Painting a 2019 Corvette ZR1 in "The Lodge"
Here is the interior of "The Lodge" that you saw in the previous light painting. While it appears that we were light painting the Corvette ZR1 inside of a Cabela's, this scene is far more impressive than any Cabela's you've ever been to!
An unusual light painted photograph of a 2019 Arctic White ZR1 inside a hunting lodge.

An unusual light painted photograph of a 2019 Arctic White ZR1 created inside a hunting lodge. It doesn't get much more "wild" than this one!

The Full Story About Light Painting a 2019 Arctic White ZR1 Inside a Hunting Lodge
Light Painting a Learjet 45XR
This cool light painting project actually turned into two light paintings! Joannie and I photographed the wedding of the pilot, King and his wife Jackie, back in the 1989! 
The Learjet 45XR had just been fully remodeled and repainted, and the company that owns it wanted a cool photograph to mark the occasion.
Light painted photograph of a Learjet 45XR in a hangar to the Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, MN.

Here's the cool light painted photograph of Learjet 45XR (N325B) created in a hangar to the Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, MN.

Light Painting a Learjet 45XR
Light Painting a 1978 Pontiac Firebird and a Learjet 45XR
King was instrumental in getting this project off the ground (pun intended). So, when he asked me if he could add his1978 Pontiac Firebird to a version of the light painting, of course I said, "Yes!" 
The Firebird was the first car he'd ever owned. So cool! Both of these versions were created at the Flying Cloud Airport.
Light painted photograph of 1978 Pontiac Firebird and a Learjet 45XR (N325B) created in a hangar to the Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, MN.

Here's the cool light painted photograph of King's '78 Firebird and the Learjet 45XR that he pilots. Image was created at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, MN.

Light Painting a 1978 Pontiac Firebird with a Learjet 45XR
Light Painting the Howard 500 N500LN
This is the Howard 500 N500LN! This amazing aircraft is one of 17 ever built. It's also one of just two remaining that is still flight-worthy! 
Joannie, our new friend Craig, and I light painted this beautiful aircraft on a spectacular night in late summer. This was our third attempt, as the weather did not want to cooperate the first two times. Mother Nature apologized by giving us an amazing sunset that night!
A stunning light painted photograph of the Howard 500 N500LN.

A stunning light painted photograph of the Howard 500 N500LN created at the Anoka County Airport in Blaine, Minnesota.

Light Painting the Howard 500 N500LN
Light Painting the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp Engines of the Howard 500 N500LN
Since we had a very rare aircraft sitting in front of us that night, I set up a second camera and tripod so that we could create a second unique light painting that evening. This one would feature the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engines on the Howard 500 N500LN. What an amazing aircraft!
A cool light painted photograph of the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engines of the Howard 500 N500LN.

A stunning light painted photograph of the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engines found on the Howard 500 N500LN. This cool image was created at the Anoka County Airport in Blaine, Minnesota.

Light Painting the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp Engines of the Howard 500 N500LN
An Eight-Vehicle Light Painting and the Client's Beautiful Home
This pretty light painting project came about from Motorhead Madness in Duluth, Minnesota in the spring of 2024. The "Best of Show" winner was the silver 1934 Ford 3-Window Coupe that you see on the far left. 
As the "Best of Show" winner, I presented Dave, the owner of the car, with a Light Painting Gift Certificate. He chose to feature their beautiful home, along with all eight of their vehicles in the project.
A beautiful light painted photograph of the client’s beautiful home and eight vehicles. The 3 Motorcycles in this amazing light painting are a 1995 Custom Harley-Davidson Road King, a Custom 2005 Speedway Chopper, and a 2022 CVO Harley-Davidson. The 5 other vehicles are: a ’34 Ford 3-Window Coupe, a Marina Blue 1967 Chevelle, a 2023 Z3 Corvette Stingray Coupe 3LT, a 2024 Chevy Blazer AWD, a 2023 Chevy Tahoe 4WD RST.

Dave's vehicles all have license plates that end with "IN". The 3 Motorcycles in this amazing light painting are: "KEEPIN", a 1995 Custom Harley-Davidson Road King, "FLOWIN", a Custom 2005 Speedway Chopper, and "FLAMIN", a 2022 CVO Harley-Davidson. The 5 other vehicles are: "POISIN", a ’34 Ford 3-Window Coupe, "TOOLIN", a Marina Blue 1967 Chevelle, "GLOWIN", a 2023 Z3 Corvette Stingray Coupe 3LT, "KICKIN", a 2024 Chevy Blazer AWD, and "HAULIN", a 2023 Chevy Tahoe 4WD RST.

8-Vehicle Light Painting Project - The Rest of the Story
Light Painting a 1979 Trans Am (with the nose from a '78) along with their1979 Chevy C10 truck
This was another light painting project from Motorhead Madness, but from the show back in 2023! At that time, Ray and Anne commissioned me to do a three-vehicle project. However, the third vehicle, a 1964 Chevelle was being restored, and it was taking longer than they would have liked. 
I received a text from Ray saying: “Good afternoon. I still haven’t gotten third car back. But I think I want to move ahead with the 2 that I have. Let me know. Thanks! Ray”  
So, I did a road trip to Wisconsin to light paint their cool 1979 Trans Am (with the nose from a '78 - because Ron liked the nose from that year better!), along with their 1979 Chevy C10.
A cool light painted photograph of a 1979 Trans Am (with the nose from a '78) and a 1979 Chevy C10 truck.
Light Painting a Trans Am and a Chevy Truck
Light Painting a 2017 Subaru WRX and Piper Dakota N2904R
It was now October, and the outdoor light painting season was coming to an end. But not before we created this cool father-son light painted photograph of Eddie, and his Dad, Rudy!
It was Eddie's senior year and I wanted to created something extra cool for his senior portraits! Eddie's 2017 Subaru WRX and the Piper Dakota that dad flies would be in the one-of-a-kind light painted image. 
We created this pretty image on a beautiful evening at Club Cherokee located at the Crystal Airport in Crystal, Minnesota.
A pretty father-son light painted photograph of Eddie. In the image are the son’s 2017 Subaru WRX and the Piper Dakota that Dad flies. Images was created at Club Cherokee located at the Crystal Airport in Crystal, Minnesota.

A pretty father-son light painted photograph of Eddie and his Dad, Rudy. In the image are Eddie's 2017 Subaru WRX and the Piper Dakota that Dad flies out of Club Cherokee at the Crystal Airport (KMIC) in Crystal, Minnesota.

Light Painting a 2017 Subaru WRX and a Piper Dakota
Light Painting our 2024 "Storytime with Santa" Set
The Holiday Season was now upon us, but we had one more light painting project to go. This one was extra special because it includes Saint Nicholas, cute kids, and Santa's pal, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!
Once again, as we've done for the last several years, our Santa set was light painted! The process of adding kids and Santa to the light painting isn't easy, but it sure looks amazing!
The icing on the cake is that The Best Santa Experience always helps us to raise money to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. This year, 2024, we raised more than $6,000! 
While we've done this for many years, we now do this in memory of our Goddaughter, Lindsey, who lost her battle with CF in June of 2022.
Two cute kids meet Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at The Best Santa Experience!

Santa Claus introduces two adorable siblings to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at The Best Santa Experience held annually at Michael Anderson Photography!

Storytime with Santa at The Best Santa Experience
Well, this completes the recap of our 2024 light painting projects, along with their linked backstories. Please check out our other yearly spotlights, with more of them coming down the road! 
Thank you for taking the time out of your day to check out the history of our light painting magic. - Michael & Joannie
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