Best stage lights according to redditors

If you have an iPhone camera as your best option, the only thing that might work is mixing a strobe and ambient light. That might help you fake the look of rear curtain sync which I think is what you want.

Example of rear curtain sync (https://www.slrlounge.com/glossary/rear-curtain-sync-definition/)

The goal is to have the ambient light the subject that will be blurry, the super bright strobe will then freeze the action. This all happens in one frame

Here’s how I’d set it up.

Get a strobe like this one that can be adjusted.

https://www.amazon.com/GBGS-Halloween-Adjustable-Christmas-Eye-Caring/dp/B00KAWA4TU/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=strobe+light&qid=1555619858&s=gateway&sr=8-9

Set that up next to your subject in a very bright room. Kitchen or bathroom would probably be the best. You might need to bring in another bright desk lamp or something. Once the subject is in place and lit, but before you turn the strobe on you’ll have to put the iPhone camera in to manual mode and adjust the shutter speed and ISO until you get the right motion blur effect you want. Once you have that you’ll need to turn your strobe on and play with the speed until you get it where you want it.

I’ve done these kinds of shots before, it’s a lot of trial and error. Even with a professional camera and setup it’s difficult. With an iPhone you’ll be taking a ton of photos hoping one will work out right.

Here's one I did about a month ago https://schaiterer.smugmug.com/Unlisted/SlideShowImages/n-PC9JSn/i-6srBBN3

A couple can lights like ClownTaint suggested and one moving light like http://amzn.com/B011QEVO44 should be enough to make it look nice. For my budget setup I put a can light in sound mode under each speaker pointing up and the moving light on a cheap light pole, or even just set it on top of the speaker. pssl.com usually has cheap light packages that should be close to what you want.

I would go with something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/American-H2O-Water-Effect-Light/dp/B002YKXIZS

I am sure there are cheaper ones around

i have these, they're good. get some velcro to stick them to the back of your monitor. the glue on the back doesn't stick worth crap.

Bias Lighting for HDTV USB Powered TV Backlighting Home Theater Accent lighting, Smartdio 35.4" Led Strip Light Multi Color RGB

https://www.amazon.com/Lighting-Backlighting-lighting-Smartdio-increase/dp/B01GO2TH6K/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1480537500&sr=8-7&keywords=rgb+led+lights+usb+powered

they'll give good ambience at night and i get no eyestrain anymore. plus they're usb powered so just plugem into your monitor or pc case.

the pictures on the amazon page are no joke, they're bright.

Merry Christmas OP!

I'm trying to get DJ equipment to start my dream of being a DJ. It's kinda already started because through lots of legwork and thrift-store shopping I managed to get some barely-passable home audio stuff, but it can't take the strain of DJing and can't be used for anything larger than ~40 people. I've had to turn down gigs because of it and judging by how frickin' hot it gets after I play for a few hours, it's going to be dead soon.

I made an Amazon list of what I need to buy to be at a semi-professional level. The cheapest thing that's independently useful would be the microphone, I believe, but literally anything is greatly appreciated, even if it's just a cord for something I don't have yet or something. The speakers are the most important thing by far, but they're extremely expensive.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004QJOZS4/ - Dynamic microphone (the condenser mics pick up all the background noise and are way more prone to feedback)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006NMUJA/ - Pop cover that would fit that mic

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Q802USB - Mixer (without it the speakers and stuff won't work)

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/traktor/dj-software/traktor-pro-2/ - Professional software (the one I currently use is free software lacking a lot of the functionality of this)

https://www.image-line.com/flstudio/ - Production software

https://www.amazon.com/Akai-Professional-MPK-Mini-Controller/dp/B00IJ6QAO2/ - Cheap keyboard MIDI with a drum pad to use with FL Studio

https://www.amazon.com/JBL-LSR305-Professional-Studio-Monitor/dp/B00F1DEI8G/ - Monitor speakers

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000068NW5/ - Cords for the montiors (I'd need 2)

https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-Speakers-Speaker-Stands-Travel/dp/B00M0EHEJE/ - Mackie Thump15s w/ cases and stands

https://www.amazon.com/Male-Female-Cables-long-cables/dp/B01IDI5OE2/ - Cables for the speakers and subwoofer

https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-THUMP18S-1200-Watt-18-Inch-Subwoofer/dp/B00IN2WHFI/ - Subwoofer

https://www.amazon.com/Stage-SS7745-Adjustable-Subwoofer-Attachment/dp/B002M8GBT2/ - Stand for the subwoofer

https://www.amazon.com/Stage-LS7730-Lighting-Stand-Truss/dp/B00119MJM6/ - Lighting truss

https://www.amazon.com/LaluceNatz-Lights-Multi-effects-Control-Lighting/dp/B011QEVO44/ - Colored lights (it would need 2)

https://www.amazon.com/Roxant-Super-Bright-Activated-Adjustable-Control/dp/B01LVXCDKX/ - Strobe lights (2 as well)

https://www.amazon.com/Large-Stage-Light-Party-Lighting/dp/B012TZCJHU/ - Hooks for the lighting (1 per light, 4 total)

https://www.amazon.com/Security-JFDWOPHT-Stainless-Safety-Lighting/dp/B01CSO5IIY/ - Security hooks for the lights (to save the lights if they fall from the hooks)

https://www.amazon.com/Furman-SS6B-Plug-Surge-Protector/dp/B0002D017M/ - Powerstrip (I'd need 2)

https://www.amazon.com/MAGMA-75541-Control-Stand-Controller/dp/B01MFHGS06/ - Laptop/controller stand

https://www.amazon.com/Numark-NV-Intelligent-Dual-Display-Touch-Capacitive/dp/B00M85GCTI/ - 4-deck controller

https://www.amazon.com/Magma-MGA47982-CTRL-Numark-Controller/dp/B00RK9Z40K/ - Case for the controller


Not going for a sob story here, but rather explanation of why I don't have money to spend on this stuff - I've got no family and I've got Lyme's Disease which I wasn't allowed to treat back when I had a family (strictly against modern medicine) and now can't treat because of an error made on my government-provided health insurance that's so far been going on for 8 months and is yet to be fixed. Lyme destroys your joints, so standing and walking for a retail job (not yet out of college) is extremely painful for days afterwards. Once I get treatment I'm going to put my nose to the grindstone and get two jobs to finance it, but still, anything helps. If you go through my post history you'll see mention of a few Christmas gifts, specifically a set of headphones, and those are from friends. I really really really appreciate them because they put a lot of thought into them and read reviews and all, but I wound up not being able to use them, but instead returned them and spent the money on a professional set of headphones, which is why there are no headphones on that list of links.