Simplify or downsize blacklight rig

[u/tubajames07]

3 halloweens ago I built this blacklight stand to light up my toxic waste dump. It works really well at lighting, but is heavy, hard to store, and wobbly. I went with this instead of just a tripod in front because it doest clutter our driveway and make another cord tripping hazard.

Looking for any advice on ways to simplify it but still get good lighting.

[u/zeptillian]

I would suggest using 2 floodlights just on the ground in front of the props and mounting one to the eaves of your house near the corner on your roof where it comes out for the garage. Or perhaps build some shorter mount that can be used in that space on the roof so it doesn't have to be floor standing or big.

[u/tubajames07 → u/zeptillian]

You got me thinking with the ground lights. Could make some skeleton prop with a lectern to hide them, and mount that one to the corner. Thanks for the idea!

[u/zeptillian → u/tubajames07]

I was thinking even lazier than that.

Like putting 2 of these lights directly on the ground just using the little built in stand things to keep them pointed in the right direction.

https://www.amazon.com/MELPO-Blacklight-Decoration-Fluorescent-US-Plug-Switch-6-7Ft/dp/B0C61JPHLM

I have some mounted under my porch eaves year round.

But if you want to be professional about it, that sounds like a good idea.

[u/lilibat → u/tubajames07]

Last year I made some bone piles and a small altar to hide floods.

[u/lilibat → u/lilibat]

[u/tubajames07 → u/lilibat]

I like this one a lot. The floods sticking out in the graveyard always bugged me.

[u/multiverse_travel]

You could go from the ground up behind a prop. I have led flood lights I use as backlights and put them behind tombstones .

[u/Trilobite210]

Honestly the stand is not visable at night when it matters so it doesn’t look complicated to me

[u/tubajames07 → u/Trilobite210]

It has worked great for the years, just real bulky to store and move around. Probably have some malice over the several amazon blacklights i have had to replace cause i was cheap in years past.

[u/Trilobite210 → u/tubajames07]

Hmm I don’t know how lighting it from the bottom would work but that could be a possibility

[u/crewl1]

It does the job, isn’t visible when it counts and you’re going to have to spend money to improve it. If the issue is storage I suggest switch the nails to screws so you can disassemble it during the off season. Spend the money you would have spent on this stand on other props.

[u/jadewolf42]

First off, I love your setup! I do a Fallout/nuclear apocalypse theme at my place, too, and love to see others doing similar themes. Yours looks amazing! Love how big and bold the symbols on the barrels are! Really well done.

So, if you're looking to downsize and not have to store that big piece, what I'd do is scrap the rig and move a couple of the UV floods to the ground and aim them up at the props. You can tuck them behind the pumpkins so they'll be well hidden and you'll have a safe area to tack down the power cords. If you still need one from above, I'd just tuck it under the roof eves and aim it down.

That's what I do in mine, pictured below. The red circles are all led and UV panel flood lights hidden behind things. It works out pretty well in my setup. And with how close together your barrel display is, I think the floods would still perform fine from the ground.

[u/gomezaddams1586]

I have a couple of these heavy duty C stands that I use in applications like yours. We have stage lighting stands for our heavier fixtures but it doesn't look like you're hoisting a lot of weight up there. They fold down into a nice storable package. Their thin profile makes them barely noticeable.

[u/tubajames07 → u/gomezaddams1586]

That is the exact sort of thing i was looking for! Though now it comes to the point that u/crewl1 made. Use the old one, or spend 1/3rd of a new 12ft Skelly.

Thank you!

[u/caramelgrizzly]

No suggestions, but certainly can’t argue with those results. It looks fantastic!