Well actually I've been lurking for quite some time but finally decided to join. My name is Steve and I'm so happy to have found a forum full of lighting "geeks" like myself. For the longest time I thought I was the only one to have such a fascination with things that most people see as "everyday". I've always had a fascination with lights and electricity since even before I could talk...haha and yes I did mess with stuff that kids that age probably shouldn't...but I'm still here LOL

Anywho pretty much any form of electrically produced light interests me, but I've always had a certain fondness to fluorescents...especially as a child. My mom always said that I could point out the failed lights in walmart or the grocery store within five mins of walking in the door...and this was when I was only 3 or 4 years old. In fact I think my first word was 'burned out' lol. At home pretty much anything long and rigid, such as a broom handle or cardboard tube, would be turned into a "pretend" fluorescent light. I would sometimes even color the ends black to "pretend" they were at EOL. Imagine my delight when I finally got a "real" one

As an adult my interest focuses heavily on stage and theatrical lighting, which I'm lucky enough to get to "play" with on a regular basis via a volunteer position at my church as well as other community events from time to time. Other interests of mine are video production as well as just about anything having to do with computers and technology. One of my jobs is an IT tech at a local non profit and I really enjoy that. I'm also a fan of videogames...esp. Nintendo and Princess Peach...hence the username. I really am a geek haha, but don't worry, I take it as a complement

Welcome to Lighting-Gallery! Great bunch of folks here with a common interest, yet diverse collections! My favorite is also obviously fluorescent, but you should check out my little setup of stage/party lighting! I went all out playing with these things! They are controlled by a DMX controller, which allows LED lights to do some cool things! Please post photos of your collection and work!

Wow, your bio is almost identical to mine! I work in IT for two school districts where I do anything electronic-related. I also do videography on the side. I only take on small projects because I have limited equipment, resources, and skills! Still, it is nice to get away from working on computer equipment all day. I also work in the business office at one school.

One of my jobs at work is performing all the technical work in our community auditorium. For most school events and other small events, I do everything from sound design to lighting design to electrical to sweeping the floors! On larger shows, I do have the luxury of a hiring a crew. We don't really have any interesting lighting instruments, but there are some older Capitol Fresnels still in use. I posted a picture of one here a few weeks ago.

Personally, I've always been an incandescent fan, but I enjoy fluorescents as well. I've only recently started taking an interest in streetlights and other uses of discharge lighting.

And mine , I was wiring HID circuits up when I was 10!!!, Dad would have killed me if he had found out
Welcome Steve

@DieselNut
Yeah seems like a great little community here, I like it. I did see a couple pictures of your party set up, I thought the colored fluorescents were neat alongside all the stage and effects lighting. I'm not sure how extensive you got with programming your DMX but trust me when I say it can be very time consuming just programming a show...but also very rewarding. I own a couple LED pars myself, they are 3 watt diodes and insanely bright...have to post pictures of them for you guys sometime.

@nogden
I so hear ya about the limited budget thing, esp. since I work for non profit and volunteer much of my time. But I've always said that it's not so much about owning the most expensive equipment but being creative and resourceful with what you do have available.

@LinearSLI/H
According to what my mother has said I've been taking apart and rewiring things since before I could talk, it's a wonder I didn't electrocute myself to death...I've been 'zapped' more times then I care to think about