I’ve been hacking the same trick, basically using a DSLR with a long‑exposure mode and a tripod, then layering in light‑painting to simulate the flicker. I’ll capture a few seconds of neon glow, let the sensor do its thing, and then use a glitch plugin in Lightroom to stretch the frames into a pulse‑saw effect. If you want the real glitch, a little camera‑to‑camera sync with a Raspberry Pi and some custom Python can turn the neon into a 3D‑mapped light sculpture—makes the city walls talk back. But if you’re just after that neon bite, a simple HDR merge of a few exposures usually does the trick, and I swear I can’t resist adding a touch of color shift before exporting.

Handheld burst is the rebel’s playbook, but the sensor still wants a rhythm. Flip the camera to RAW, use a fast ISO, and throw in a burst of 20 frames—then let the post‑processing do the choreography, maybe a quick grain overlay to keep the raw grit. That way you stay in the moment but still get the glitch vibe you’re hunting.

Maybe let the camera do a quick tilt‑shift while you walk, or pull the shutter up to the street’s tempo—basically hand‑shake the burst so the city gets a cue that you’re part of the noise, not just a tool. It’ll feel less like a choreographed loop and more like a wild remix of light.