Vivid Rainbow Roads Trace Illuminated Pathways Across Forests and Beaches.

Daniel Mercadante, collaborating with his wife Katina as The Mercadantes, has produced many notable films, including notable works such as Ball and Breathe. However, Daniel has recently dived into the realm of still photography with a mesmerizing series called Rainbow Road. Formerly living in California, the couple moved to rural Connecticut, where Daniel sought to channel warmth into the cold blue hour of the long winter in the region.

Using long exposure photography and a specially structured lighting system decorated with colored gels, the process behind creating these images is surprisingly simple. Daniel himself walks through the scene with a truss of lights, styling the streets that form the focal point of each photo. Aside from basic exposure and color adjustments, no other post-processing is used. Daniel explains, “after years of focusing on moving images, I struggled with those special moments captured in still images—so I love how this project still requires 15 minutes of photography. seconds-1 minute, so in a way they require intervals like a shot from one of our short films.”

In addition to their charming Rainbow Roads in Connecticut (which Daniel playfully suggests may have a distant connection to the iconic Mario Kart roads of his youth), Mercadantes has expanded the project. This colorful to Guatemala. During their trip, they invited local children to choose a place to take pictures. Daniel expressed his desire to continue venturing to new destinations with their colorful, low-tech Roads. To discover more of Mercadantes’ fascinating work, be sure to visit their profiles on Instagram and Vimeo.

Through his exploration of still photography in the Rainbow Road series, Daniel Mercadante demonstrated his creative versatility. With custom lighting and long exposure techniques, he transforms ordinary landscapes into vivid and eerie scenes. Despite his expertise in filmmaking, Daniel finds solace in moments captured with still images, allowing him to appreciate the passage of time in a new and profound way. Together with his wife Katina, Mercadantes plan to expand their colorful project to other locations, embracing the Rainbow Road-inspired joy and creativity they create.