Daniel Mercadante, in collaboration with his wife Katina as The Mercadantes, has created a remarkable collection of films including “Ball” and “Breathe.” Recently, Daniel has delved into the realm of still photography with his captivating series titled Rainbow Road. After relocating to rural Connecticut from California, Daniel sought to infuse warmth into the frosty blue hours of the Northeast’s prolonged winters.

Employing long exposure techniques and a specially crafted lighting rig adorned with colored gels, the process behind these images is surprisingly straightforward: Daniel runs around with the lighting rig to form the roads. Apart from basic color and exposure adjustments, no other post-production manipulation takes place. Daniel explains, “After years dedicated to the moving image, I’ve grappled with capturing singular moments in still imagery. I adore how this project still requires capturing images over 15 seconds to 1 minute, demanding the same passage of time as a shot in one of our short films.”

Beyond their Connecticut Rainbow Roads (which Daniel amusingly relates to the Mario Kart paths of his youth), the Mercadantes have expanded this vibrant project to Guatemala, where local children have been instrumental in selecting the photoshoot locations. Daniel expresses their intention to continue their journey with these low-tech, high-color Roads. For more captivating creations by the Mercadantes, be sure to explore their works on Instagram and Vimeo.