danielincandela.com » Flickr

Racing

Daniel — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 12:49:22 +0000

There have been a lot of surprises from my new job (started in March) but one of the biggest perks has to be the freedom to snap photos. It’s not something I really expected when I started, but on my first day I was handed a pretty cool camera as something I could use throughout the year. I didn’t argue.

Takuma Sato at Watkins Glen

I tend to look at things differently when holding a camera. This has provided a unique point of view working in racing and traveling – walking through pit lane, the garages, and various locations we visit. It gives me a greater appreciation for the effort that goes into this industry – especially the crew members that work on IndyCar teams.

Working in pit lane at Toronto

It’s also been fascinating to see the entire process that photographers go through at the race track. There are long hours, usually spent in the heat, searching for ‘the’ shot. That’s followed up with more time spent at a computer image editing and then uploading. Then these shots may or may not be used online. It hard work for them. But it’s creative and you’re around really fast pieces of machinery.

I plan on writing more about this experience once the season is over. In the meantime, enjoy some of the images I’ve snapped throughout the season. Or not.

you see it differently than.me

Daniel — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:45:34 +0000

There’s a new project in town: youseeitdifferentlythan.me

It’s a collaboration with Casey Mullins – who’s a photographer, writer, Moosh in Indy, pretty funny human, friend, mother and lots more.

you see it differently that DOT me

We’re in cahoots on this new project that combines the written word and photography. We met for lunch one day and had it all figured out before I had eaten my 3rd wedge of quesadilla.

I’m lucky. Casey get thousands of web hits a day. I celebrate when I get double digits. I’m glad she agreed to collaborate on this. She also wrote about this project, here. Notice all the comments? Yep.

Our project is a simple concept.

We take turns picking one of our photographs from Flickr. We both write about the image, without consulting the other. The post is then published as one – two sides of the story, one pic. Pretty cool, huh?

We both take it very seriously. We both believe in it. It’s still in it’s infancy. We’re still figuring it out. And we both think you’ll enjoy it.

Would we lie to you?

Looking out the window

Daniel — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 22:08:23 +0000

Do you remember you first flight? I surprisingly don’t. The first flight I remember (which I think was my 3rd) was on Virgin from London Gatwick to Newark. I don’t mind long flights, but my first experience with America, was the Newark airport. Oh well. My mom told me, that my first flight was from London Gatwick to Geneva, Swtizterland on the now defunct airline British Caledonian. During this flight, I got to visit the cockpit, annoy pilots and check out europe. Pretty cool, but it’s a shame I don’t remember it.

Since my first flight (even the one to Newark), I’ve been fascinated by and in awe of flying. I still get apprehensive during take off and landings. I always look up at the sky to identify passing planes. I love the history and panache of Pan Am. I keep up with airline industry. My first “May I present to you…” series was about Harriet Baskas, a wonderful writer about….airports, travel and more. And when I do fly, I spend a lot of the time, looking out the window, 6 miles in the air, zooming at 500 miles per hour.

Looking out the window...

I enjoy the alone time on a flight. I always get a window seat. I listen to music, play video games on my PSP, work and read. But I always have one eye on the window, and my camera handy. It’s amazing what the world looks like at 30,000 feet.

I love my blues

I’ve taken hundreds of these shots. And of course I upload them to Flickr, including contributing to a couple of really cool groups. From the Airplane Window and Window seat please, both include shots from above, from travelers all over the world. It’s amazing what people capture just from an airplane window. It reminds me I have a lot more to see in this world.

In my career, I’ve worked a lot with video, web development and online strategies, but I always find myself coming back to the still image and most of the time, Flickr. Maybe I’m old school or I like the simplicity of a single framed shot. In the case of sitting on a plane, I guess I want to make sure I’m not going to forget a unique experience.

Chunks of ice below

I’ve been slightly inactive on Flickr recently because of the new job, bad weather and lack of travel. In the next month or two, I hope to become more active on Flickr, including some new projects. You’ll still get my standard window shots, views from my hotel room, clouds, and all the other predictable pics I capture. But, I am working on some new things, including video. So stay tuned.

By the way, if you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them.

My/Your Cannoli Flickr Group

Daniel — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:00:33 +0000

I don’t recall the first time I had a cannoli. I do remember eating the most incredible cannoli in 1996 while in Venice. It was amazing. Since then, I’ve held a special space in my stomach for this delicate Italian dessert. I’ve enjoyed some good one’s since, but none quite compare.

A cannoli from Rome

So of course I took this sugar appreciation to the next level. I created a Flickr group.

It’s simply called Cannoli, and you can access it, here. I started this group almost three years ago during a long layover at La Guardia airport. I adore Flickr and I was thinking of creating a group that would be fairly unique. Surprisingly, cannoli was available. I formed it and searched through Flickr looking for cannoli images, but not finding many. I invited as many as I could to the new group.

From Flickr user lismi171

There a reason I’m writing about Flickr. I started my new job at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this week and I’ve been thinking a lot about digital content and online outlets – such as Flickr, and I’ve already started devising some unique approaches for involving Flickr in our online strategies – specifically how we can engage fans in innovative ways. Stay tuned for updates on IMS and the online arena (especially Flickr sets and groups). But back to the cannoli (wiki definition, here).

Since the group launched, the number of cannoli images has increased dramatically. I spent part of tonight viewing some of the images, selecting my favorites and inviting them to join this group. It’s already growing. I like Flickr for this reason. It’s members are committed, community-driven and willing to participate. Not to mention the talented photographers.

The cannoli is a simple yet complicated dessert. It’s delicate and robust. It’s crunchy yet soft. It’s like life.

So enjoy my dorky Flickr group, upload some images and in the words of Peter Clemenza:

“Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.”

The official IND airport Flickr group

Daniel — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:12:17 +0000

I’m a huge Flickr junky. I love taking photos, adding them to my Flickr acct., and most of the time adding nonsensical descriptions. It’s one of the few creative outlets I have. Here’s one of my favorite Flickr images, snapped with one of my old phones. This is outside the Rathskellar. He probably had one too many Optimators. Or was listening to Polka Boy.

Dead Clown

I’ve started several Flickr groups over the past few years. I’ll be highlighting them over time, but today I wanted to focus on the one I started for the Indianapolis International Airport. You can view it in all it’s glory, HERE.

Thanks to Flickr user HOK Network

Indianapolis now has a world class airport. Truly world class. And if you want to learn more about it, I suggest you read this series of posts by Indianapolis blogger and urban contemplator, The Urbanophile. Even if you’re not into airport commentary, read any of his other posts, Indy is lucky to have him.

I’m not proud of the new George Lucas Oil stadium. I’m not that fond of Conseco Fieldhouse. BUT, I am a huge fan of the new airport. The new airport might be the single, most important project this city has ever done. In my opinion, it has made Indianapolis a city. I had the opportunity to tour the new airport prior to its opening and I remember thinking a good tag line for a marketing campaign, could be: “The New Indianapolis Airport: You don’t have to move anymore.” And I’ll bet anyone a beer, it helped Indianapolis in it’s successful bid to become a potential World Cup venue.

So I’m asking you to join my sense of pride. Join the Indianapolis International (flights to Cancun and Toronto) Airport Flickr group. Travel, enjoy free wifi, rest assured your baggage will make it and take pictures! I know I will.

The baggage nerve center