danielincandela.com

I’ve not been shy in previous posts about sharing my love for travel. Or riding on planes. I also love sitting on trains and buses. Basically anything that lets me sit, think and look out the window. Each day in Japan, we take a 1-hour bus ride to a from the Twin Ring Motegi race track. I awake in my itsy bitsy room and Hotel Sunshine, shower, get ready and head down to the local 7-Eleven and buy some coffee drinks and a weird pastry. Then I get on the bus.

Lots of coffee in Japan

A lot of people complain about the bus ride. I get that. It’s two hours out of a day when you’re already jet lagged and working. But I love it.

(more…)

Filed under: Japan, Travel, Video by Daniel
No Comments »

I’ve actually been to Japan 3 times. I only count two, but my passport says otherwise. I got stranded for a night returning from Singapore when my flight got canceled during my connection at Narita. United Airlines put me up in a hotel for a night. Back in 2008, that meant I headed straight to the bar. I ended up drinking about $100 of Japanese Scotch. Which was delicious by the way.

Early next morning at the airport (hungover), I searched for fluids to begin the healing process. No stores were open. This only led me to Vending Machines. And so an obsession began. This was the first Japanese Vending Machine I met.

Vending Machine 1

(more…)

Filed under: Flickr, Japan, Photography, Travel by Daniel
No Comments »

Konnichiha.

I’m in Japan for a bit and I came prepared to document. That means as many blog posts as possible – or as an internet connection will allow.

I brought some good gear. A Canon EOS-1 Mark IV. A wide angle lens, fisheye and lensbaby. I also have a GoPro HD camera. I also have lots on my mind – so I’m hoping to capture my thoughts on travel, the people, the food and the sights. I always have a tough time with Jet Lag in Asia, so I might come off a little loopier than normal. Oh, I’m also here for work, so expect some cool racing stuff.

So get ready for my take on Japan. It’s my favorite place.

Shooting from the window of a bus

Filed under: Japan, Robots by Daniel
No Comments »

It was the type of trip that could have used bourbon, xanax, and a little meth. Think Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – but a remake, featuring a middle aged man and his 2 year old son, venturing through two airports.

It sounded like a dream come true. Me, Oliver and a road trip of sorts – flying to Charleston for vacation, via Chicago. Some airport time, flight time, window seat time, bonding time, nap time, giggle time, you get the picture. It definitely started that way.

Lea dropped us of at Indianapolis International Airport and we were ready. Our hair was combed neatly. We had twinkles in our eye. Our teeth sparkled. Our shirts were pressed. We had an air about us. Invincible. Confident. Comrades.

My dear, dear Oliver

(more…)

Filed under: Travel by Daniel
4 Comments »

Late last year, a friend forwarded me a link to the New York Times website. I clicked it, and it took me to Why We Travel: Submit Your Travel Photos 2011. I was sold immediately. Travel, photography, online and writing. All things I love.

So I had 250 words to: “Share your best travel photos and tell us the back story. Where did you go and why? What’s happening in your photo? What does it mean to you? A selection of the top images will appear in the Travel section.” It took me no time to pick a pic and write.

So here is my image and my reasoning behind the shot and selection. Enjoy. PS – not sure if the NYT’s picked it or not.

Vending Machine Land

For many years I’ve dreamt of visiting Tokyo and there were many reasons for this.

Sushi (Yum). Electronics (I’m a geek). Robots (I collect them). Anime (It’s cool). Fashion (It’s so unique). Lights (It creates a great atmosphere) Bustle (The energy). Culture (I studied anthropology). Foreign (I speak English). And vending machines (It’s a culmination of the above).

I had less than 24 hours in Tokyo this past September and I enjoyed every second of it. I walked. I walked a lot. And I carried my camera everywhere, looking for any possible moment to capture.

I took pictures of the electronic and shopping districts. Train stations. My lunch. Various views. Street scenes. Hotels. Shops. You name it.

I also stopped at countless vending machines. Sometimes I knew exactly what I was getting. Other times it was a complete surprise. Now, that’s traveling.

I love this picture. I love that the frame is filled. I purposely shot this without a flash because I wanted to capture the glow of the friendly, robot-like machines. I love that it says COMICTORANOANA. I have no idea what it means – I love these moments.

I grabbed this shot late at night in a Akihabara – kind of the electronic, anime, fashion area. These vending machines represent all of that to me…in a weird sort of way.

I returned to Akihabara the next day and it was packed. The vending machines looked completely different in daylight. I’m glad I found them late at night, alone.

Filed under: Flickr, Photography, Travel by Daniel
2 Comments »