The GXR Broadens the Scope of What Can Be Captured

Rinko Kawauchi spends about a third of the year abroad. This time, she traveled through Germany and Paris with the GXR. The photographs she took serve as a travelogue: raindrops trickling down a train window en route from Germany to Paris, swans swimming, and early morning train stations.

“I tried to photograph anything that caught my eye. I shoot quite often in my daily life, so this is an extension of that. For short trips or events, I usually bring a compact camera and shoot casually.”

This was her first time using the GXR.

“I like using flash, so I was delighted that this compact camera allowed for manual flash control. Without it, I get really stressed. I thought, ‘This has really evolved.’ It broadens the scope of what can be captured.”

She intentionally used slight over-focusing. The swan photograph, for instance, was taken with a background of an ordinary river. The decision to darken the background was a split-second judgment to create a better contrast with the swan, resulting in the final image.



While Kawauchi often shot on film, she has recently grown fond of digital cameras as well.

“I was invited to a biennial in Brighton, England, this past winter. I did a commissioned work there. The only prompt was ‘Brighton,’ and I was free to choose my subject. I decided to photograph migratory birds. They arrive around 6 PM, just at the edge of darkness. Plus, I was using a telephoto lens, which made it difficult to shoot with film. But with digital, it was possible. In the end, I shot everything digitally. It was even published in a photo book, and there were no issues at all. I believe these are photos that could only be taken with digital.”

Kawauchi may actively incorporate digital cameras into her creative process going forward. Even at gatherings of international photographers, she notes that many now use digital cameras.

“I was told that softer tones suit digital better. So, I thought perhaps it suits me too.”

When asked about her satisfaction with the GXR, which she tried for this occasion, she rated it nearly perfect. Her only suggestion? “The all-black design is cool, but I think a silver or brown option would be nice too.”

Adding the pleasure of owning a camera that can be coordinated with clothing and accessories would surely cater to an even wider range of needs. Furthermore, as a photographer, she holds high expectations for the GXR, anticipating its continued evolution beyond its design.

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