Not just for show—a tool you can count on.
── What prompted you to get another GR this time?
Since my manager was expecting a baby, I asked an art director I’m close with, “Do you have any camera recommendations?” He replied, “It starts up quickly, is compact, and lets you snap photos in an instant—it’s the best for capturing everyday moments.” I happened to be there at the time, and as I listened to their conversation, I found myself wanting one too.
── The size is just right for everyday use, isn't it?
That’s right. So, I was planning to take some pictures of my kid with the GR, but he ended up snatching the camera from me instead. He said, “I’ll take the picture!” (laughs). It’s a good size for a kid to hold, and he’s at just the right age to be getting interested in cameras. It wasn’t bad at all to look at the photos he took, either.
── Has owning a GR brought about any changes in your daily life?
When I started using the GR again, I found that just holding the camera puts me in a mindset where I actively observe the world around me. It really made me realize how great it is to have a camera. There are things—like beautiful light—that I’d overlook if I didn’t have it with me. Having the GR gives me a deeper understanding of the world; it makes me look more closely and helps me notice things I might otherwise miss.
── Don't you ever think about taking pictures with your smartphone?
I take photos with my smartphone, too, but the photos get automatically adjusted. They end up looking very digital. The results are different from the ones I take with my GR.
── The subtleties of the light and the atmosphere just don't come through on a smartphone camera, do they?
Oh, right—the photos end up looking too sharp. They come out crisp, but they don’t capture that subtle feeling or atmosphere. It’s not that I want them to look perfect; I just want to capture the vibe and the tone. It was cloudy this morning too, but when the sun came out in the afternoon, I thought, “This is my chance,” and wandered around taking pictures. I often take a 30-minute walk at lunchtime to go to a soba restaurant, and even then, I just bring my smartphone and my GR.
── What kind of tool do you think the GR is?
It really feels like a super-useful tool. People call it a “snapshot camera” because you don’t have to set it up—and that’s exactly what it is. You just snap away at whatever catches your eye, and then look at the photos later and think, “This one turned out great.” There’s the joy of snapping a shot on the fly without even looking through the viewfinder and getting a surprisingly good result, and when the light looks just right, you can take the time to think through the composition. It’s great that it lets you do both.
── Even among professionals, there are a lot of people who use it, aren't there?
An art director I know is one such example, and there are also professional photographers who own multiple cameras and use this one as one of them. It really made me realize once again that this isn’t just a camera for show. It feels like it’s built on the premise that it’s a tool you can absolutely rely on.
── (Looking at the bookshelf) Do you have a favorite photographer?
I really like (William) Eggleston and (Wolfgang) Tillmans. They capture ordinary, everyday things in such a beautiful way, don’t they? I’m inspired by that, so I shoot with a sense of searching for those kinds of images. Among the photos I took this time, I especially like the ones where something is reflected through glass or where there’s a nice sense of layering. It feels like I’m seeing the world through a different lens than I usually do.
── Now that you mention it, Mr. Nagaba’s illustrations are simple and monochromatic, so they might be quite different from the layered look and texture of photographs.
I like photos that have a sense of overlapping layers—in terms of light, I prefer those with a soft glow. My paintings, on the other hand, are the opposite: I pare things down and focus on how to create something emotional. I think about how I can evoke a response using minimal elements. Since I can’t layer elements in my paintings, I feel like I’m searching for a different approach.
