When you walk into any one of the 10 Wilkinson Cameras stores, then of course, you expect the highest level of photographic expertise on hand to help.  But our passion for photography reaches beyond the stores and into just about every aspect of the business, with many a keen photographer at head office and within our partner businesses and suppliers.

This month David Parkinson interviewed Kerry Hendry, the MD at Capture PR – the agency behind our PR and marketing activity. Kerry has been a keen photographer since her teens and has built up an impressive portfolio of equestrian images.  Alongside her PR business, she is also a trainer for Aspire Photography Training and a Fuji X-Photographer and ambassador.

What made you consider switching from DSLR to CSC? 

Originally my motivation for looking at CSC was simple: I wanted something that was smaller, lightweight, and suitable for travel and landscapes.  The Fuji cameras had been out for about 18 months (Xpro1) and the styling first caught my eye.  Then you start reading the spec and the reviews – I just had to buy one.  I started out shooting Fuji film way back as a teenager – so Fuji was an obvious starting point for me.  I also have a weakness for beautiful things!  I bought an X-E2 with the 18-55mm kit lens and it went from there!

Shooting with a CSC takes a bit of getting used to – especially after 20 years of using DSLR.  But it’s fairly intuitive, so very quickly it’s like second nature, plus I’ve discovered a few custom settings that really work for me.  For travel it’s just perfect as I use the LEE Seven5system of filters (graduated NDs, Big Stopper & Little Stopper) – so I can do everything on CSC that I can do on DSLR.

What difference has it made to your photography?

Overall, it’s given me a real sense of freedom – almost like starting out all over again, that kind of fresh energy. I take a camera everywhere with me now, it’s so easy to pop the X-E2 in a bag – even in a normal handbag.

Often the DSLR would get left at home due to weight and size and I got a bit disillusioned.  Creatively the Fuji is…liberating.  It’s like you have someone whispering in your ear, ‘go on, do it!’  Hard to explain but it’s like no one is watching – perhaps because you are just far less conspicuous – but there is this sense of adventure!  It’s encouraged me to try all sorts of new things too.

For portraits the 56mm produces exquisite images with a creamy bokeh to die for.  I get in closer these days, it encourages more interaction with clients (or landscape) and I feel more engaged in the making of an image. I think I’ve slowed down too, which is good – every shot is important.

I recently ran a seminar at Aspire with Fuji – I shot all day on the 56mm lens (and X-T1), just perfect.

I find I’m using primes more too (currently the 14mm & 56mm, and looking to purchase the 35mm).  I love this way of shooting – it’s different to relying on a zoom, you have to be more involved, but the results are great and I think overall it’s made me a better photographer.  I think more, shoot less and I like the images I’m producing.

Switching systems, I’ve had to ‘work things out’ - it’s important to me to ‘know how things work’ – there’s always more to learn as technology evolves! I am a bit of a geek!

Are you trying new types of photography because the unit is more portable / less noticeable?

Yes absolutely.  For portraits particularly the size makes the camera much less intimidating.  With the wonderful wide apertures on the Fuji lenses I’ve experimented even more with depth of field and particularly (don’t ask me why!) shooting contre-jour – into the light.

I want to see how far I can go – so far, nothing has phased the Fuji!

Million dollar question, how has the quality stacked up against your traditional DSLR system? 

This of course is the million dollar question indeed – and at this point I am going to put my hands up and say I don’t have a testing lab! My views are based on hands on use – and I print a lot of my pictures, so that’s my ultimate test:  can the images stand up to being enlarged and printed without compromise?  I’ll scrutinize the images at 100% on screen and so far I’ve been perfectly happy.

I have a landscape image over my desk which I love – and for me was a real turning point in terms of using CSC.  I was shooting at Dungeness, my bag was so light I had to double check I’d not forgotten the camera. I was shooting through an old boat shed with a boat in the distance.  I took a few days in this location just to chill out – and loved it. The quality of this print makes me smile every time I look at it.  All I’ve done in post-production is crop to square and add a sepia tone – it’s one of my favourite images and at the time of shooting it, it felt like being set free.  A weight lifted, quite literally.

Will you be selling all your DSLR gear and switching over completely? 

At the moment, there is just one final piece of the jigsaw I am waiting for from Fuji – and that’s the hotly anticipated 50-140mm f2.8.  Until that is released, I’m holding on to a Nikon D800 and my 70-200mm f2.8 for some of my horse work.

After that – if the new Fuji lens is as good as is hoped – I’ll switch completely and sell the remaining Nikon kit.

That said, I was lucky enough to be loaned a pre production sample of the new XF 18-135mm and put that through its paces shooting Polo and Horse Racing – it doesn’t get faster than that!

How do you feel about being asked to be one of Fuji’s chosen brand ambassadors?

Wow, this was an amazing time – I remember when they asked me and I was beyond excited.  I know that’s not very ‘cool’, but the day I can’t be passionate about things, I’ll give up.

I started out in my own photography shooting Fuji film – yes, that stuff you kept in the fridge (and smelt lovely!) – grainy black & white film, Velvia transparency film for landscapes.  I remember the excitement of going to collect the trannies from the lab (and many a journey home holding them up to the car window for a sneaky peak).

There are many manufacturers out there – but for me Fuji was the first choice.  Fuji, in my experience, has always really looked after its customers, my heart started with Fuji film, and I still feel that loyalty today, especially with the new found freedom the X-cameras have given me.

Of course, in the PR business I deal with all the brands – but out of work, in my own time, I’m a Fuji girl.

At the end of the day – the image quality these cameras produce is first class and they are a joy to use – that’s why we do it!

For more information on Kerry’s work visit - www.lovetheimage.co.uk

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