Zurich photographer and man about town Walter Schweizer

Why did you start taking photographs?

I enjoyed taking photographs even as a boy. Now, most of my photos are of landscapes. I always have my camera with me on my travels, but I often take photos in Zurich, too. My pictures are very colourful: visitors to my Instagram page would probably be amazed if they found a black-and-white photo there.

What do you most like photographing in Zurich?

My favourite place is the Lindenhof. A lot of people photograph the Lindenhof in the middle of the day or at night, but not many in the morning. However, I especially like the atmosphere early in the morning, when the Lindenhof appears in a completely different light. That is something I enjoy.

One of your projects was ‘12 districts in 12 months’. Can you tell us more about it?

I started that project three years ago. The great thing about the city of Zurich is that it has 12 districts – the same as the number of months in the year. So my aim was to give myself a month to capture different views of a district during ‘its’ month – some of them very typical, and others that are unusual. I explored just district 1 in January, district 2 in February, and so on. The project boosted my profile on Instagram.

How much time do you invest in photography?

In my spare time, I go out for four days and four nights a month to take photographs, and then there is also the time spent editing the images. I carry my camera with me only when I am going out specifically to take photographs. I often start at the central train station at 5 am on Saturday and see what I find.

You’re also a professional photographer.

Yes. I’m employed by Stiftung St. Jakob. As a product photographer, I make sure that our confectionery is presented beautifully. I probably couldn’t make photography my full-time occupation. As a photographer, you’re often out on your own, but I also really enjoy working in a team. The current set-up is really the perfect balance.

How do you go about photographing a product?

In product photography, the purpose of the picture is laid down: the aim is to find the best way of presenting the product. That means I don’t have so much personal freedom. On the other hand, this work demands creativity. I love thinking about what setting is most appropriate for a particular product – such as a Christmas biscuit or a Easter bunny – or what background image will support the product presentation best.

What about outdoor shoots?

With landscape photography, I simply start walking and let myself be inspired by my surroundings. That gives me maximum freedom, and my photos are a combination of those surroundings and what’s going on inside me.

You also post many of your photos on Instagram, don’t you?

I have two channels on Instagram. On zurichby.ch I post only pictures from Zurich, and I use einfach_schweizer for images from all over the country. I also like looking at the profiles of other photographers, partly to gain inspiration but also to keep in touch with all the new things going on in my field. I find new platforms such as TikTok or Instagram Reels exciting. I am finding that short video clips are gaining a lot of ground. It’s a trend that I am keen to try out.

What plans do you have for the future?

My current project also revolves around something that can be described as ‘typically Zurich’ – the tram. The idea is that it will give me an opportunity to integrate portraits into my work alongside landscape photography. In other words, I want to be guided thematically by the tram routes. As with ‘12 districts in 12 months’, they will provide me with a framework within which I can give free rein to my inspiration. My framework will then be the tramway tracks that I walk along. In parallel with that, I also want to devote more of my attention to filming. I am always on the lookout for something new. You can’t change what has happened in the past – what interests me is the future.