SIYU AWARD
SIYU AWARD

Christian Schmid
Ein Mann ist kein Mann

“Every Swiss male citizen is required to perform military service.”Federal Act on the Army and the Administration of the Military (LAAM), Chapter 1, Art. 2. This work is a series of photographs exploring the perspective of many young Swiss adults during their 126 days of mandatory military service, as well as the range of emotions they experience throughout. At a time when the world is undergoing increasing tensions and threats are becoming globalized, the relevance of a militia army comes into question for Switzerland. This model can seem outdated against the modern threats and growing number of conflicts near Europe’s borders. For the young recruits, the idea of a strong, defensive militia army and the conviction of contributing to the defense of a neutral country remain a common narrative for which four months of their lives are put on hold, even though not all truly believe in. An absurdity and a daily paradox then sets in and, while war seems distant, some may question whether their personal sacrifices still hold meaning.This project captures, from the inside, the duality between moments that foster unity and patriotism—such as singing the national anthem under a flag every morning—and more raw, childlike aspects, like playing with firearms or wrestling in dorms between inspections. The army is omnipresent in Swiss society, and everyone identifies with it in one way or another. As a Swiss citizen, I submitted a request to the Swiss army to create a documentary as a live actor during my service. Over four months, during the winter of 2024, I was embedded within a marksmen and markswomen (späher/éclaireur) company based in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, capturing the daily life of the army. Words sometimes fail to describe this complex universe that the army is. I wanted to represent as authentically this world through the lens of someone living within it. The entire project was shot using a Ricoh GR III. I needed a small, compact camera, as we were constantly on the move. It was captured with a fixed focal length of 18.3 mm and in black and white. I like the idea that, when viewing my project, one might not immediately recognize which army it represents or what year it was taken. Ein Mann ist kein Mann (translated as “One man is no man”) is a German expression frequently heard in the army ranks to reinforce team spirit.

My name is Christian Schmid, I was born the 2nd of January 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland. I have lived most of my life in Switzerland, in the city of Fribourg. I was introduced to photography by my grandfather, who loved taking pictures and bringing me to museums and galleries. I bought my first camera around 2017, then did everything I could to get into photography school (CEPV), where I spent four years exploring the technical aspects of the field before graduating. I also spent 6 months working as an assistant in Zurich and Stockholm. I have taken on my own assignments, working on commercial projects for furniture brands and private portrait commissions. My journey was briefly interrupted when I had to complete my mandatory military service in Switzerland in 2024. Even then, I didn’t stop taking photos; instead, I turned this experience into an artistic project documenting those months in uniform. Right now, I am working as an assistant in Paris.

Christian Schmid
Ein Mann ist kein Mann

“Every Swiss male citizen is required to perform military service.”Federal Act on the Army and the Administration of the Military (LAAM), Chapter 1, Art. 2. This work is a series of photographs exploring the perspective of many young Swiss adults during their 126 days of mandatory military service, as well as the range of emotions they experience throughout. At a time when the world is undergoing increasing tensions and threats are becoming globalized, the relevance of a militia army comes into question for Switzerland. This model can seem outdated against the modern threats and growing number of conflicts near Europe’s borders. For the young recruits, the idea of a strong, defensive militia army and the conviction of contributing to the defense of a neutral country remain a common narrative for which four months of their lives are put on hold, even though not all truly believe in. An absurdity and a daily paradox then sets in and, while war seems distant, some may question whether their personal sacrifices still hold meaning.This project captures, from the inside, the duality between moments that foster unity and patriotism—such as singing the national anthem under a flag every morning—and more raw, childlike aspects, like playing with firearms or wrestling in dorms between inspections. The army is omnipresent in Swiss society, and everyone identifies with it in one way or another. As a Swiss citizen, I submitted a request to the Swiss army to create a documentary as a live actor during my service. Over four months, during the winter of 2024, I was embedded within a marksmen and markswomen (späher/éclaireur) company based in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, capturing the daily life of the army. Words sometimes fail to describe this complex universe that the army is. I wanted to represent as authentically this world through the lens of someone living within it. The entire project was shot using a Ricoh GR III. I needed a small, compact camera, as we were constantly on the move. It was captured with a fixed focal length of 18.3 mm and in black and white. I like the idea that, when viewing my project, one might not immediately recognize which army it represents or what year it was taken. Ein Mann ist kein Mann (translated as “One man is no man”) is a German expression frequently heard in the army ranks to reinforce team spirit.

My name is Christian Schmid, I was born the 2nd of January 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland. I have lived most of my life in Switzerland, in the city of Fribourg. I was introduced to photography by my grandfather, who loved taking pictures and bringing me to museums and galleries. I bought my first camera around 2017, then did everything I could to get into photography school (CEPV), where I spent four years exploring the technical aspects of the field before graduating. I also spent 6 months working as an assistant in Zurich and Stockholm. I have taken on my own assignments, working on commercial projects for furniture brands and private portrait commissions. My journey was briefly interrupted when I had to complete my mandatory military service in Switzerland in 2024. Even then, I didn’t stop taking photos; instead, I turned this experience into an artistic project documenting those months in uniform. Right now, I am working as an assistant in Paris.