Born in Zurich in 1946, Dr Hc Hannes SCHMID is today one of the most important photo-artists in Switzerland. Continuing journeys took him around the world, where he developed his own characteristic visual language as an advertising, fashion and freelance photographer, characterized by personal ties to the objects.

Dr Hc Hannes SCHMID achieved worldwide fame with his staging of the iconic cowboy – the Marlboro Man. Legendary, is his collection of over 70,000 photos of the biggest rock stars. In more recent times, he has also attracted attention with his photographs and photorealistic art. And since 2012 he has been involved in humanitarian activities for children and families in Cambodia, one of the poorest countries in the world, with the non-profit association Smiling Gecko (www.smilinggecko.ch).