Photo © Pierre-Alain Balmer
Biography
Pierre-Alain Balmer is a self-taught photographer based in Geneva who began his photographic practice at the age of nine when he received his first camera. As a teenager, he bought his first film SLR and developed his own film in the family bathroom. During a trip to New York in 2011, he resumed his artistic photography. He trained with professional photographers by attending workshops and masterclasses in Switzerland, France, and the United Kingdom. This allowed him to refine his technique and develop his artistic vision.
His personal work falls within the realm of humanist and social photography with an intimate approach. He is interested in and bears witness to societal changes and the transformation of everyday life.
He is the author of two books: Fragile (2020), self-published, and Harmony (2023), published by Éditions Till Schaap. A third book, “Abandon,” is currently in preparation. These are distributed in Switzerland and throughout Europe.
He exhibits regularly, both solo and with photographers’ collectives. He has been invited to exhibit by the Protestant Social Center for Fragile Work, as well as by the “Golden Flute Classic” in Gland (Vaud) and “Les jeunes parmi le jazz” music festivals in Lancy (Geneva). He also regularly participates in exhibitions with the Focale Gallery in Nyon, alongside the gallery’s supporting members.
His “Fragile” project addresses the issue of precariousness in Geneva through a series of black and white portraits, which he combines with intimate images or snapshots of our anonymous, urbanized environment. This work was recognized at the 2019 Nuit de la Photo in La Chaux-de-Fonds, where he was a finalist in the portfolio review. He was also shortlisted for the 2022 Swiss Press Awards.
He continued his work as an author with the “Harmony” project, between 2020 and 2023, which highlights the work of luthiers and other musical instrument makers.
In 2024, he produced a project on the impacts and consequences of climate change on Swiss ski resorts that had to close and remain abandoned.
His work also leads him to cover classical and jazz music festivals. He focuses on the relationship between the musician and their instrument and their interpretation of a musical piece. For nearly 10 years, he has been one of the official photographers for the “Golden Flute Classic” and “Jazz Among Young People” festivals.