Didier Ruef

Reportage, 2017

Swiss love guns

Switzerland. Canton Fribourg. Estavayer. A young boy is playing with an automatic or semi-automatic assault rifle SG 550 at a swiss army stall during the Federal Wrestling and Alpine Games Festival. 27.08.2016 — Weapon. Firearm. Children. Death

Switzerland. Canton Ticino. Lugano. Federal Choir Festival in Costume. The beauty and tradition of costumes from all regions of Switzerland. A hunter from the Ticino Canton carries a backpack with a dead stuffed chamois and a rifle. 12.06.2016 — Hunter. Chamois. Weapon. Death

Switzerland. Canton Bern. Guttannen. Every year, on August 14, the village of Guttannen organizes a shooting competition to commemorate the battlefield's memory from August 14, 1779 which took place on the Grimsel pass between the French and Austrian troops. More than 450 shooters (men and women) aim their rifles and automatic or semi-automatic assault rifles SG 550 on targets distant 380 meters. 14.08.2017 — Weapon. Firearm. Competition. Target. Finger

Switzerland. Canton Valais. On the Great St. Bernard Pass. A group of men from the — Soldier. Weapon. Muskets. Tourism. Dog.

Switzerland. Canton Basel-Landschaft. Liestal. The celebration of — Weapon. Rifles. Shooting. Smoke. Noise

Switzerland. Canton Geneva. Geneva. Hôtel de l'Arquebuse (Arquebus hotel). Salle des rois (Shooting kings’ room). Exercises de l’Arquebuse et de la Navigation is a shooting sports’ association. The paintings on the walls represent the portraits of former presidents from « Exercises de l’Arquebuse et de la Navigation » (R) and former shooting kings (L) . The riflemen's association members from all over Switzerland stand up and celebrate « L’escalade » memorial shooting. A gun, a rifle and a Fass 90 assault rifle are drawn on the flag of the — Weapon. Firearm. Gun. Art. Flag.

Switzerland. Canton Uri. Rütli. A competitor and member of the riflemen's association holds his automatic or semi-automatic assault rifle SG 550 during the Rütlischiessen. Rütli or Grütli is a mountain meadow overlooking the lake Lucerne where the oath of the Rütlischwur for the forming of the Old Swiss Confederacy is said to have occurred as the legendary turning-point in the pursuit of independence. To commemorate this historic event, the riflemen's association of Lucerne organized the Rütli rifle match (Rütlischiessen) in 1862. It is held every year on the Wednesday before Martinmas (Saint Martin's Day). Thousand competitors from all over Switzerland fire their fifteen shots at targets arranged on a cliff. 9.11.2016 — Rütlischiessen. Tradition. Weapon. Firearm. Man.

Switzerland. Canton Bern. Neuenegg. Historisches Neueneggschiessen. A group of men and women, all dressed with historic traditional soldiers outfits, carry muskets with bayonets during a historical reenactment parade in order to celebrate the Neuenegg battle. On March 5, 1798, under the command of Colonel Johann Rudolf von Graffenried, the Bernese army triumphed over numerically superior French troops under Brigadier General Pigeon. The Swiss proved their military skills by defeating a Napoleonic brigade. Napoleon still conquered Switzerland, but that hasn't prevented the celebration of Neuenegg's victory each year. A woman watches the parade from her window. 5.03.2017 — Weapon. Muskets. Bayonet. Historic. Military parade.

Switzerland. Canton Obwald. Lungern. Brünig Indoor shooting range. A woman is shooting with a cowboy action old-style revolver (P38) during a Jesse James event. 17.05-2017 — Shooting range. Weapon. Firearm. Revolver

Switzerland. Canton Schwyz. Brunnen. Two men, both members of riflemen's association, talk together while their wifes clean their muddy shoes in the water of Lake Lucene. Both men carry semi-automatic assault rifles SG 550. Both couples have just returned by boat from the Rütlischiessen (Rütli shooting). Rütli or Grütli is a mountain meadow overlooking the lake Lucerne where the oath of the Rütlischwur for the forming of the Old Swiss Confederacy is said to have occurred as the legendary turning-point in the pursuit of independence. To commemorate this historic event, the riflemen's association of Lucerne organized the Rütli rifle match (Rütlischiessen) in 1862. It is held every year on the Wednesday before Martinmas (Saint Martin's Day). 8.11.2017 — Boat. Couple. Tradition. Weapon. Leisure

Switzerland. Ticino. Lugano. MASI LAC. Federal Choir Festival in Costume. The beauty and tradition of costumes from all regions of Switzerland. A group of men, all dressed with historic traditional soldiers outfits, are firing muskets during a historical reenactment in front of the LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura. 12.06.2016 — Weapon. Muskets. Historic. Shoot. Death

Switzerland. Canton Ticino. Cureglia. Società Tiratori del Gaggio. Paolo Grassi is fixing the weapon belonging to a woman before her shooting practice. 23.09.2017 — Weapon. Firearm. Repair. Control

Switzerland. Canton Bern. Thun. A young boy plays with a SIG Sauer Pro series pistol at the swiss army stall during the military event — Weapon. Pistol. Boy. Game. Death

Switzerland. Canton Uri. Rütli. A woman (second from left) is among eight competitors and members of the riflemen's association aim their rifles and semi-automatic assault rifles SG 550 during the Rütlischiessen (Rütli shooting). Rütli or Grütli is a mountain meadow overlooking the lake Lucerne where the oath of the Rütlischwur for the forming of the Old Swiss Confederacy is said to have occurred as the legendary turning-point in the pursuit of independence. To commemorate this historic event, the riflemen's association of Lucerne organized the Rütli rifle match (Rütlischiessen) in 1862. It is held every year on the Wednesday before Martinmas (Saint Martin's Day). Thousand competitors from all over Switzerland fire their fifteen shots at targets arranged on a cliff. 8.11.2017 — Tradition. Weapon. Aim. Competition

Projektbeschrieb

A photo essay about Swiss people and their love for weapons. Crossbows, rifles and guns are very important in the founding myth and the identity of Switzerland. The Swiss have always had the tradition to have weapons at home in order to defend themselves and the freedom of their beloved country. Today, the Swiss are the third most armed population on earth. Based on the concept of individual freedom, the descendants of the legendary William Tell have developed an intense love affair with their weapons. Between tradition and passion, myths and love, sports and business, an essay about Switzerland fascinating guns' world.

Publikationsinformationen

Titel der Arbeit: Swiss love guns
Ausgabe: 01-2017
Seite(n): 24-25