Iris Kürschner, born in Switzerland in 1965, discovered her passion for photography and the urge to tell stories through images at a very young age. With a love of travel, curiosity, and a thirst for adventure instilled in her from birth, her camera became her constant companion on journeys through Europe, Asia, and America.
While it was artistic photography that captivated her during her graphic design studies, making her forget the time spent in her own Swiss-made darkroom in the basement, this changed with a position at the Swiss magazine "annabelle." This led to her entry into travel and mountain reportage.
Since the 1990s, Iris Kürschner has been working for leading mountain magazines and publishers.
Her first book, a travel guide to Switzerland, was published in 1994. It sparked a prolific creative period. Hiking guides, via ferrata guides, illustrated books, calendars… She has now published over 30 books. Her photographs are represented by leading photo agencies worldwide.
In 1999, her Himalayan report, "The Valley of the Cloud People," was filmed by NDR and broadcast in November 1999 as part of the "Countries-People-Adventures" series. She has collaborated with Austrian journalist Dieter Haas since 2003.
Awards: 2012 Valais Media Prize, 2014 ENIT Prize for Best Italy Special Magazine, 2016 Berg.Welten.Bild Award for Best Mountain Photograph of the Year 2016.