Daniel Schwartz, born in 1955 in Olten, Switzerland, is a distinguished documentary photographer and visual storyteller whose work bridges photojournalism and contemporary art. Educated at the Zurich School of Arts and Craft (now Zurich University of the Arts), he has, since 1980, pursued extensive photographic projects across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, focusing on themes such as cultural history, political geography, and environmental change.

Schwartz's notable achievements include being the first foreign photographer to traverse all sections of the Great Wall of China during a restricted journey from 1987 to 1988 . His acclaimed book Travelling Through the Eye of History (2009) offers a pre- and post-9/11 perspective on Central Asia, encompassing regions like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Kashmir.

A pioneer in environmental photojournalism, Schwartz's early documentation of South and Southeast Asia's deltas highlighted the impacts of climate change, earning recognition from the Financial Times as a "visual j’accuse" . His ongoing project, While the Fires Burn: A Glacier Odyssey, examines the retreat of glaciers worldwide, reflecting his commitment to ecological issues.

Beyond photography, Schwartz has contributed to the field as a member of the editorial team of DU magazine from 1990 to 2005 and as a Visiting Artist at the University of Zurich in 2012 . His life and work were the subject of the 2018 documentary Beyond the Obvious, directed by Vadim Jendreyko.

Schwartz's photographs have been exhibited internationally, including at the Kunsthaus Zurich and the Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin, and are held in various public and private collections . His work continues to influence discussions on the intersection of human activity, history, and the environment.