« Travel, Experience: These are an Education in themselves »
Quote by Euripides, a Greek tragedian of classical Athens.
Hi, I am Nicolas Giroud—though many know me simply as “Swede.” I am a freelance landscape and astrophotographer based in Basel, Switzerland, living a life defined by two beautifully contrasting worlds. Professionally, I work in molecular biology as a Data Manager and Laboratory Genomics Expert in Pharmaceutical Research. Off job-duty, I am out chasing the light, the stars, and the wild beauty of our planet.
The Story Behind “Swede” The nickname was given to me years ago by my American football coach during an exchange year at a high school in Alabama. He hilariously confused Switzerland with Sweden, and the name just stuck! I kept it because it serves as a daily reminder of one of the most formative periods of my life. That year abroad ignited my lifelong passion for discovering new places, immersing myself in different cultures, and connecting with people across languages (I speak French, English, Spanish, and a bit of German).
My Photographic Journey: My love for traveling started when I was a teenager, but I only came to photography a bit later as an adult. At first, my camera was simply a companion on my trips. I used it to capture wild landscapes and the beautiful, weightless world under the sea whenever I went scuba diving.
Over time, however, taking pictures evolved into a profound artistic pursuit. Through dedicated self-education—countless workshops, tutorials, and field practice—I began to refine my creative eye. But the true turning point in my journey happened around 2021 when I became completely mesmerized by the night sky. Astrophotography became the central pillar of my work, and it created a fascinating parallel in my life: while my day job requires me to zoom in on the microscopic building blocks of life, my camera allows me to zoom out and capture the infinite vastness of the cosmos. I found that my scientific background gave me the technical precision and patience required for night photography, while the quiet hours spent under the stars unlocked my artistic soul.
Recently, after receiving international awards and placing in worldwide competitions, I realized my photography had grown beyond a personal hobby. It became a calling to share the breathtaking, often unseen beauty of our planet with others.
My Philosophy I am an inherently positive person who loves to connect with new people and share experiences. I believe in maximizing our time on Earth to live out our passions fully. Two quotes perfectly sum up my approach to the world:
” Life is a one time offer – Use it well “
” Travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer “
