It was a great pleasure and honour for me when I received an invitation from Jean-Claude Van Damme to photograph him in his house near Los Angeles. Fighting and weight training also has a lot to do with successful photography - the discipline, endurance, accuracy, ambition, vocation and goal!
In addition, professional photography is so much more than just pressing the shutter button, because learning to see properly also develops our own consciousness!
The shooting with Jean-Claude was scheduled for later in the evening. We met with our assistant very close by before we drove to his estate. His son opened the gate for us and asked where we would most like to photograph him!
on set Jean-Claude & Manfred Baumann 
Shooting with Jean-Claude
Well, my mobile studio requires quite a bit of space, so from experience, his garage seemed to me to be the best place for it. A dark & a light background, some softboxes and light from Hensel were set up by my assistant shortly. Meanwhile Jean-Claude showed up for the first time and we got to know each other, chatted about mutual friends, about my home country Austria and I noticed that he liked us quickly and so nothing stood in the way of a relaxed shooting!
A warm up or personal conversation before the shooting is of great importance to me. Because photography is what we see, our perception of people, objects, landscapes etc. reduced to a moment of a second! A moment where time seems to stand still. Space and time is stopped here! Invisible and not perceived things become visible.
Photography also means participating in the changeability and vulnerability of the people you photograph. As a photographer, one quickly recognizes the flow of time.
Moments like those with Jean-Claude are very special, especially when you meet stars and role models from his youth in person, photograph them and get a glimpse into their souls. Too often we believe that what we see. But unfortunately we see far less well than we think we do!
Jean-Claude Van Damme by Manfred Baumann 
Jean-Claude Van Damme by Manfred Baumann
Jean-Claude is a kindhearted person and we quickly became friends with him, his wonderful wife and all his dear dogs, which they rescued from the shelter. We are looking forward to seeing him again when we are back in L.A.!
Noch wenige Wochen, bis wir unsere NAT GEO-Tour durch Europa starten mit unserem diesjährigen Wohnmobil-Partner “Bürstner“!
Wir freuen uns schon sehr darauf, und hoffen, dass Ihr dabei seid, um mehr über meine Tipps und Tricks in der Reisefotografie zu erfahren!
See you soon,
Your Manfred
Even stars are only human and have feelings, an eventful life and sometimes highs and lows. I think you have captured him very well, not fake or staged, super
Many thanks Tanja! All the best and have a great day, see you soon 💐💐
Whoa, nice pictures. It's always been something special to work with a star. I'm sure my heart would go into my pants every time. For the time being, I will limit myself to the films 😊👍
Thanks for stopping by, after several stars that I had in front of the lens, you just realize that they are people just like me and you! 🤔🤟🏻👍🏻
I've been skipping through your posts. I like what I see and read 😊😎
I love your photographs! Great role model!
🙏🏻🙏🏻
Very nice pictures... I am a huge fan of Jean Claude van Damme... You did a great job 👍👍😊😊
You have a very great view of things. You have been my role model for a long time! THANKS for the inspirations. Clay from Dallas
Thank you very much for your words, and stay positive in these odd times!
Two great artists!! Perfect text and photos! Love from Berlin
Love to you!
It is always a pleasure to be taken behind the scenes of your work. There you are a little bit in your thoughts.
I wish you a nice week dear Manfred. Love to Nelly.
LG
Brigitte 🌞👒
Thank you dear Brigitte, all my love!
I really like your pictures...
thanks a lot 😊
Simply wonderful 🌸🙏
Mr. Baumann, you have fully worked out his inner being in the picture, respectively one notices your inner attitude, your inner fire/your will to the photographer.
A healthy year 2021, all the love and good momentum for new projects with your wife (and the team)-.
Here's to at least 2022/23 being a return to a fresh new normal.☯️
Regards
simOne
Dear Simone, I THANK YOU and wish you all the best in the new year too!
Thank you so much! Wish you also an exciting, healthy and better new year