Every page catches the eye. VENUS – The Art of Beauty is the latest photo book by star photographer Manfred Baumann. We talked to him about the artistry behind capturing nude photography.
“The eye takes the photo, not the camera.” When you look at Manfred Baumann’s pictures, you get the feeling that he understands his subjects thoroughly. Whether it is a mustang whose soul you catch a glimpse of or a person looking shyly, strongly or vulnerably into the camera, you always feel like you know the subject depicted or are about to.
His unique style continues to awaken a fascination for photography in VENUS – The Art of Beauty, Baumann’s latest work. This atmospheric photo book presents Baumann’s best pictures from 25 years of nude photography.
The models that Manfred Baumann had in front of his lens for the photo series include celebrities such as actress Leanna Bartlett, McLeod’s Daughters star Simmone Jade Mackinnon and Mena Suvari, best known for her work in American Beauty.
Stars such as Ariane Sommer, Hayley Hasselhoff, Larissa Marolt, Nina Burri and influencer Katja Zwara also appeared naked or in a nude look in front of the camera. Baumann’s wife and muse, Nelly Baumann, can also be found in the expressive visual worlds, which range from the deserts of Nevada to the architecturally imposing Invisible House in Joshua Tree and Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace.
But how does Manfred Baumann successfully show his female models in all their complexity without objectifying them and obscuring the view of their essence? What technique turns a photograph into a work of art, a picture into an introspective view of the essence of a woman? Manfred Baumann answers this and further questions – ranging from his thoughts on black-and-white photography to the role of the photographer in the age of artificial intelligence – in our in-depth interview.
Interview with Manfred Baumann
Manfred, you have already photographed award-winning stars such as Roger Moore, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. But you’ve also been captivated by landscapes and animals–such as majestic mustangs–or street scenes. What fascinates you about the subject of femininity?
I love the variety in photography, telling stories, and showing what others have not seen! With this photo book, I show which attributes make a woman a woman: sexy, strong, courageous, powerful, dynamic, vulnerable and self-confident;
In VENUS – The Art of Beauty, you captivate world-famous models such as Leanna Bartlett and actresses such as Mena Suvari. For your newest photo book, you had to make a selection from 25 years of nude photography. The selection process was certainly not easy, with so many faces full of character. How and according to what criteria did you decide which pictures to include in the book and which not?
These are some of my strongest photographs of women from my career over the last 25 years to the present day. The photographs had to fulfil all the criteria mentioned above and at the same time leave the familiar behind!
Your photo book is a masterpiece of black-and-white photography. What excites you about this monochrome style?
On the one hand, I love telling my stories in a timeless way; on the other hand, as a photographer today, you’ve already won if someone looks at your photo for longer than five seconds. A black-and-white photo achieves this. Everything has already been told in colour photography. On the other hand, a black-and-white photo doesn’t reveal everything straight away, such as the colour of the hair and eyes, the outfit or the question of whether it was cloudy or a bright blue sky when the photo was taken. That’s why black-and-white photography encourages you to think about the image much more!
Looking at your pictures immediately conjures up stories in the mind. The model Stephanie Murone, for example, can be seen at El Mirage Lake in an epiphanic moment of liberation. Do these snapshots happen spontaneously or result from long preparation and planning?
My shots are planned in advance. As with actors and actresses, correctly casting the roles is important. Not every model suits every setting or location. Nevertheless, together with the model, creative experiments are often created that can surprise you.
The German-Australian photographer Helmut Newton is one of your greatest role models. His progressive photo series in Vogue and Elle were legendary and visual pioneers of the sexual revolution. What influence has his work had on your photography?
Helmut Newton is one of my role models; his philosophy is very much in line with mine: he also shaped photography for decades with his June, just as I try to make moments last with my muse, Nelly!
With your camera, you capture the soul of a person, not just their face. According to one of your models, actress Simmone Jade Mackinnon, this distinguishes a good photographer from a brilliant one. How do you achieve this high degree of authenticity in your pictures?
You must be able to listen, a skill many people lack nowadays. As a photographer who takes pictures of people, you must also like them. If that’s not the case, it would be better to photograph dogs! And the art of a good portrait is that the person being photographed doesn’t realise they are being photographed!
VENUS – The Art of Beauty is published by novum publishing, just like your other photo books. Why did you choose this publisher, and what experiences have you had with novum publishing?
It’s not my first book with novum publishing. I love the team, the flexibility and the professionalism. I’m used to working with the best worldwide – novum publishing belongs in that category.
The world of photography has changed. In the age of social media, photo apps and filters, we are flooded with images whose authenticity we can no longer identify with certainty. Many images are now produced with the help of artificial intelligence. What role do you think photographers will play in the future?
I have found my way back to my roots and enjoy taking analogue photos again, i.e., on film. And this is a big movement worldwide; Leica has even brought out a new analogue camera. These photos are unique and also have a higher value for collectors! I look through the lens of truth and have always felt like a photographer, not a graphic artist!
What advice can you give to photographers who are still at the very beginning of their careers?
Only photograph what you truly love. The eye makes the photo, not the camera!
Thank you very much for the interview.
About the book
Title: VENUS – The Art of Beauty
Author: Manfred Baumann
Content: Star photographer Manfred Baumann’s newest book is the definition of Women’s Empowerment. With an emphasis on female expression and beauty, it also highlights strength and power, showcasing his strongest shots of women from his career over the last 25 years.
About the author
Manfred Baumann is an Austrian photographer best known for his portraits of celebrities and landscape, wildlife and street photography.
Born in 1968 in Vienna, Baumann grew up in the city’s 13th district of Hietzing, where he also attended school.
In 1995, he moved to Canada to work as a photographer. After two years, he returned to Vienna and continued working as a freelance photographer. Baumann cites his grandfather, also a photographer, as one of his greatest sources of inspiration.
Throughout his career, Manfred has photographed numerous celebrities – Sir Roger Moore, Cameron Diaz and Lionel Richie, to name just a few.
His photographs have been shown in exhibitions worldwide, including at Vienna’s National History Museum and numerous Leica galleries.
He and his wife, Nelly Baumann, also his greatest muse, are Honorary Ambassadors of Jane Goodall, and he supports many charitable causes. He has taken photos for breast cancer relief and PETA.
Manfred and Nelly Baumann live in Los Angeles and Vienna.
You can keep an eye on Manfred’s work via his Instagram profile.
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