Pictorialism Movement- A trend between the 1880s to 1930s, it emphasized a softer atmosphere rather than straightforward documentation. The focus was on the mood, atmosphere, and lighting in the photo over realism, as well as mimicking the photo taken, to look like a painting.
Straight photography- started to become popular between the 1920s-30s. It contradicted pictorialism-styled photographs, having its key characteristics being realism and non-manipulative styled images. It depicted a scene or subject in a shape, focused, and detailed way, as well as common black and white.
Photographers, Edward Weston, and Aaron Siskind have been influenced by the Straight Photography Movement which can be seen in the photographs below. all their photos are taken in black and white, as well as having a strong focus, with sharp lines giving the photos a strong contrast.
Photographers Andreas Gursky and Uta Barth’s work are abstract in their own way capturing scenes in addition to the idea of pictorialism. They don’t follow the straight photography idea as their photographs don’t have strong defined lines and aren’t black and white. Their works have pops of colour as well as a soft effect which can be seen in the images below.
