The Pictorialism Movement in photography started in the late 1800s. Photographers wanted their images to look more like paintings than real life. They used soft focus, darkroom techniques, and other effects to make their photos feel emotional and artistic, not just factual.

Straight Photography Movement began in the early 1900s. Photographers in this movement wanted to capture the world clearly, without altering the image too much. They focused on sharp, detailed photos, showing light, texture, and composition. Straight photography was popular because it showed the world as it was, and photographers believed this was the true art of photography.

Edward Weston and Aaron Siskind were both influenced by the Straight Photography Movement. Weston’s famous photo Pepper No. 30 (1930) shows a sharp, detailed close-up of a pepper. He focused on texture and form, following straight photography’s principles of clarity and realism. Siskind’s work, like his Chicago Series (1949), shows abstract details of everyday scenes with sharp focus, reflecting the straight photography approach even though it’s more abstract.

Andreas Gursky and Uta Barth are more abstract. Gursky’s 99 Cent (1999) shows a large-scale image of a store, while Barth’s Field No. 2 (1998) shows mor of a blurry focus. They both uses digital techniques and don’t follow the pure style of straight photography, but they still focus on details and form, which links them to the movement. They’re more abstract, though, than traditional straight photographers.

References:

  • Edward Weston: Pepper No. 30 (1930)
  • Aaron Siskind: Chicago Series (1949)
  • Andreas Gursky: 99 Cent (1999)
  • Uta Barth: Field No. 2 (1998)