Pictorialism was a common photographic technique in the 19th century, and many “art photography” fashions centered on taking pictures that looked like “pictures,” such romantic or nature artworks, or editing or painting photos.

The Straight Photography Movement emphasized the camera’s capability to produce images in sharp focus and rich detail. It means that the photographs aren’t manipulated but are just taken sharply to what the camera sees. It was popular amongst photographers because it was a new way, a avant-garde way of art.

Edward Weston and Aaron Siskind have been influenced by the Straight Photography Movement through their use of sharp focus and detail in a way that wasn’t used to simply document reality, but was a new way of art.

Andreas Gursky’s photos are distinguishable but “random” while Uta Barth is close up and almost undistinguishable. Through these unique styles, it both conveys messages that are not on the surface, making it abstract.