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.

I think the definition of “abstruse photography” is basically “reinventing a familiar world” and “looking at an object from a new perspective.”
Most common photographs reproduce the real world, but abstract photographs take our eyes in different directions. Looking at the world in a less specific way, or maybe looking the object more specific, exploring new things, applying light and shadow in different ways, looking at shapes, and focusing on repetitive forms. In other words, when viewing the photograph, it allows  viewers to one step back.

Q: What do you think is meant by “Abstract photography can be defined as capturing images in which the subject isn’t the most interesting element?”

A: I think it is meant by abstract photographies are mainly based on using devices and tools that are not directly related to actual real objects. The abstract photography uses perspective, movement, and light to transform a world familiar to us into an unexpected, sometimes completely unrecognizable image. Basically, it recreates new world with familiar things.