The Pictorialism Movement appears popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, where they hope to elevate Photography to the status of fine art during that period by imitating the similar qualities of a painting. For instance, photographers would use soft focus and textured surfaces to create photos that look like paintings. At that time, the photographers prioritized artistic interpretation rather than realism. On the other hand, the Straight Photography Movement, popular in the early 20th century, emphasized Photography’s technique and qualities by using sharp focus and precise detail in the images. This movement focused on the camera’s ability to capture accurate photos; its idea aligned with “truth and clarity.”

The idea of straight Photography influenced photographers such as Edward Weston and Aaron Siskind. Weston’s work, such as the detailed close-ups of peppers, emphasized the sharp focus of the item, and Siskind’s images of surfaces like the peeling paint effectively highlighted the reality through its framing technique. The contemporary photographers Andreas Gursky and Uta Barth explore the idea of abstraction in different ways. Andreas Gursky focuses on mostly urban landscapes to create surrealism and surprising composition, while Uta Barth focuses on light, blur, and empty spaces. Their abstract works reflected the principles of Straight Photography using their cameras.