Straight photography is a style of photography that emphasizes the objective and realistic portrayal of the subject matter. It emerged in the early 20th century as a reaction against the pictorialist movement and its emphasis on manipulating photographs to create a more artistic or painterly effect.
Famous figures associated with straight photography include:
Edward Weston: Weston was an American photographer known for his sharp, detailed images of natural forms, landscapes, and nudes. He was one of the founders of the f/64 group, which advocated for straight photography and a small aperture to achieve maximum depth of field.
Ansel Adams: Adams was an American photographer known for his iconic images of the American West, particularly Yosemite National Park. He was also a founding member of the f/64 group and an advocate for straight photography.
Paul Strand: Strand was an American photographer known for his straightforward images of people, architecture, and landscapes. He was associated with the straight photography movement in the United States and the modernist movement in Europe.
Dorothea Lange: Lange was an American photographer best known for her documentary photographs of the Great Depression, particularly her iconic image "Migrant Mother." She was a member of the straight photography movement and worked for the Farm Security Administration.
Walker Evans: Evans was an American photographer known for his documentary images of American life, particularly during the Great Depression. He was a member of the straight photography movement and worked for the Farm Security Administration.
Berenice Abbott: Abbott was an American photographer known for her architectural and documentary images of New York City. She was a member of the straight photography movement and worked as an assistant to Man Ray in Paris before returning to the United States.
Henri Cartier-Bresson: Cartier-Bresson was a French photographer known for his candid images of people and events around the world. He was associated with the straight photography movement and helped to pioneer the use of the 35mm camera.
These photographers and others associated with the straight photography movement emphasized the importance of the camera's ability to capture reality in a straightforward manner, without manipulation or artifice. Their work helped to establish photography as a legitimate artistic medium and paved the way for later movements such as documentary and street photography.