5.3 Pictorialism vs. Straight Photography

Pictorialism and Straight Photography were two opposing movements in early 20th-century American photography. Pictorialism aimed to make photos look like paintings, using soft focus and manipulation. Straight Photography, in contrast, embraced sharp focus and unaltered images.

Alfred Stieglitz played a pivotal role in both movements. He initially championed Pictorialism through the Photo-Secession group and Camera Work magazine. Later, Stieglitz shifted towards Straight Photography, influencing the development of modernist aesthetics in American art.

Pictorialism and the Photo-Secession

Alfred Stieglitz and the Photo-Secession Movement

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• Alfred Stieglitz pioneered art photography in America during the early 20th century
• Founded Photo-Secession in 1902 promoted photography as a fine art form
• Photo-Secession group advocated for artistic expression in photography
• Published Camera Work magazine from 1903 to 1917 showcased Pictorialist photography
• Established 291 Gallery in New York City exhibited photographs alongside modern art (paintings, sculptures)

Pictorialism: Aesthetic and Techniques

• Pictorialism emerged as a photographic style in the late 19th century
• Emphasized artistic interpretation over literal representation
• Utilized soft focus created dreamy, atmospheric images
• Employed manipulation techniques altered negatives and prints
  • Gum bichromate printing
  • Platinum printing
  • Hand-coloring
• Aimed to emulate painting and other traditional art forms

Key Figures in Pictorialist Photography

• Edward Steichen collaborated closely with Stieglitz on Photo-Secession projects
• Steichen's "The Pond—Moonlight" (1904) exemplifies Pictorialist aesthetic
• Clarence White specialized in intimate domestic scenes and portraits
• White's "The Orchard" (1902) demonstrates soft focus and tonal manipulation
• Gertrude Käsebier known for her emotive portraits and allegorical images
• Alvin Langdon Coburn experimented with abstract compositions and vortographs

Straight Photography and Group f/64

Emergence of Straight Photography

• Straight Photography developed as a reaction against Pictorialism in the 1920s
• Emphasized sharp focus and clear, unmanipulated images
• Paul Strand pioneered Straight Photography approach
• Strand's "Wall Street" (1915) marked a shift towards modernist aesthetics
• Focused on capturing the inherent qualities of the photographic medium

Group f/64: Principles and Key Members

• Group f/64 formed in 1932 in San Francisco promoted Straight Photography
• Named after the smallest aperture setting on large format cameras
• Ansel Adams co-founded Group f/64 known for dramatic landscape photographs
• Adams' "Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico" (1941) exemplifies sharp focus and tonal range
• Edward Weston another founding member focused on abstract forms in nature
• Weston's "Pepper No. 30" (1930) demonstrates precise detail and composition

Techniques and Aesthetic of Straight Photography

• Utilized large format cameras produced high-resolution images
• Employed small apertures (f/64) created deep depth of field
• Emphasized pre-visualization imagined final print before taking the photograph
• Practiced precise exposure and development techniques
• Printed on glossy papers enhanced sharpness and tonal range
• Explored abstract compositions and unconventional perspectives
• Imogen Cunningham known for her botanical studies and portraits
• Willard Van Dyke focused on social documentary photography