Modernism & Straight Photography

Paul Strand (1890–1976)

The architect of modern photographic clarity

Strand was the first to fully articulate what Straight Photography could be.
He reduced scenes to pure geometry — shadows, lines, patterns — yet every image remained grounded in reality. His portraits, still lifes and street scenes are built on:

• absolute sharpness
• deep, luminous blacks
• bold shapes
• quiet emotional neutrality

Strand proved that photography could be both objective and artistic, without the manipulations of pictorialism. His work laid the foundation for an entire era.

Edward Weston (1886–1958)

The sculptor of light and form

Weston brought an intense, almost meditative clarity to his subjects.
Peppers, shells, sand dunes, vegetables — everything became sculpture under his lens. His photographs are known for:

• glowing silver tones
• long, smooth gradients
• sensuous curves
• crisp textures
• complete technical purity

Weston’s prints embody the idea that the beauty of an object reveals itself when seen with absolute attention and precision.

Edward Steichen (1879–1973)

The architect of atmospheric light

Steichen approached photography with the instincts of a painter.He shaped scenes through tone, texture and carefully controlled illumination, creating images that feel both sculpted and ethereal.

His mastery of platinum and gum processes allowed him to build photographs that hovered between realism and dream — atmospheric, dramatic and unmistakably artistic. With every print, he proved that photography could command the same emotional power as the finest works of early modern art.

Imogen Cunningham (1883–1976)

The master of botanical clarity and modernist portraiture

Cunningham united scientific attentiveness met artistic intuition.
Her botanical studies feel fresh, sharp and alive — leaves glowing, stems forming elegant curves. Later in life, her portraits carried the same crisp honesty.

Her signature style includes:

• very clean highlights
• bold but natural contrast
• leaf-vein clarity
• strong midtone structure

Her images defined the modernist “botanical look” that remains influential today.

Ansel Adams (1902–1984)

The great technician of light and the American landscape

Walker Evans worked at the modernist edge of documentary photography. He photographed architecture, storefronts, Depression-era individuals and the kinds of everyday objects most people overlooked.

His style is clear, dry, honest and precise—a form of objective observation that later became the foundation of what we now call “documentary style” photography.

---

Creative Tools Inspired by the Era

To help contemporary photographers achieve the same clarity, structure and “straight” visual language, this collection includes original presets that evoke the spirit of Modernism & Straight Photography—without copying any specific artist, fully legal and entirely original.

Included Presets:

Pure Geometry Monochrome

A strict, geometric monochrome profile with deep blacks and clean midtones.

Perfect for shadow lines, street photography, architectural patterns and graphic still lifes.

Crisp Form Silver

A bright, silver-toned profile featuring sharp micro-contrast, pure highlights, smooth tonal transitions and sculptural depth.

Ideal for object studies, textures, elegant curves and black-and-white still lifes.

American Dry Silver

A dry, neutral contrast profile suited for realistic architecture, sober portraits, urban details and objective documentary work.

Clean, straightforward and unembellished—photography that hides nothing.

Botanic Sharplight

It gives botanical images a crystal-clear, fresh appearance, enhances fine structures without becoming harsh, adds a subtle glow to highlights, and makes leaves and plants feel visually “alive.”

Perfect for close-up flora, modernist still life, and simple forms shaped by strong natural light.

ZonePeak Monochrome

This preset is inspired by the disciplined tonal precision of the classic Zone System. It delivers a long, luminous tonal scale with deep blacks, crisp highlights and a full range of subtle midtones. Shadows stay rich without blocking, and highlights remain bright without losing detail.

The result is a clean, expansive monochrome look that works beautifully for landscapes, mountainscapes, dramatic skies and scenes shaped by sculptural light.

How to Use These Tools

These presets work beautifully on:

• black-and-white still life
• crisp botanical subjects
• architectural patterns and urbex scenes
• documentary photography
• landscapes with strong light structure
• geometric, modernist compositions

They are designed to reinforce the modernist conviction that clarity, honesty and form matter more than sentiment, while fitting seamlessly into modern digital workflows.