By Francesca Lungarotti
When an image manages to express and convey a completely direct concept, we are faced with a significant photograph, an image with an expressed message and immediate communication beyond any personal interpretation. Images that are not only beautiful or pleasant, but which immediately send us a clear and generally universal and internationally shared messages often provide a meaningful and powerful way to transmit important messages for people and communities.
Human rights activists carry signs and offer flowers to remember fallen heroes in commemoration of the 73rd International Human Rights Day. Credit: Basilio Sepe/Majority World/Universal Images Group 
Couple kissing. Credit: Giovanni Mereghetti/UCG/Universal Images Group 
Protesters carry signs during a protest to mark the 73rd International Human Rights Day. Credit: Basilio Sepe/Majority World/Universal Images Group 
Elderly Woman Holding Four Leaf Clovers. Credit: Adam Putnam/Glasshouse Images 
Make pasta not war. Concept ironic peace message against war, in favor of pasta. Credit: Glen Sterling/UCG/Universal Images Group 
Protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Held in London April 2022. Credit: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group 
A person throws plastic waste into an Ecobin on a street in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia on May 12, 2023. Credit: Dimas Rachmatsyah/INA Photo Agency 
Close-up shot of hands of a senior woman in her 80 years old. Phnom Penh. Cambodia. Credit: Godong/Universal Images Group 
International Pride Parade in Colombia. Credit: Jessica Patino/Long Visual Press/Universal Images Group 
We are against war and tourist menu. Concept ironic peace message against war, written on a black chalkboard sign outside a restaurant in Rome, Italy. Credit: Glen Sterling/UCG/Universal Images Group 
Green activists, students and residents have been protesting against the authorities for felling trees. Credit: Simone J Rudolphi/Majority World/Universal Images Group
For this type of image to be effective, there must be elements in the photograph that immediately remind us of something specific that arouses emotions. The messages can be mostly social when there are elements such as signs, flags, colored bodies that promote peace against war, care for the environment, equality, and human rights but also emotional messages such as faith, freedom, solitude, friendship, and love.
Road. Arabian Desert. Saudi Arabia. Credit: Giovanni Mereghetti/UCG/Universal Images Group 
Retirement home. Close up of care assistants hand reassuring senior man. Credit: Godong/Universal Images Group 
Palestinian youth hold flags next to burning tyres during a protest. Credit: Mohammed Al-Zanoun/Majority World/Universal Images Group 
Electric car charging station in Spain. Credit: Nano Calvo/VW Pics/Universal Images Group 
Restore Nature Now march, London, UK. 22 Jun 2024. Credit: Andy Soloman/UCG/Universal Images Group 
Reportage: Biden visits the University of Tampa to speak on Medicare (2023). Credit: HUM Images/Universal Images Group 
The Beach at Trouville Sur Mer. Trouville. France. Credit: Godong/Universal Images Group 
Syria, Arwad island, daily life. Credit: Giovanni Mereghetti/UCG/Universal Images Group 
Steam rising from chimneys as sugar beet is processed at the British Sugar factory, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England. Credit: Geography Photos/Universal Images Group 
Syria, Homs, The Khalid Ibn al Walid Mosque. Credit: Giovanni Mereghetti/UCG/Universal Images Group
In all these cases we are experimenting with photographic messages with a strong, immediate, direct social and universally understood meaning without need of explanation.
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