What Makes a Photograph Activism? – Images That Sparked Change

Photography is one of the most rapidly decoded forms of information, and its ability to address large audiences in a democratic way inherently carries the potential for change. Before the age of photography, the narrative of historical events could not easily be shaped from below, at the level of ordinary citizens. Today, however, victims can personally document injustices inflicted upon them and share these images with the world. By crossing linguistic and cultural boundaries, photographs enable us to understand what is happening in other, unknown parts of the world. What makes a photograph an act of activism? What roles do the photographer and the receiving social context play? And why are photographs sometimes capable of triggering social change?

History offers many examples of images that mobilized people and influenced the course of events. A photograph that sparks activism may depict an event demanding change, or it may portray a victim of injustice. One such example is the image The Scourged Back, taken by the photographer duo McPherson and Oliver, which shows an enslaved man whose back bears the scars of whipping. [1] The photograph, made in 1863, challenged the previously accepted existence of slavery in the United States—and a slow but steady change had begun.

Photography can also document collective acts of solidarity that inspire others to join movements shaping the future. Taking advantage of the power of social media, the photographs of the peaceful Fridays for Future demonstrations initiated by 15-year-old Greta Thunberg opened the eyes of many around the world to the increasingly urgent problems of the climate crisis.

One of the earliest examples of photography’s mobilizing power emerged during the Vietnam War. Although photographs had been taken during World Wars I and II, this was the first conflict that people thousands of kilometers away could experience almost directly, thanks to the widespread use of television and photography. Malcolm Browne’s 1963 photograph The Burning Monk, depicting a Buddhist monk sitting calmly in the street while his body burns in protest against the war, and Nick Ut’s Terror of War, showing a naked young girl fleeing a burning village bombed by American forces, contributed to a shift in perception: the war could no longer be seen merely as a conflict between nations. [2] For many viewers, these images revealed the horrifying reality of a war that destroyed civilian lives as well.

The hippie movement, which emerged as a powerful response to violence and a stand for peace, might have developed very differently without the images that united people in raising their voices.

Although photographs do not require textual explanation when discussing their social impact, the narrative context in which they appear can strongly influence how events are interpreted. As Michelle Bogre notes in her book, one of the most significant challenges of activist photography is not only to show what is happening but also how it is shown: whose voice is represented, which perspective is centered, and according to what ethical considerations the images are presented. [3]

A good example is Mark Seltzer’s article published in Time magazine about the Black rights movement. His account demonstrates how photography played a crucial role in advancing the fight for justice and equality. At the center of his discussion are the press photographs taken by Bill Hudson and Charles Moore in Birmingham in 1963. These images are shocking: law enforcement forces confronted largely nonviolent protesters using police dogs and high-pressure fire hoses. Organizers of the civil rights movement understood that powerful images could evoke empathy, mobilize financial support, and place pressure on politicians to provide protection and ultimately adopt landmark legislation. [4]

Photographers are thus responsible for what and how they portray, as well as for the media through which they disseminate their images. Sociologist Maciej Frąckowiak articulated a comparable notion in his 2025 publication, contending that photography acquires significance through the social practices of creation, dissemination, and discourse surrounding images.[5] This observation reinforces the previous point, but it does not fully explain why photographs evoke such strong emotions that they inspire people to take action.

Hanxin Lu addressed precisely this question in a study published in the Journal of Visual Culture. He argues that the powerful emotional impact of photographs is rooted in several psychological mechanisms. At the most basic level, human beings are visual creatures: our brains process visual information more quickly and efficiently than text. One key psychological mechanism is the functioning of mirror neurons. These are nerve cells that fire both when we perform an action and when we observe someone else performing the same action. When we see a photograph depicting someone experiencing intense emotion—whether pain, fear, joy, or anger—our mirror neurons are activated, allowing us to “feel” the emotion ourselves. [6]

Photography is, therefore, an artistic medium capable of initiating change. Through shared emotions, images can stir people in ways that encourage them to stand up for themselves and others. However, it is important to treat these images with sensitivity and insight. But there is reason for hope: sometimes even a single photograph can contribute significantly to social change.