Analysis of Communicative and Semantic Aspects in the Visual and Expressive Structure of News Photos Based on the Visual Social Semiotics Framework (Case Study: Agence France-Presse)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Graduated from Master of Visual Communication, School of Architecture and Urban Design Engineering, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Faculty member of Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University

10.30480/vaa.2025.5422.1933

Abstract

News photography, given its structural and expressive characteristics, has the ability to narrate news events succinctly and impactfully in the form of images, as well as to corroborate the news text and enhance its value. In this research, the main goal is to analyze the communicative and semantic dimensions within the visual and expressive structure of news photos based on the framework of visual social semiotics. The study is conducted through a case analysis of news photos from Agence France-Presse. Visual social semiotics has also been employed as a research method to identify and access the constructive and constituent elements of news photos within the context of one of the world's leading news agencies. Thus, the research aims to address the following key questions: What are the communicative and semantic characteristics within the visual and expressive structure of news photos from Agence France-Presse according to the visual social semiotics framework? And what practical insights can be derived from this understanding? In this research, by analyzing and comparing the samples in terms of sensory factors, informational content, and methods of expression, notable features have been identified in both general and specific contexts. At the level of narrative meaning, the immediate actions and behavioral reactions of elements guide the visual and semantic storyline. At the level of interactive meaning, employing medium shots and front-facing angles often aims to establish a closer connection with the event and convey curated information. And at the level of textual meaning, the primary event visually dominates the center of the scene, while other elements and occurrences are organized along an axis, creating a coherent and immediate visual linkage.

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Journal of Visual and Applied Arts
Volume 17, Issue 45
November 2025

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