Ice Cream girl

[Kimberly Dow]

Any opinions about whether I could make something like this work as a figurative?

The lighting was not good, but she was so cute and the grandpa let me snap away. I was just there picking something up. This old pharmacy in town has the soda shoppe in it and all I can think of is a recreation of the Norman Rockwell painting with the police officer. They may sell it soon and rip out that part.

I lightened and enhanced the contrast on the photo to see more. There are other photos as well - this one was my favorite, I think.

Digital manipulation is more than welcomed.

[Steven Sweeney]

As much as a softy as I am, and as much as I enjoy Rockwell's best work, I don't think I'd take this one on. I don't see a Rockwellian story here, in part because the apparent focus of both figures' gaze is not part of the picture. Norman would have had the soda jerk leaning over the counter and offering a maraschino cherry or a silver soda spoon.

On top of that, the background competes with and washes out the figures, who themselves have little value-enhancing, form-defining qualities. And the disappearance of the man's lower left arm is going to haunt you.

It's not impossible to manipulate things to get to a better "story," but, then, we're talking about another depiction. I'm not able to see it in this photo. The two figures don't even seem related, as they would naturally be in a Rockwell composition.

You may well be able to pull it off, though. But I can tell that I couldn't.

[Kimberly Dow]

Steven,

Thanks for your comments - I am sure you're right.

I actually didn't mean to compare this set-up to Rockwell, I meant I'd like to recreate his exact painting in this pharmacy/soda shoppe.

I have other photos with the grampa looking at her and smiling, but I have none where his arms are different. I wasn't going to paint in the background as it is there. No time to set anything up or move them around.

Oh well, that's the wonder of digital - it didn't cost a dime to try.

[Chris Saper]

Hi, Kim,

I agree with Steven - if the lighting was good, you might be able to tease out a crop that would work, but I think this would be too much an uphill battle.

The concept, though, is great. You might think about how you could set up a scenario that would work - after hours, maybe?