Abstract
A frothy mug of beer surrounded by medieval swords. A zebra standing on the steps of a suburban home. A couple dressed as Father Time and Mother Nature standing next to a worker placing aluminum siding onto a house. Taken on their own, Royal “Roy” Kane’s photographs seem like surrealist works of art. However, as a commercial photographer, Kane created images to promote products as varied as windshield sealant, ice cream, and toy cars. Kane’s often fantastical images were combined with creative advertising copy to capture the public’s attention. This approach reflects a strategy laid out by advertising pioneer David Ogilvy, who wrote that, “the kind of photographs which work hardest are those which arouse the reader’s curiosity. He glances at the photograph and says to himself ‘What goes on here?’ He then reads your copy to find out.”