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2016’s Song of the Summer Is an Ice Cream Cone Held Up In Front of a Wall

So cool. Pun intended.

Hand holding a two-scoop ice cream cone in front of a wall
Yeah, we’ve all done it
thefashionmedley (Elif Filyos) / Instagram

If there’s one issue about which we, the chill citizens of Instagram summer 2k16, are of one mind, it is this: An ice cream cone that hasn’t been photographed in a grasping hand in front of a wall is no ice cream cone at all. It’s a masterpiece of composition, really, from the color-and-texture opportunities of mixing and matching scoops and backdrops, to the Rockwellian invitation of the outstretched arm, personal but not invasively so: This could be you, the ice-cream-cone-in-front-of-a-wall photo says to its viewer. It could be your arm. Your cool tattoos. Your sick gel mani. Live with me here, in an endless summer. Come on in, take a lick.

This photo style isn’t new, of course, but somehow this seems to have been the summer that it hit critical mass. It’s nearly impossible to flick through Instagram without running into some variation on the theme — sometimes they’re cups instead of cones, sometimes it’s an out-of-focus sunset instead of a wall, sometimes it’s a popsicle! — but to honor the close of ice cream season (which, yes, in our hearts is never-ending, but according to the man it’s about to be Labor Day weekend and we need to all start pulling ourselves together and thinking about braises and root vegetables), here’s a roundup of some exemplars of summer’s coolest food photo.

Everywhere I go

A photo posted by Elif Filyos (@thefashionmedley) on

Things You Need To Eat This Summer in Austin - like big ice cream cones from Cow Tipping Creamery #kokosummerlist Tag your friends below

A photo posted by JANE KO, Austin Food Blogger (@atasteofkoko) on

Blueberry or Poppy? Both!

A photo posted by Stefanie (@salty_and_turquoise) on

Cooling off with a peanut butter and jelly flavored ice cream cone

A photo posted by Darren Tsang (@fattycawatty) on

Things You Need To Eat This Summer in Austin - link in bio! #kokosummerlist

A photo posted by JANE KO, Austin Food Blogger (@atasteofkoko) on

Sea salt (blue) and pandan (green) swirl soft serve at @aquas_au. (‼️) #Sydney

A photo posted by ulterior epicure (@ulteriorepicure) on

Dear @sweetrosecreamery, please come to NYC. [A #HillEatsLA throwback #eater]

A photo posted by Hillary Dixler (@hillarydixler) on

Ain't no party like a @morgensternsnyc party.

A photo posted by Jessica Kane (@jessicankane) on

Work. #cool #saltypimp

A photo posted by Daniela Galarza (@superdaniela) on

Good thing my wardrobe is mostly black . Total Smokeshow: COCONUT ASH & RASPBERRY ICE CREAM @morgensternsnyc #noleftovers

A photo posted by No Leftovers Food Travel Life (@noleftovers) on

Apricot, rose, fleur du lait. Related: The ice cream person served it this way #eater

A photo posted by Ryan Sutton (@thebaddeal) on

Farm fresh ice cream and the best cones, always my favorite ❤️ #icecream #eatinCT #cteats #conneaticut

A photo posted by Angela Bentley (@angelabentley15) on

Have a wonderful Sunday! #icecreamday @morgensternsnyc

A photo posted by Ronan Setias (@setias11) on

Additional reporting by Hillary Dixler, Meghan McCarron, Daniela Galarza, Patty Diez, and Stefanie Tuder

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