B&W Challenge No. 55 - Footwear

[hmca]

I thought Alex had a great topic for last month and enjoyed seeing the pictures that were submitted.  Thanks to everyone who participated. 


I have always liked pictures of worn shoes.  Recently one of Van Gogh's paintings of shoes caught my eye and I thought that I would use this subject for the next B&W Challenge.  I knew I had taken some pictures of shoes so would have some to start the challenge.
Now that it's time to post, I am having second thoughts about this topic.  I hope it might encourage our creativity as we try to come up with some interesting pictures of shoes, boots, slippers, socks etc.    I am introducing the challenge with images from the archives
but hope to add some new images to this thread as the month progresses.

From the archives.....

[hmca]

Took this today and wanted to enhance the scrufty look.....used a variety of filters in CE 4 and finished in SE 3.

[whippet]

Great idea, Helen. I look forward with interest, to what others produce.

I enjoy watching CBS Reality, on TV. Just this week, there was a Forensic Detective programme. I bet not many people were aware, that, like fingerprints, every shoe in the world has a sole which is unique to that shoe.

[hmca]

Feb 4, 2022 20:11:32 GMT whippet said:

I bet not many people were aware, that, like fingerprints, every shoe in the world has a sole which is unique to that shoe.

Thanks for adding that, Margaret. Not something that I was aware of. I did notice in Van Gogh's shoes shown in the link above that he painted some of the shoes with the soles showing. I will think about that for a future picture for this thread.

[kdcintx]

I admired these well-worn cowboy boots and spurs while sitting in a restaurant. I secretively took this photo from a distance with a smartphone so it's a bit blurry.

i.ibb.co/yYJXh9K/boots.jpg

[hmca]

Wow, that's a treasure find, Karen! Perfect for this challenge.

[pontiac1940]

Feb 4, 2022 23:45:04 GMT kdcintx said:

cowboy boots and spurs while sitting in a restaurant

Love this Karen.  Small-town eateries in ranching country can be most interesting.  

Helen, you introductory photos are super. 

[pontiac1940]

This is not a strict interpretation of "footwear" because this brass boot is only 3 inches long. Anyone want to guess what it really is? 

Brass boot

[hmca]

I notice two things on your shoe, Clive. At the top there looks like there is a mouse, then on the toe of the shoe it appears that maybe you can open it? So my guess is a mousetrap....but then there's a part of me that wonders if you might have shared this before and that's why I noticed those things?

All that a side, it's a nice entry for this challenge.

[pontiac1940]

Feb 5, 2022 16:03:37 GMT hmca said:

So my guess is a mousetrap.

Thanks Helen. It is only 3 inches heel to toe, so not a mouse trap. 
I Googled the shoe to see what it was worth because it is quite old...probably late 1800s or early 1900s. It could we worth millions, right? Ha Ha. Apparently these were made by the boat load and sell for a few dollars. Still, it's a cool antique trinket. 

What is it then? It is a wooden match holder and match striker. You will recall old-school, wooden strike-anywhere matches were quite short compared to today's longer campfire matches. On the shoe posted, on the heel you can see vertical light dots. These are the edges of a series of rows of grooves on which matches were struck.   

The mouse? I have no idea. There must be some story behind the mouse because all of the similar images I found in the Internet showed the mouse.  

Google Images "England heavy brass antique Boot Match Striker"

[hmca]

Is that a mouse at the top? And yes, I remember those matches.

[pontiac1940]

Feb 5, 2022 16:22:20 GMT hmca said:

Is that a mouse at the top?

Yes, I edited the post after you asked this question. 

[pontiac1940]

Muck Boots™
Best thing since sliced bread. I own two pairs. They are warm, comfortable, waterproof and slip on. I wear them every day or two from October to May.

• Shovel driveway and walks: Muck Boots
• Hiking in the river valley when it is wet: Muck Boots
• Hiking in the river valley when it is warm but snowy and therefore muddy: Muck Boots
• Snowshoeing: Muck Boots 
• Take the garbage and recycle bins out to the alley when it is muddy: Muck Boots
• Fill the bird feeders in wet or snow: Muck Boots
• Stalking birds across the road at the ponds: Muck Boots
• Go shopping in the city on a wet or snowy day: Muck Boots
  
  • Going river fishing when waders are not required: Muck Boots
  • Fishing from my boat because launching is not possible without get feet wet: Muck Boots 
  
  
  

[hmca]

Your boots sound great, Clive. I like the way you chose to photograph them.

[tonyw]

Clive beat me too it as I was just about to grab a shot of one of my pairs of Muck boots but I'll go with a footwear related one instead - a shoemakers last - size 11½ - ca 1960



Tony