My new boots arrived. The last of my Christmas presents. The first day of new adventures. OKOK, that managed to sound both generic and pretentious at the same time.

The nice thing about the Nikon system is that you can toss lenses manufactured back in the late 60s onto a 21st century digital slr. In this case, we’re talking a 55mm Micro-Nikkor on extended loan from my friend Dave. On the D50, no, there’s no metering with this particular lens, but that isn’t too big of a deal when what you’re shooting doesn’t move, and you’ve got a screen sitting there showing exactly how the photo came out.

I chose the first shot for project365 because, narratively, it represented progress. New boots. But the other pics from my little product shoot do better to show off the coolness of a macro lens. With the clarity and magnification of this glass you can really see sharply the texture of my old boots: the fraying laces and tiny stitching, the worn black leather and the glinting metal eyelets.

As an aside, the key to getting hits on Flickr (besides, you know, being good at photography, and developing a social network) is tagging, tagging, tagging. And especially tagging for subcultures or interests or maybe sometimes you could say fetishes. I think these photos were up for 15 seconds before I was invited to join the Dr. Martens group. And though no one has ever left a comment, this pic of Tickle Me Elmo is one of my all time most viewed. Just because he’s wearing a ball gag…