I think the truth about this shot is that it's an attractive subject, and that reducing things to their simple basics is ever a route to strong imagery... in fact, two factors make it tick: the simple label that's striking (to non-Americans) because of the odd obsession that some of us see with the perma-display of flags in America; secondly, the very notion of such boots shouts the Americas.
I wouldn't have imagined anything special would have been needed to get a good exposure from this shot. Except maybe a tripod!
Exactly the kind of thing that I'd have picked up on in my work many moons ago when attempting to shoot location indicators to accompany model shots on my calendars or even for travel brochure stock - I've stuck an example below.
I like it when foks do that kind of work. It seems to me to be more rewarding than shots of vast national monuments, parks, cities etc. which have all been shot to death; I believe that national identity does, indeed, exist in small doses. Harder to spot, and probably even more difficult for nationals of those 'foreign' countries to grasp, because after a while you stop seeing what's under your nose. Again, that's one of the huge advantages of location shooting abroad: it usually inspires by its difference.
Rob C
