I think I need to stop saying that I’ll pass on kicks when they release. I’m pretty sure I’m lying to myself, and that’s never a good thing.

The metallic pewter Air Foamposite One didn’t really grab me right away. I thought they were loud, much like the metallic copper pair which released last year on Feb. 13. The remark is always the same: “I like them, but not for me.” Most times I’m wrong, it seems.

I saw people lining up around Niketown in the days leading up to the “Pewters” release and couldn’t understand it. (But that’s because I don’t believe in lining up.) I didn’t understand why people did midnight releases for the Royal Foamposites back in February, either. Those were acquired quite simply by walking into Footaction on a Saturday afternoon. They had plenty.

Nonetheless, my intention was to pass. Until I kept seeing them and having the visualizations that every obsessive sneakerhead knows well. I saw myself in black pants with the Pewters on my feet. I saw myself in the summer with black cargo shorts, and the Pewters on my feet. I remembered how much I enjoy wearing black and grey, and realized how perfectly the clothes I already have will go with these sneakers.

Gilbert Arenas’ comments to me also stood out. The shoes look better when complemented with dark clothes, which is why he chose not to wear them with Orlando’s blue uniforms.

One of my initial concerns was that the Pewter Foamposites looked too silver and shiny. That error can be attributed to the different pictures online leading up to the release. The images rarely captured the Pewters’ true essence. Bright flash, excessive lighting, and mediocre Photoshop work in post-production made the sneakers look more like silverware than hard iron. It was misleading.

I did my best to make sure I didn’t do the same to any prospective buyers (or folks who just enjoy pics of kicks). It’s especially important for you guys who are late to the party, because the current resale prices range from $230 to $325. Good luck.

Anyhow, it made sense to do this at night. I wanted pictures with and without flash to illustrate how street lights and my camera’s flash reflect off the surface. The spots where the light hits the shoe are clear and bright, but I believe they don’t leave the impression that these shoes are like mirrors on your feet.

Oh, I also took these pictures after some mist and rain hit New York. That’s why you’ll see some water drops on the shoes. I thought it added a little something extra. We don’t wear our kicks in studios, so it makes sense to embrace the elements.

Enjoy. And happy hunting if you don’t have them yet.