I don’t think of myself as a beachcomber. Yet sometimes, when I clean out my car or reach into a jacket pocket, I find little souvenirs of a beach walk. Shells mainly, and sometimes pebbles — dry and sandy and somehow not as beautiful as in that first moment I picked them up.
I knew someone once who carefully applied a coat of clear nail varnish to the shells she had collected; an attempt to bring back that wet sparkle which drew her to them in the first place.
I’m not going to varnish my shells. I’m happy to let my camera explore the intricate beauty of their forms and textures and patterns.
Five Minutes of Random (the #RegularRandom challenge), is hosted by Desley Jane at Musings of a Frequently Flying Scientist.
If you’d like to join in:
- choose a subject or a scene
- spend five minutes photographing it – no more!
- try to see it from many angles, look through something at it, change the light that’s hitting it
- tag your post #regularrandom and ping back to Desley’s post
- have fun!
I should take a photo of my dresser with some of the shells I’ve collected over the years. Or rather—I should have YOU take the photo!
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🙂 Thanks Amy.
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Nothing wrong with these shells.
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So I can put the nail varnish away then? 🙂
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fabulous, particular love the B&Ws
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Thank you Julie 🙂
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That’s one of my favourite things to do. Walk along a beach and look for shells.
Leslie
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🙂 Mine too Leslie.
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🙂
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I haven’t been to a beach in ages, but I have lots and lots of shells from the other times. 🙂 Lovely shots.
janet
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Thanks Janet. I think sometimes I take access to the beach a bit for granted. But it’s hard not to when we’re surrounded by sooo much coastline.
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Great photographs! sounds like a fun idea. I love seashells and the beach. We have many in our home and recently I found a sand dollar hidden away in a drawer. Such a treasure!
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How cool. I’ve never seen a sand dollar. 🙂
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So beautiful! This brings back for me many childhood walks on the beach, returning with sand everywhere, and a bucketful of shells!
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Ah yes; the sand grains that magically multiply and end up everywhere. 🙂
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Love the seashore impression in the coloured photos.
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Thank you; not entirely deliberate 🙂
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They are beautiful just the way they are!
I’m definitely a picker-upper of rocks and other interesting bits. I never know what to do with the things I have collected, and yet I can’t stop myself from continuing to pick things up!
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I know exactly what you mean! I have a shelf in my office that has become the repository of “finds.” At the moment I can see shells, dried leaves and leaf skeletons, some hunks of quartz, a monarch butterfly and a bunch of plastic giveaways toys from the gas station. Sigh!
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I’m glad I’m not the only one!
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Beautiful photos Su. One of them has such a lovely shiny “bottom”. I know exactly what you mean when you say they don’t seem as beautiful at home as they do when you first pick them up. There’s something magical about the light at the beach I think. Especially the golden hours at the beach. I haven’t been in so long. Your post makes me long for it.
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Thank you Desley 🙂 I totally agree about the light at beaches. Can’t believe you haven’t been to a beach for a while. Brighton is pretty cool, especially with all the beach huts. It’s not exactly wild and isolated, but you still get the feel of sand between your toes. 🙂
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Yes it’s been more than a year I think. Gotta get back!
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I was going to say “well summer’s nearly here” but I go to the beach way less in summer. Too hot and too many other people.
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Tell the truth – you varnished them – just kidding – loved the different takes here – really showing some lens muscle – not to be confused with mussel – hah
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Hehe. If only I had the patience!
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😉
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How simple, yet beautiful! This looks like an interesting challenge 🙂
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Thank you. It’s a challenge I really enjoy because it focuses my attention on subject and composition.
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And I’m guessing the time component adds a certain focus as well — sometimes I’m too precious with my shots but if I only had five minutes, I’d have to hustle!
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Exactly! It really is a great exercise. 😃
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I’ll have to try it sometime! 🙂
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My mum still applies clear nail varnish on her shells and stones, but she´s got buckets of the stuff and there are still a lot that haven´t been coated yet 😉 And although they do look better then, I think it´s cheating 😉 Nothing like see-water to make them glisten and shine 😀 xxxxxxx
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Hehe. I’ve never headers of anyone else doing that. I can see the attraction; though I agree it seems like cheating. And I really couldn’t bring myself to spend the time. 😂 xxxx
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Me neither! The only thing I use nail varnish on are my nails! 😀 😉 xxxxx
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Guilty of putting clear polish on my collected precious stones!
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This is so cool. I thought my friend was a bit unique. It does make sense — but I am way too lazy.
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Keeps them glossy!
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There is something extra magical about seeing a shell on the beach. They are such a detailed and beautiful contrast against the steadiness of the sand. I wonder if it’s the contrast that makes them more beautiful in that moment. I love the ocean and yet I’m buried in the middle(ish) of a huge country and rarely get to linger on the beach.
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I agree. I think the impulse to pick shells up comes from wanting to hold on to that magic. 🙂
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