I took this photo a couple days ago after my first photography class of Fall 2025.
So how did it go?
I was introduced to the five other students in the group. The class was by zoom. Then after we gave a short bio of ourselves, the professor shared our first photo assignment. We each got a turn to talk about our photo.
I was blown away by the talent in our group! Like the professor told me, everyone is internally motivated to improve. “We are all on the same learning curve, just at different points along the way.” Some are way, way ahead. It’s exciting to see their work.
The main problem I had was the time. 7 to 9 p.m. I’m not sure if it’s me getting older, recovering from surgery, or getting up early, but I fizzle out around dinner time. That day was busy with an earlier zoom call meeting from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and all my other daytime duties.
I managed to stay awake. I enjoyed seeing other photographers’ work plus learned about the semester project.
Memory and Meaning.
That’s the theme. I’m been noodling on it since Thursday. The professor gave all sorts of examples of what we can do. He said to reflect on the questions, “Why did I take this photo?” and “Why did I keep it?”
We can use photos from the public domain, photos we’ve taken before, new photos, or photos we’ve restored….those are just a few of the examples he gave. I’m thinking of taking photos with sea glass. I have tons of it from the days hanging out at the beach with my kids from when they were infants to before they left for college. My sea glass gives me memories of my favorite days at the beach with them.
We used to rent a cottage a few blocks from a cove in Laguna that was home to a bootlegger during Prohibition. The story the locals tell is that one stormy night, his ship came in to the dock by his house, and the liquor all went overboard. That cove is an amazing place to find sea glass. My daughter had a special eye for it and would spend hours wading in the waves, diving down to pick up pieces of royal blue, lavender, yellow, white, green, brown and turquoise sea glass. Some of the colors are unusual because of how old the bottles were.
I found a lilac piece of sea glass for the first time in my life, while praying during my DIL’s cancer surgery. I thought it was a good omen.
Then in my Palm Springs home, I refinished our wood block kitchen counters. I practiced on a nightstand in the garage that belonged to my husband’s grandmother. I didn’t know turpentine would self combust. I smelled smoke and was shocked to see the rags I tossed on the nightstand were on fire. Thankfully, the house did not catch on fire, although there was soot going up one wall.
I used sea glass and shells to fix the nightstand:
Although it smelled like an ashtray for a few years, I thought this was a creative fix for the smoldering hole on the nightstand.
I have sea glass displayed throughout the house and I found a banker’s box full of it. My daughter used to decorate picture frames with it. We had a grand idea of beautifying a glass table with sea glass. We never quite figured out how we would do it. Then she grew up and moved away before we got around to it.
I’m thinking about different ways I can photograph sea glass. I have tons to set outside for morning light, use water, different settings, frame beach photos. The choices are endless.
What are your thoughts for sea glass being an element in my Memory and Meaning photography project?
Glad you enjoyed your first class. I would have been asleep as well. Sea glass isn’t a thing in this part of Australia but it does look lovely
I am not a big fan of theme-induced photography. I take pictures to capture moments that I know will never come again.
I have never done themed photography before. I’ve always captured nature or moments.
Good luck with it! 🙂
Thanks! Not sure it will be interesting enough…but I get to change my mind on the project at any time.
What a great idea, rooted in such special memories. The sea glass is just beautiful!
Thanks. I’m thinking I could use some old photos of the kids finding sea glass at the beach. Or putting sea glass outside in the morning light or in water. I’m not sure if it will work or not.
I suppose that’s the beauty of photography, or any craft: you can experiment and find what words. 😊
True. The professor wants us to write up what our project is for the next class. But he said we can change what we’re doing at any time. Often we may start down one path and it develops into something else.
I think sea glass could be cool. When I think of sea glass I always think of a movie with Diane Keaton. She plays a writer and she has a house on the beach. I think it was with jack nicholson. It makes me think that things change as we age, but it doesn’t make it less beautiful
Thank you for that thought. “Thing change as we age, but it doesn’t make it less beautiful.” That’s an excellent theme in itself and sea glass can be part of it. I love Diane Keaton. I’ll look for the movie. I’m sure I told you she had a home in Palm Springs and her daughter would swim with our team during holidays? Also at a swim meet in Mission Viejo one of the dad’s on our team told us he met a woman who looked like Diane Keaton. He had argued with her about looking like her but not being her!
No! I don’t remember that story but I love Disney Keaton so….. I think it’s a Nancy Myers movie….somethings gotta give!!
Okay. I’ll look for it. How fun.
Oh wow, the stories you have about sea glass are amazing, Elizabeth! I think anything you can tell such wonderful narratives about seem perfect for your project – just another way of telling it! How incredible!
Thanks! I have been doubting myself if this will work. The good news is, if I don’t like the images I can go in another direction.
I’m so glad that your photography class is interesting and fun.
Thanks! I’m sure it will continue to be so, otherwise the students wouldn’t sign up for it for years. They’re also mostly around our age.
That’s great Elizabeth. Committed photographers.
Sounds like this will be a great experience for you. I think sea glass will be perfect as much of it probably comes with some sort of memory of a destination or event. The possibilities of using light with the glass could result in some really pretty treatments! Go for it!!
Thanks for the encouragement. I may take a while to capture the light in the glass. I have lots of time to work on it. I also discovered public domain photos of the beach with the bootlegger to add to the project.
What an interesting class. Sounds like you’re having fun. That makes it even better.
It is interesting. I wish I could share my classmates’ photos. WOW!
That time of day would be tough for me, too! At least seeing the interesting works your classmates share is worthwhile. I like your idea about the sea glass. You explained the reasons for your choice very well. Clever repair in the nightstand!
Thank you. We are early birds. My husband has always worked on east coast time, so the late class will be tough. I agree that seeing other people’s photography is a plus. I can learn so much from what they are doing.
That is definitely late to be on Zoom! 😴 Love your sea glass, we recently discovered glass along the shore of the river Clyde in Scotland and I don’t think anyone has ever bothered before 👍
That’s amazing to find glass on the shore of the river Thanks for commenting!
I fizzle in the evenings now too. I don’t know if I could stay alert enough for a class at that time of day. I like sea glass. I think it works for your theme in a subtle clever way.
Thanks. I get tired in the afternoons, before dinner, to be honest about it. I’m glad you like the subject. I hope I can come up with images for sea glass that are interesting.
It’s great that your first class was fun and interesting! I like the sea glass and it fits what is special to you. It’s beautiful and so is your first photo!
I love the sentiment and your memories behind the sea glass. I think it’s pretty! I look forward to seeing more of it. Good luck!
I’m worried about how the photos will turn out or what to do. But I like the idea.
I am sure an idea will come to you on how to use the sea glass in a captivating way for photos.
I’m also a huge fan of sea glass and I love, LOVE finding it. (not so much here in Naples any longer, but we find gobs in the Abacos Islands/bahamas)
I think that would be such a great thing to use as your focus on the project!
The story about the rags catching fire, is a thing of nightmares. I mean, did it happen as soon as you set them there? Or did it take time? I mean, you could have left the house! I feel like I’ve read about this happening before.
You did a great job of preparing the damaged nightstand, with your lovely sea glass and shells.
I agree, I don’t know how much brain focus I would have at 9pm.
Thank you for your encouraging words about my project idea. I have to write a proposal and I’m working on that now. Thankfully, I was home when the rags ignited! It happened while I was in the kitchen working on my kitchen counters. The counters turned out really pretty. The new owners gutted the entire house and my counters are gone, along with wood beamed ceilings, pillars and Mexican pavers. The house was built in the 1930s and was a classic Spanish style home. Was is the operative word. My husband keeps reminding me that we sold the home so it doesn’t matter.