From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Weston: In february 1927 he started a new series of nudes, this time of dancer Bertha Wardell. One of this series, of her kneeling body cut off at the shoulders, is one od Weston's most well-known figure studies. At this time he also met Canadian Painter Henrietta Shore, whom he asked to comment on the photo's of Wardell. He was surprised by her honest critique: "I wish you would not do so many nudes - you are getting used to them, the subject no longer amazes you - most of these are just nudes". He asked to look at her work and was intrigued by her large paintings of sea shells. He borrowed several shells from her, thinking he might find some inspiration for a new still life series. Over the next few weeks he explored many different kinds of shell and background combinations - in his log of photographs taken for 1927 he listed fourteen negatives of shells...........From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrietta_ Shore: In 1930 she took up residence on Monterey Peninsula. It was there that she became a companion of Edward Weston.