Alone or unique?

When I found a piece of sea glass this image came to mind, so I had a go at creating it today.

In photography contrast plays a very important role in both the visual interaction of light on the surfaces we photograph as well as at a conceptual and emotional level.

Is the glass alone or unique?
Are we looking at one as opposed to many, or many as opposed to one?
Or are we looking at the many which although they stand alone in their uniqueness, combine to create a whole that is really quite beautiful?

Photography really is a marvellous medium with which to explore such concepts.