Jon McCormack: Patterns. Art of the Natural World

Stunning photography reveals the hidden architecture of the natural world, from grand vistas to tiny details, punctuated by surprise encounters with wildlife. For nature and animal lovers alike, this book offers a dynamic and unforgettable journey celebrating the interconnectedness of life and form. Wonders: Exploring Nature's Art explores the natural design woven into the fabric of our planet. See the beauty of unexpected structures and delicate rhythms echoed across animal markings, grand landscapes, geological formations, and botanical design; all in breathtaking detail. The photographs in this book were made across a wide arc of the natural world: from the volcanic coasts of Iceland to the wilds of Kenya, the icy fjords of Antarctica to the rainforests of British Columbia. They follow the silent geometry of hippo trails in Botswana, the intricate symmetry of ice caves in Svalbard, and the mysterious worlds found in cold underwater environments. Many of the images were also created close to Jon’s home, along the coastlines, forests, and deserts of California; a testament to the universality of pattern wherever nature is allowed to thrive. Throughout, encounter wildlife interwoven within these complex environments, creating fleeting patterns of movement both beautiful and vital. Each turn of the page reveals a new perspective on the symmetries that shape both the grand and the small: tree rings under a microscope juxtaposed with elephant migration trails seen from above; the delicate architecture that structures both mineral formations and the feathers of ancient birds. These quiet, often-overlooked subtleties are more relevant than ever as our planet; this remarkable and irreplaceable home, brimming with beauty; is also marked by a profound fragility. A lyrical introduction encourages readers to contemplate the natural wonders that surround us, while short essays by explorers and scientists throughout the book illuminate the images. This book serves as a testament to the enduring power of nature and the interconnectedness of all things; a reminder that whether vast or minute, still or in motion, the natural world is a masterpiece of pattern and life.