The Shape of Nature The Intricate Patterns of Life

Acclaimed photographer David Maitland’s visual exploration of the myriad structures, shapes, and patterns seen in nature

It might appear at first glance that it is the chaos of the natural world that makes its beauty. But all around us are extraordinary examples of geometry which show that nature’s palette is in fact applied with brushstrokes that follow strict laws and principles.

The Shape of Nature reveals a wonderland of recurrent structures, shapes, and symmetries and asks how and why these came to be. Curated by form and introduced by essays linking form with function, each chapter examines exquisite examples—from a whale’s bejeweled baleen to a sea cucumber’s anchor-tattooed skin—captured in acclaimed photographer and scientist David Maitland’s lens and words. Where other books consider the math of natural patterns, The Shape of Nature explores their biological origins and significance. Combining sublime photography with an inspiring commentary, this is both a celebration of nature’s unseen masterpieces and a revelation of the principles underpinning their extraordinary creation.

David Maitland is an internationally acclaimed nature and science photographer. He has a BSc Hons (St. Andrews) and a doctorate (UNSW) in zoology, and is a fellow of the Royal Photographic Society. Maitland’s academic research has focused on the form and function of life forms, especially invertebrates, and his publication list includes nature papers on how maggots jump; crabs that breathe air with their legs; and asymmetry in the predation of trilobites. Photography has always featured prominently in his work, and he now combines an academic viewpoint with a new sense of enquiry combining art and science. His specialist macro and microscopy skills have been employed by the BBC for Wonders of Life and Human Universe. Maitland is the recipient of international photography awards including POYi, Sony World Photography, British Photography Awards, and Wildlife Photographer of the Year. He was named European Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2008 and was the winner of the International Images for Science and a RPS Gold Medal in 2015. He lives in St Andrews, Scotland.