The Shape of Nature

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.