One of the greatest skills we have as human beings is the ability to spot patterns. My eye was drawn to this fungus growing on a tree stump, but later, once I’d uploaded the photo onto my mac, I was amazed to see the echoes, similarities, even symmetries between the patterns in the fungus, the cut slice of the tree, the bark around the tree, and even the shell lying on the ground.
Beautiful. Amazing.
Heroes Not Zombies 
my dad made a clock out of one of the tree growths
In math, I think there is some theory about this related to fractal patterns and chaos theory and such. Having not taken math in many years, I do not remember the details.
But then, who needs the explanation, when the pattern similarities are so apparent?
On the other hand, I wonder if we are just hardwired to look for patterns whether they exist or not?
You’re right, Marcus, it’s “self-symmetry” (a surprisingly simple math formula!…..if you want to know more, Mandelbrot’s the pioneer to read about). And yes, I agree, we ARE hard wired to see patterns! Makes the world such a beautiful place to live in though, doesn’t it?
Is that somehow related to Fibonacci numbers? I seem to remember something about that too. 🙂
Love this photograph… yes, the echo of the symmetries is completely delightful.
Not really, but the Fibonacci numbers are the basis of the “golden section” – the proportion we find so beautiful.
Thanks for your kind feedback….I just love it when you see something amazing, then photograph it, then when you get home, you find it’s even more amazing than you had realised!