![Black and white photo of umbrella-shaped seed heads](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/P1260408-Whitstable-2.jpg?resize=1140%2C819&ssl=1)
Gallery: nature by design
There is no better designer than nature
Alexander McQueen
I am sure Alexander McQueen is not the first person to suggest that nature is the best designer. Indeed, as far back as the Ancient Greeks similar things were being said:
Art takes nature as its model
Aristotle
For this week’s Lens Artist Challenge Patti proposes that we take a closer look at shapes and designs. I’m choosing to highlight the wonderful designs to be found in the natural world. Most are plant details; I am often intrigued by the shapes and patterns created by stamen, petals, leaves and seed heads. But there are a few animals and geological shapes too.
And to make the design element more apparent, I’ve opted for monochrome edits. That may also compensate for the fact that I’ve used some of these images in previous posts! Most were shot originally in colour and edited in Silver Efex Pro 2.
Plant and animal designs
![Black and white photo of rushes reflected in water](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Photo-07-07-2018-15-42-11.jpg?resize=960%2C714&ssl=1)
Rushes in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
![Black and white photo of single grass head](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/4-Mt-R-117-WA-2017-Photo-14-07-2017-02-35-42-768x1024.jpg?ssl=1)
![Black and white photo of white flowers in dense cluster](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/4-Mt-R-66-WA-2017-Photo-13-07-2017-05-22-13-768x1024.jpg?ssl=1)
Grass seeds and Bear Grass in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington State
![Black and white photo of dandelion clock](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/P1260753-Custom.jpg?resize=960%2C883&ssl=1)
Dandelion clock near my home in Ealing, west London
![Black and white photo of three teasel heads in silhouette](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Druridge-Dec-2014-00006.jpg?resize=709%2C1024&ssl=1)
A trio of teasels at Druridge Bay in Northumberland, UK
![Black and white photo of large leaf](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/55-Kerala4-Munnar-Photo-16-02-2017-01-55-58.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1)
Close-up of a banana leaf in Kerala, India
![Black and white photo of centre of a poppy](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/29-Adlestrop-08a.jpg?resize=960%2C876&ssl=1)
A poppy growing in Adlestrop, a Cotswold village in England
![Black and white photo of delicate flower](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/P1120667-Kew.jpg?resize=960%2C757&ssl=1)
Taken at Kew Gardens, west London; I’m unsure what flower this is but the design is just perfect!
![Black and white photo of large cactus](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/P1120689-Kew.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1)
A cactus at Kew Gardens, west London
![Black and white photo of cut surface of tree trunk](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/4-Mt-R-122-WA-2017-Photo-14-07-2017-02-47-34-Custom.jpg?resize=735%2C980&ssl=1)
A fallen tree in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington State
![Black and white photo of seaweed hanging from a wall](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/P1080991-Whitstable-Custom.jpg?resize=960%2C626&ssl=1)
Seaweed on a groyne in Whitstable, England
![Black and white photo of web with raindrops](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/P1000970.jpg?resize=960%2C720&ssl=1)
Raindrops on a spider’s web near Craster, Northumberland, UK (we can’t talk about designs in nature without mentioning spiders’ webs!)
![Black and white photo of elephant's trunk curled over his head](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/47-Africa-2018-Photo-05-07-2018-13-54-06-Chobe-Botswana.jpg?resize=817%2C1024&ssl=1)
Elephant’s trunk detail, taken in Chobe National Park, Botswana
![Black and white photo of zebra's neck and mane](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/23-Africa-2018-Photo-04-07-2018-11-51-08-Chobe-Botswana.jpg?resize=819%2C1024&ssl=1)
Zebra’s mane detail, also taken in Chobe National Park, Botswana
![Black and white photo of owl's face](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/P1180831-Grey-Owl-Custom-1.jpg?resize=960%2C720&ssl=1)
A Grey Owl at a birds of prey rescue centre in England
The work of water
So far I have focused on shapes that can be discovered in the details of plants and animals. I want to finish with a few examples of interesting shapes created instead by water, soil and rock.
![Aerial view of a river delta in black and white](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/55-Africa-2018-Photo-06-07-2018-09-57-14-Flying-to-Xugana-Botswana.jpg?resize=960%2C677&ssl=1)
Above the Okavango Delta in Botswana
![Black and white photo of river banks](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Photo-11-07-2018-07-56-38.jpg?resize=960%2C685&ssl=1)
Looking down on the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe, from a helicopter; I was struck by how much the shape of the promontory in the river resembled the crocodile resting on it!
![Black and white photo of mangroves reflected in a river](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Gambia0066-Gambia00026.jpg?resize=960%2C630&ssl=1)
On the Gambia River just before sunset; another ‘crocodile’ ready to pounce on an unsuspecting fisherman?
![Black and white photo of rock reflected in water](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Photo-11-02-2019-06-24-37.jpg?resize=960%2C720&ssl=1)
Rock erosion at Wadi Bani Khalid in Oman
![Black and white photo of of rock layers reflected in water](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/13-DPRK-38-P1210272-Mount-Paektu.jpg?resize=960%2C621&ssl=1)
Rock formations at Mount Paektu, North Korea, reflected in the crater lake
![Path through green woodland](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/001-feature-P1000172-Custom.jpg?resize=75%2C75&ssl=1)
![Very large green snail sculpture](https://i0.wp.com/www.toonsarah-travels.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/001-feature-Riga00016.jpg?resize=75%2C75&ssl=1)
30 Comments
Hammad Rais
The monochromatic touch has certainly added a unique touch in these captures. Very lovely 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Hammad, I’m happy you liked these 🙂
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wetanddustyroads
I absolutely agree with you on nature being the master of designs! You’ve got such a beautiful collection of pictures here … I love that photo of the flower that don’t have a name (it’s just so perfect)!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much 😊 That flower is a lovely shade of purple, one of my favourite colours, and yet I can’t help liking it even more in monochrome!
Amy
Remarkable captures of shapes and designs of nature! I love these B&W versions. Brillient, Sarah! The Gambia River image is like a beautiful painting.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Amy, I appreciate the feedback 🙂
I. J. Khanewala
A whole gallery of beautiful images. They look wonderful in monochrome. I love the surprise in the photo from the Gambia river
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 😊 That Gambia River shot is one of my own favourites, both in this monochrome version and its original colour.
Rose
These images are intriguing in black and white. The natural world is so incredible. I’ve always known nature’s survival and educational value, but didn’t recognize its artistic influence. Thanks for the view.
Sarah Wilkie
Glad you found them intriguing Rose. To me, using black and white brings out the design in nature 🙂
the eternal traveller
Beautiful!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 😊
lgopinath
Too good Sarah!….what an amazing collection of pictures….hats off to you….
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, glad you liked them!
pattimoed
Fabulous collection, Sarah. The black and white is perfect for highlighting the shape and design. Great choices. Your header image was striking, as well as the owl and the zebra mane. This post is a wonderful display of nature’s designs!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Patti, I’m glad you enjoyed my response to your challenge 😀 You’ve picked out some of my own favourites!
Tina Schell
Beautiful gallery Sarah. But your opener is the one that stole my heart! Your B&W treatment of that one is superb
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Tina 😊 That first shot was taken on quite a dull day and only B&W could make it interesting, I felt!
margaret21
Great gallery. I think b/w was the right choice in this case too.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Margaret 😀 Interesting how some of us like the B&W and others aren’t keen – it really divides opinion!
Teresa
Great examples, Sarah. Love the last image of the rock formation in Korea and the zebra’s mane. The dandelion is always a fave too. 👍🏼
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Teresa 🙂 I nearly didn’t include that rock formation, it was a last-minute thought to add it!
Manja Maksimovič
You know my opinion on b&w. I’m sure my knowledge of photography is lacking to get it. So I missed the greens that go with nature, but there is one absolutely stunning photo, the flower from the Kew Gardens. I loved the animals too, and the spider’s net.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, I do know you’re not a fan Manja, so I’m happy that you liked even a few of them!
Frank @ Beach Walk Reflections
Over from Patti’s … Nature’s designs are wonderful, especially for those who take the time to look. Thanks for looking and capturing.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you for coming over Frank, and for the great feedback – really appreciated 😀
Frank @ Beach Walk Reflections
My pleasure
maristravels
Wonderful examples of the art of photography. I don’t normally like black and white but these I’ll make an exception for (except maybe the banana leaf).
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Mari – I’m glad I’ve [almost] converted you to black and white 😆