“Seashell Burst” and Other Archetypal Forms

I call this image "Shell Burst" because it reminds me of the proverbial "Sunburst."  The sun has been a metaphor on numerous levels for the human species since the beginning of time, so it seems to follow that any image resembling a sunburst might conjure subconscious archetypes.  This closeup of a gorgeous fluted conch in relation to an adjacent shell makes a meditative still life that to me, is a tribute to nature's gorgeous diversity.
I am impressed by the delicate ridges of shell that encircle the center, and I'm reminded of the repeating, self-mirroring forms in nature that are expressed in the mathematical algorithms of fractals as well as in so many natural forms.  The self-replicating forms of ferns and other plants are perfect examples of the impressive genetic codes that determine each species of life on earth, and the same majestic display of order within diversity goes on at the highest heights of mountains as well as in the depths of the oceans that comprise our globe.
What are some of your favorite examples of repeating forms?


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