Created by Nature

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About Created by Nature

This group is dedicated to the artistic (or 'art-like') creations of animals, plants and natural processes. These creations may be 'art-like' in either their appearance or their production. In other words, they are natural things that look like they were created with some kind of artistic or creative intent or through some systematic or deliberative process. (I say "look like" because I don't think artistic intent or appreciation is generally found outside of human minds, but neither am I trying to rule out this possibility.)

This group is not for gushing at the broad brush strokes from Mother Nature's paintbrush -- like mountain-top views, flushing meadows or other vistas that look as "pretty as a picture". Instead, it is for admiring Nature's more intricate, focussed and refined efforts -- particularly those displaying some aesthetically compelling geometry or structure, or that have been created (whether deliberately or incidentally) through some sustained effort or cumulative process.

Ok, enough with the big words, time for some examples. They fall under three broad categories:

Animal Art - These can be things created by animals (spider webs, bee hives, nests, tracks or even interesting flock/swarm behaviour), or parts of animals (butterfly wings, skin/fur/feather patterns and textures, or even cellular structures). The photos that inspired this group (because I couldn't find another good home for them) were of hundreds of tiny balls of sand dug out and placed on the beach by soldier crabs. Cuteness is NOT a sufficient criterion for inclusion in this group. Animal antics or performances are also inappropriate.

Plant Art - Any aspects of plants that fit the criteria above. These might be interesting structures, patterns or colours in leaves, fruit, branches, bark or roots. Fungi are included too. But please, unless they are really exceptionally interesting, NO FLOWERS. There are flower photos everywhere; they don't need to be here too. Bonus points for anyone who can find some natural art created by plants, but is not made of plants.

Mineral Art - Any natural art produced through non-biological processes. Snowflakes, crystals, stalactites, sedimentary deposits, wave patterns ... you should get the gist by now.

The subjects of this group must be non-human creations. They must not include artworks created by people using living or 'natural' material as a medium (what is called 'bio-art' in some circles). However, artistic manipulation of the photograph is permitted, especially if the manipulation accentuates the art-like qualities of the subject.

Contributions that do not conform to the 'rules' above will be removed from the group. However, I recognise that interpreting and applying these rules will be an interesting journey to say the least, with negotiations and refinements sure to come. Happy posting!