Following my last comment I have prepared some pictures
adapted from Olivier's excellent overhead shot, and a pencil tracing which I
hope reflects the casual doodle-like, relaxed feel of the work. I have
included Bertold Zugelder's preliminary diagram to show how this type of
formation does not quite fit with precise diagrams rendered with formal
geometric tools.
However the small circles between the petals may
point to fractal geometry which, if I understand correctly, applies to
all physical
images in nature.
Things I noticed about this formation.
First, it has a “freehand
unprofessional” look with no crisp precision anywhere, unlike many that left
us “gobsmacked” in the past, with their impeccable appearance and precise
geometric structure.
The spiral here is irregular and the
eight “petals” are not of even size. At first glance, they appear to have
been “softly painted” with no outline. One petal appears far too wide and
another too narrow.
The lay in the eight petals seems NOT
to have been completely flattened to the ground in the familiar neat rows or
swathes that we have come to expect. Rather, the petal lay appears to have
been only lightly brushed or swirled, not totally flattened. The leaning
stalks actually conceal the tram lines in places. Because the crop forming
the petals is only semi-flattened, the petal edges are not clearly defined,
however the spiral, though rather “wonky”, IS clearly defined by totally
flattened crop.
However, despite its wonkiness, I
feel the formation has a palpable innocent charm. Not unlike the quality we
admire in a child’s drawing. I think it’s the softness. This same softer
quality appears in other formations this season. I can understand if some
folks feel let down, expecting to see more miraculously huge and complex
designs with hidden messages for mankind’s future.
Perhaps the computer-like wiz-bang
stuff has backed off a bit, to allow time and space in the season for folks
to relax and smell the roses.
Jack Newnham |
