The Fractal Photography of Debbie Lind

Some people have very few nice things to say about broccoli. Culinary preferences aside, it's worth looking at broccoli closely to marvel at its makeup: each head consists of many little heads – florets – repeated over and over

In the world of mathematics as well as art, this is called fractalization: the repetition of the same shape, in various sizes and formats, to create a cohesive whole.

"Both cauliflower and broccoli are one big shape, and when taken apart, they are still the same shape, but different sizes," says photographer Debbie Lind, who first discovered fractal art when reading about shapes to a group of kindergarteners visiting the library where she is director in Wallowa, OR.

"When I first read about this, I thought – 'How can I use this in my photography?'

"So I just started with a red tulip I photographed, and by using Photoshop, I started to fractalize it. When I was done fractaling the tulip, it looked like a butterfly wing – from there, I made three more wings, and my first fractal art was born."

The resultant artwork, Butterfly Blooms, went on to win first prize at a major regional art show, and Lind had discovered a new aspect to her photographic art.

"Each piece of artwork I do gives a different perspective on the subject," Lind says.

"I use my photographs to not only look beautiful on their own, but I then take that beautiful photograph and turn it into a different piece of art."

Lind is showing her fractal photographic art at a month-long Art Event in Wenaha Gallery (219 East Main, Dayton) through Nov. 17. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.