Vantage Points
Jon McCormack: “Patterns” and Elements of Wonder
with Pamela Chen
In this intimate conversation, photographer Jon McCormack presents Elements of Wonder, a photographic project that explores the hidden architectures, patterns, and elemental forces of the natural world. Moving from ice, stone, water, light, atmosphere, and living systems, McCormack’s images invite viewers to look more slowly, to recognize beauty as a form of attention, and to consider wonder not as escape, but as a way back into relationship with the Earth.
Following the presentation, McCormack is joined by Pamela Chen for a discussion on how a photographic body of work can become more than a collection of images. In fact, his project — Elements of Wonder — has been featured in two recent exhibitions (at Photoville in New York City and at Center Santa Fe) and in a new book: Patterns: Art of the Natural World (Damiani, 2026).
Together, Jon and Pamela will explore the process of shaping a project for different forms: a book, an exhibition, and a public talk. Their conversation will look at sequencing, editing, narrative structure, audience experience, and the delicate work of translating visual intuition into a coherent public offering.
Jon McCormack is a photographer whose work is deeply informed by his upbringing in the stark, untamed landscapes of the Australian Outback, where early life among sheep and cattle fostered a profound respect for nature’s rhythms of resilience and fragility. Beginning as a teenager photographing quiet, often-overlooked moments in the bush, he developed a photographic voice rooted in patience, attention, and ecological empathy. Today, his images explore the intricate patterns and emotional textures of wild places, seeking to inspire both wonder and a sense of responsibility, and are widely published and used by global conservation organizations to advocate for the protection of fragile ecosystems.
Alongside his creative work, McCormack leads camera software engineering for iPhone at Apple.
Pamela Chen leads Aesthetics Science for Apple Camera and Photos software engineering, where she helps advance the role of photography in shaping culture. An award-winning curator and editor, Pamela’s career spans over two decades, including editorial leadership roles at Instagram and National Geographic. Her Emmy-winning documentary work combines storytelling and innovation to inspire connection and empathy. A board member of the Magnum Foundation and affiliate fellow at Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered AI, Pamela deploys photography for social impact. She continues to push boundaries in visual storytelling, developing tools that shape how we see and engage with the world.
