[sonnekki]

Would it be silly to attempt to analyze an image of a natural fractal in order to approximate the equation which forms the fractals?

Has something like that been done before?

[tonymarq]

Mandelbrot pushed his discoveries as methods for modeling real-world objects, including things like what you describe. so, the impetus for his popularization of fractals was this practical reason. at least, that's how Mandelbrot promoted fractals

[algorias]

you might be interested in "the fractal geometry of nature" by benoit mandelbrot.