These 75 pictures aren’t exactly as they seem. You might not realize it at first, but look a little closer and you’ll soon discover the truth — they are all optical illusions.
From dogs with two heads to a giant concert that turned out to actually be a cotton picker operating at night, these pictures prove that you can’t always trust your eyes. Sometimes it takes a second glance to really figure out what you are looking at.
Don’t believe us? Just check out this first image. There is no way you can say that this giant cotton-picking machine doesn’t look like a wild outdoor music festival.
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Scaulbylausis
1. Middle Of The Storm
This image is not a result of Photoshop editing. The lightning struck at the exact moment that the man was taking the photo. Half of the photo was recorded to memory before the lightning strike and the other half of the photo afterward.
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karazykid
2. Dog Merger
Here we have two dogs that have merged into one. It is a result of how fluffy they are and their leg placement. Their bodies appear to be fused together.
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NegativePitch
3. Sloped Floor
The floor patterning in this cathedral makes it seem as though the floor turns into a cliff. It suddenly drops off into a great abyss below. That’s where the people who don’t attend church often enough go.
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starlinguk
4. Giant Birds
You might be tempted to award these two birds the title of the world’s biggest pigeons. However, it’s just an optical illusion. They are standing on a ledge high above the car park and are both normal-sized.
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TastyTalk
5. Decapitated Camel
It looks like this man is holding a live camel head. The camel is suspiciously missing its body. The photo was taken at the perfect angle to hide it.
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Mecha_Hitler_
6. Planet View
This is a photo of the Earth viewed from space, right? Surprisingly, no. It’s just the frost on the roof of somebody’s blue car in the morning.
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vmos
7. Half A Cat
“My fiancé took this pic that makes the cat look like he’s made out of a head and just one massive arm,” explains the woman. Where is the rest of the cat? It doesn’t make a lot of sense.
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redditdadssuck
8. Sky Walk
The reflections of the sky on the lake are pretty incredible. They make it appear as though the photo was taken from a floating island. It’s like something out of Avatar.
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whackmo
9. Centaur Woman
She’s not a normal Centaur. She has the body of a dog. Her pup arrived at the perfect moment, causing her to transform right there in the hallway of her home.
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Penguinjetski
10. Icy Tornado
This could easily be a tornado forming off in the distance. However, it’s really the snow melting on the man’s front porch. The tornado is an icicle hanging off of the roof.
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-sUBzERoo-
11. Black Hole
There is a black blob on the duvet. It looks like a black hole or some portal to another dimension. Although, it also could be a sleeping cat…
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woodgie2
12. Log Dog
This dog has a section of his body that is completely invisible. At least, that’s what it seems like at first glance. He is really just sitting next to a log that is the same color as his body.
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esquonk
13. Ghost Ship
The levitating ship in this photo is not due to alien intervention or some sort of magic. It’s actually the result of a type of mirage known as Fata Morgana. The same type of mirage was also responsible for the myth of the Flying Dutchman — the ghost pirate ship from ancient legends.
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Ayy_2_Brute
14. Bar Stools
These espresso martinis look like a bunch of stools sitting at the bar. They are placed on a separate table several feet away though. Each of them has a couple of little coffee beans floating on the top.
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madcaplarks
15. Trading Legs
You might have to look a few times before you can see the outline of the man’s basketball shorts. It’s an amazing illusion. The shorts are actually multi-colored.
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Blood_Reaper
16. Virtual Reality
This photo appears as though it’s not real. It could easily be a scene out of a video game. However, it was actually taken in Hawaii when the sun was directly overhead. There were no shadows.
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mike_pants
17. Sideways Landscape
Here we have a confusing photo taken after Hurricane Sandy. The fallen tree ripped all of the grass and dirt out of the ground with it. It created this amazing photo opportunity.
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Nirnroot
18. Mobile Pie Truck
The reflection from inside the coffee shop makes it appear as though some entrepreneurial fellow is selling pies out of the trunk of his car. It’s pretty hilarious. We would definitely buy one from him if it were real.
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Flynnbojangels
19. Jumping Furball
This dog is so fluffy that when it jumped up, its legs disappeared into its body. It had to take a huge leap to clear the grate. It caused the fur around the dog’s head to puff out like crazy.
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infinite_burrito
20. Tent Filter
Who needs a filter for a photo when you have a tent? The tent creates its own unique pictures. Just take a seat inside it and snap away.
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Ingelo8Jean
21. Fiery Reflection
This is one of the most insane sunset reflections ever. It is so bright that it looks like a little bomb exploded in the apartment. It could also be mistaken for a demon uprising.
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PeteLX
22. Newly Weds
The wedding dress and the white tuxedo blend into one in this photo. It is really romantic. It creates the illusion that the bride has her legs over the groom’s shoulders.
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camhanson
23. Sky Light
In this nighttime photo, the outdoors and indoors merged into one. The ceiling light from inside the house ended up outside. It’s now attached to the clouds in the sky.
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robyncracknell3
24. Broccoli Trees
We aren’t sure what actual type of tree it is. However, if broccoli suddenly grew to the size of trees, this is what it would look like. The whole block is lined with giant stalks of the leafy vegetable.
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Bdogg242
25. Tiny Soldiers
Soldiers sometimes have to do training in swimming pools. These guys appear really short though. Their legs are so tiny, we have no idea how they are able to keep their heads above the water.
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runhaterand
26. Monkey Selfie
Monkeys know how to take selfies too. That’s what this photo proves. Although, there is a small chance that it is just the glare from the window of the monkey’s cage in the zoo.
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emily-dawn
27. Broken Wheel
Is this bike broken or isn’t it? It looks like the wheel is bent, however, the reflection in the puddle shows a different perspective. Reality sure is complicated…
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Remin
28. Strange Eyes
The lights in this home add a set of eyeballs to the glasses. It’s either that or there must be a ghost in the room. That’s the only other plausible explanation.
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2mamas
29. Burning Leaves
The sunlight hit these leaves at just the right angle to cause them to light up. They appear as though they are on fire. They are practically glowing.
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ImaginingAlchemist
30. Incoming Pirates
There is a large pirate ship out on the horizon in this photo — a pirate ship kite, that is. It is flying in the wind at the perfect height. It is so realistic looking.
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bijoubear
31. Frozen Water
Technically, this is a hiking trail. If you are one of the people that guessed it was a frozen stream in the middle of a forest, we don’t blame you. It’s an easy mistake to make.
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crumbbelly
32. Transparent Coin
The Canadian 25-cent piece isn’t normally see-through. Although, it appears that way in this image. It’s because of the reflection from the ring that it’s balanced on.
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beardhero_ben
33. Cat Pattern
The cats inside the carrier case look like they were cross-stitched onto the outside of the case. They aren’t a fabric pattern though, despite what it may seem. They are real!
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Bombingofdresden
34. Lighting Up
There is not a joint in this woman’s hand. She is just holding onto a straw. However, based on the photo, we can understand why her mom might have thought she was smoking.
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rubyslipper101
35. Abstract River
This looks like an abstract work of art, or at the very least, a highly photoshopped image. However, it’s actually an aerial view of a river in Iceland. It is pouring out into the ocean.
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LazarGuitrWulvz
36. Flat Building
You know how on movie sets they always use buildings that only have one side to them? They are just props. Well, that is exactly what this optical illusion looks like…
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CtenoCatcher
37. Balancing Ship
The perspective makes it seem like a tiny cruise ship is propped up on top of a couple of metal pillars. It is an impressive balancing act. At least, it would be if it were real.
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Quanticnick
38. Small Person
Either the man on the left is a giant or the man on the right is a miniature human. We’re not sure which is correct. Although there is a third option — they are both actually the same size.
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emmaensign
39. Flaming Eyes
“When I take pictures of my blind dog with the flash on it looks like there is fire in her eyes,” explains the owner. The dog’s eyes have a really unique look to them. However, with the flash, they are even more unique.
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jaymieo
40. Trap Door
Here we have a trap door in the sky. Who knows what could fall out of it. Could it be aliens or just the reflection of the lights indoors behind the photographer?
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dmazarin
41. Window Illusion
There is something not quite right about this building. The shadows of the windows create a crazy illusion. They completely change the texture of the walls.
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Mouse_fighter
42. Pixel Leaf
For whatever reason, this dying leaf has taken on a pixelated appearance. It’s not a low-quality computer graphic. It’s real life.
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kittyskid
43. Indoor Clouds
This airport hanger looks like something out of a science fiction movie. It is dark and ominous. Not to mention, there are literal dark clouds inside the structure.
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jdobbs44
44. Invisible Cellphone
The reflection in this cupholder makes the phone appear invisible. The only part that you can see are the edges. The screen might as well not even exist.
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lemonick
45. Bug Monster
Godzilla climbs buildings, so why can’t a giant bug? There isn’t much difference. It would make for a great plot for a horror movie.
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HooptyDooDooMeister
46. Natural Mohawk
We need to get the number of this guy’s barber. He has the coolest mohawk that we have ever seen. It’s really spiky and made out of some sort of green cactus plant.
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Isai76
47. Magic HQ
Judging by the translucent appearance of this building, we would say it is probably the headquarters of some group of superheroes. The building has a magical quality to it that only shows up when the night time reflections hit it.
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malgoya
48. Blurry Ham
We assure you, this is not a camera focusing problem, despite what it may seem. The texture of the meat causes it to look blurry. It is a really unique piece of ham.
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MelvinDickpictweet
49. Ghost Fleet
Here we have some more floating ships. There is a whole fleet of them. We count at least four ships, all suspended in mid-air at different distances from the shore.
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bart59
50. Alien Grasshopper
“I tried to take a photo of a grasshopper on my windshield, but it looks like it’s giant and destroying the town,” explains the driver. It’s an insect attack from outer space. The huge grasshopper is wrecking everything in sight.
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AhoffNYC
51. Colorful Beach
This is obviously an aerial view of a beach, right? If that’s what you thought, then you thought wrong. It’s actually a picture of a small puddle taken at Geysir National Park in Iceland.
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BrandonHarwood
52. Random Baboon
Can you see the face of the baboon in this photo? It’s very visible. Although, it’s technically just a flipped-over dog ear. It is inside-out.
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Funholiday
53. Advancing Soldier
This piece of lint is surprisingly cool looking. It has the shape of a soldier wading through waist-deep water. Even the outlines of his gun and helmet are visible.
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digitalash
54. Rocking Heels
The way the man is sitting on the chair causes it to look like he is wearing high heels. It’s also due to his posture. It’s not really his fault though. Look at how sloped the seat is!
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Tripledip333
55. Spooky Hallway
Between the striped carpet patterns and the bizarre lighting, this hotel is pretty much the hotel of horrors. We know we wouldn’t want to walk down the hallway at night. Especially not if we were alone.
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TwineTime
56. Fungus Fire
Fungus can be very neat. It comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. This little orange and black fungus causes the wood to look like it is on fire.
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Jessception
57. Celebrating Victory
Somehow, this looks like it shouldn’t be possible. The arms of the two soccer players are bent into really awkward positions. However, the secret is that there are actually three players in the shot.
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Bored Panda
58. Dangerous Seagull
This man is about to encounter some trouble. There is a gigantic bird standing next to him and he doesn’t even realize it. He is just casually walking along and paying no attention.
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e1v1s
59. Nice Legs
Here we have a grown man riding a pig carousel. Although, it looks a little more suspect than that. It appears as though his body and the pig’s body have actually become one.
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Bigdog1135
60. Floor Illusion
These patterns can be found on the floor of the Florence Cathedral. They are downright trippy. Be careful. If you aren’t, you could get sucked into the vortex.
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namraka
61. Bird Family
“A pallet burned in such a way that it looks like different birds sitting next to each other and enjoying the fire,” writes the photographer. It’s a pretty strange coincidence. It’s not often that burning wood takes on animal forms.
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Bottlez21
62. Bull With Holes
This bull has natural camouflage. The spots on his body blend right into the pasture. They are the same color.
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mySTi666
63. Ancient Goose
They say that birds are closely related to dinosaurs. After seeing this close up picture of a goose, we are definitely believers. It looks 100 feet tall and its beak is straight-up prehistoric.
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Imgur
64. Flexible Ruler
The way the papers are arranged causes the ruler to look bent. It’s a good thing that it’s just an optical illusion. A bent ruler wouldn’t be very practical for measuring things.
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Josh5591
65. Coffee Ornament
There is a glowing castle floating in this coffee. At least, that is what it looks like. It’s actually a fancy ceiling light reflecting off of the dark liquid.
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MadnessDreamer
66. Black Dot Illusion
Can you see a bunch of black dots flashing in between the keys? For some reason, our eyes can’t help but fill in the space with color. There is actually nothing there though.
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spoonfedsam
67. Moving Circle
The stacked metal pipes in this photo creates an interesting effect. If you walk by the stack, the circle will appear like it is moving with you. It’s really weird.
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Lenity
68. Two-Faced Animal
There are actually three animals in this photo. It’s not just a single goofy creature. There are two antelopes, plus a bird perched on the neck of one of them.
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BeamosCola
69. Cookie Reflection
The person was making cookies when they realized that the reflection on the mixing bowl looked like a giant cookie too. The little balls of dough are chocolate and the reflection is a chocolate chip cookie. It’s making us hungry just thinking about it.
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robije
70. Alien Sighting
It appears as though there is a UFO flying above a forest. It is trying to beam someone up. Officially though, it’s a picture of a dirty car door.
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Sighma
71. Cigarette Butt
This discarded cigarette looks extremely big. However, it’s because it’s not really a cigarette. It’s a fallen post with a rusty bottom.
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BrackAttack
72. Human Barbecue
Not only does it appear as if the man is on fire, but it also appears as though he is hitting a boy in the head with a stick. It’s all a matter of perspective. From this angle, it’s hard to tell what is going on.
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Danknug211
73. Hovering Leader
Here we have the prime minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron. He is hovering multiple inches off of the ground. We knew he was a talented guy, but we had no idea he had magic powers too.
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xenmate
74. Painted Legs
When legs get oiled up, they take on a very shiny appearance. These ones looks like they have some streaks of white paint on them though. Perhaps, there was some sort of accident.
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kingkayden
75. Amish Drivers
When looking from a distance, these two wheelbarrows can easily be mistaken for two Amish men driving a tractor. It’s a very convincing illusion. It’s hard to believe that it isn’t two people with beards, wearing hats.
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almightyshellfish
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