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People are unsure which zebra is staring into the camera
Optical trickery can certainly stump the human mind. Two zebras pose for an incredible photograph, sparking debate and enthusiasm across the web.
Blake Hyatt
07.17.20

Optical illusions perform mental trickery on the human mind.

Our ability to take sensory information in a particular combination and warp it into something incredibly surreal upon interpretation is truly astounding and enigmatic.

Everyone’s seen optically teasing patterns that appear to move with our eyes. Or those paintings that play on our (mis)understanding of dimension and physical space.

Pexels/Ash @ModernAfflatus
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Pexels/Ash @ModernAfflatus

Illusions can even be found in nature given the right circumstances, perspective, and timing. One particular zebra-based enigma has been sweeping social media over the last week.

Zebras are undoubtedly gorgeous organisms.

Their alternating black and white stripes are truly unique in nature.

Wait, are they black with white stripes or white with black stripes? Maybe the question’s unanswerable, or even foolish to ask.

Certainly, not everything’s black and white.

This one’s unquestionably looking at the camera… That’s one photogenic zebra.

Unsplash/Ron Dauphin
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Unsplash/Ron Dauphin

Zebra stripes, especially given their alternating black and whites, can be illusionary in themselves.

Most illusions simply depend on your perspective. The angle at which you view something certainly plays a part in your interpretation.

But why all this talk of zebras and illusions?

Pexels/Retha Ferguson
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Pexels/Retha Ferguson

Well, a recent debate of sorts was sparked on social media, involving a zebra, illusions, and photographic trickery.

Twitter was recently sent into a visual whirlwind due to the following majestic photograph and question:

So which of the zebras is in front, looking at the camera?

First, I’d like to draw attention to how beautiful that image really is. The timing and precision required to get that good of a photo requires true skill. There appear to be two beautiful adult zebras in the photograph, with one of them looking directly at the camera. The problem is… which zebra’s looking at the camera?

It has to be the right one, right? But upon closer look, maybe it’s the one on the left?

I’m not sure… My head hurts.

Some Twitter users give their nuanced perspective on the situation. It’s definitely the left one, right? Keerthi seems to think so, giving a pretty solid argument.

Twitter/Keerthi Priya
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Twitter/Keerthi Priya

But wait, maybe we haven’t looked close enough. Upon deeper inspection, it’s gotta be the right one, right? Omkar certainly thinks so, judging by the orientation of the shadows in the photograph.

Twitter/Omkar
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Twitter/Omkar

Twitter users can’t seem to come to an agreement on this particular issue. The more you look at the image, the harder it is to make up your mind. Little bits of evidence seem to work for both sides of the debate. Even Twitter couldn’t make up its mind this time…

Twitter/Parveen Kaswan, IFS
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Twitter/Parveen Kaswan, IFS

There’s simply no consensus on the matter at the moment!

Photographer Sarosh Lodhi snapped the breathtaking, albeit enigmatic photo in Maasai Mara, a wildlife sanctuary in Narok, Kenya. The area’s known for breathtaking wildlife, including majestic zebra, wildebeest, and gazelles. It’s certainly a trip of a lifetime.

But none of this information answers our pressing question! Will we ever have a real answer? One of these zebras is looking straight at the camera, but nobody’s sure which one!

Ugh, my brain hurts.

Maybe you can help. Where do you stand on the whole “debate”? Which of the zebras is in front and looking at the camera? The one of the left or the one on the right? Thousands on the internet are dying to know!

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

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