Photo Illusions That Will Hurt Your Brain For A Few Seconds
Vision is a funny thing. Most of the time, it helps us navigate the world and figure things out quickly, but sometimes our eyes betray us and make us think we're seeing something that's not quite accurate. However, there's fun in accidentally falling for an illusion.
Here are some pictures that will make your brain hurt for a second before you figure out the illusion.
There Is A Truck In This Photo
Believe this is just an empty garage with some shelves and a single tire? Think again.
There's actually a perfectly polished mirrored truck parked on the left side of the picture.
The Popcorn Really Fooled Us Here
No, this little girl does not have extremely skinny legs. This illusion is more the result of her bag of popcorn blending in with the grass a little too well.
This Is Not A Painting
While this looks like it could be a painting out of Bob Ross' collection, that's actually a mirror attached to the easel and reflecting the picturesque sunset in the distance.
You never know till you...know.
Is That Elasti-Girl's Long-Lost Brother?
Acquiring the ability to stretch your limbs out unnaturally far is easier than it looks!
All you need is to have a pair of friends in the foreground and a perfectly timed photo.
Fluffy Clouds In The Sky, Or A Smoothie?
While the first photo truly looks like a picture snapped from the window of an airplane, it's really just a close-up shot of a green smoothie where the ingredients have separated a little.
Still wouldn't eat it though.
She's Chewbacca's Soulmate
Is she a female wookiee/human hybrid from Star Wars, or did her dog just stare into the distance at the perfect angle in order for her to take this hilarious bearded selfie?
They jury's out on this one.
He's Only Faking Hanging On For Dear Life
Perspective is a funny thing, and it's easy to manipulate it to make one thing look like another.
This guy is perfectly fine and lying down on the ground, but for a second, it really does look like he's about to fall.
You've Heard Of Starfish, Now Get Ready For The Human Version
Ever take a trip to the beach and decide to find the perfect puddle and contort your body to make an optical illusion?
I sure haven't, but this girl has.
Happy Birthday And Bon Appétit!
Didn't you hear? Subbing in a fish instead of eating a birthday cake is all the rage right now.
Just kidding, but this fish-shaped cake is beautifully decorated to look realistic.
Wow, He Has Nice Legs!
I swear, when designing this hotel lobby, the person in charge decided to put a mirror on the reception desk so the person behind it would always look like they had mismatched legs.
Whoever did this is a jokester I want to work with.
The Cloud Just Wanted To Rest For A Bit
Sometimes, life gives us moments of perfect coincidence, and this is one of them.
How often are you going to see a cloud that aligns so perfectly with a tree branch?
Fried Chicken Or Puppies?
Truly, for a second I thought that these cute little furballs were actually pieces of fried chicken dumped out of the container, and now I'm really craving an order of Popeyes.
Make that two orders.
Monkeys Everywhere Are Salivating
What kind of tree and growth hormones do you need in order to grow a banana that size?
This enormous banana is actually a very realistic painting on the tin, but I wish it was real.
This Is Actually A Black And White Photo
The photo here is actually in black and white, but the grid of colorful lines on top of it creates the illusion that the picture is actually in full color.
I Really Thought There Were Two People In This Photo
At first glance, this looks like two people just goofing around and swimming in the water, but in reality, the one person is just holding a black sea urchin in their palm.
This can't be that great for the urchin though.
Find The Phone
It's always hilarious when people realize their phone case matches their rug or their T-shirt, but it's even funnier when it just so happens to match a random stranger's dress.
So who's going to go home and change?
Do Not Worry: The Kid Was Not Decapitated
Having kids is cool because you get to throw in your DNA and you get a little human who is 50% you.
The only issue is when they resemble you a little too much and their tiny head blends in with yours.
Bon Voyage!
Sometimes, I, too, wish that I was on a plane jetting off to some fantastic destination rather than sitting in my house with all my present responsibilities calling my name.
Let's all let this man pretend he's in a peaceful place for a minute.
There Is A Person In There
Body painting as an art form has really become more popular in the last few years, with artists creating amazing illusions using human bodies.
This person amongst the rocks is no exception.
This Temple Looked A Lot Bigger In The Movies
The Al-Khazneh, in Petra, Jordan, is a sight to marvel at.
The ornate temple façade, which was carved directly into the sandstone wall in the first century CE, only looks tiny here because of where this girl is sitting on a cliff.
This Cat Is A Really Tough Guy
This cat may just be lounging on the back of this girl's desk chair, but he really does look like he's wearing a leather jacket and would beat me up with ease.
I swear I didn't borrow your hairspray dude.
An Artwork Orange
This beautiful design is really just the result of many oranges being cut with geometric lines and placed in a cool pattern.
Tell Martha to bring orange slices like this to soccer practice.
Is It A Crow Or A Cat?
One of the most adorable and borderline concerning things about house cats is their ability to contort their bodies in seemingly unnatural ways, whether they're filling a container like a liquid or cosplaying as a bird.
So who's going to fix this enchanted cat?
This Dog Has A Giraffe Neck
Okay, but for a second, actually imagine how goofy dogs would look if they had really long necks like giraffes?
Like, think about a little chihuahua with its head a foot away from the rest of its body.
This One Took Me A Long Time To See
I spent 10 minutes looking at this photo and trying to figure out how to see these paper containers and plates as being upside-down, you best believe I was frustrated the whole time.
Everything hurts.
Hair Really Does The Most To Confuse Us
I probably stared at this photo for a full two minutes trying to figure out what it was if not her neck.
For anyone still stumped, it's her back with a big head of hair covering her shoulders.
No Dogs Were Harmed In The Making Of This Photo
Although this photo looks like the result of a magician's attempt to "saw a dog in half" gone wrong, it's really just a dog who decided to lie frighteningly close to a log.
He could've warned us though, sheesh.
I Have Never Been So Mad At An Illusion
While this person wasn't lying and all those balls are, in fact, the same shade of brown, I have never been more annoyed with my brain's insistence on seeing them as blue, green, and red.
This one is made to give you a headache.
Watch Your Step! There's A Cat There
Have you ever redone the floors in your house and decided to put in a rich, vibrant, hardwood floor color only to realize you've now given your cat the perfect camouflage?
Apparently one person has.
These Two People Are The Same Color
Color gradients are a really easy way to confuse our eyes into thinking to objects that are the same color actually vary in darkness.
After looking at all these illusions, I need to give my brain a rest.
Bald Quintuplets
There's actually only one bald guy in this car.
The rest of those bald guys are really headrests. Stick some sunglasses on them though, and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
My Sims Must Have Been Here
This is a real sidewalk in Hawaii that just happens to look like a badly-rendered video game. When the sun is directly overtop it results in no shadows.
There's a real scientific answer for it if you're interested.
Giraffe-Neck Dog, Meet Longhorn Cow
Cows already are vulnerable to being tipped over. A cow this long seems like it wouldn't be the sturdiest one of the bunch.
On the bright side, it could produce quadruple the milk!
Don't Step Over The Edge
It looks like this person is about to fall into the abyss with nothing to save him. Luckily, if they fell they would just disturb some swans.
Swans can be territorial though so we still suggest avoiding it.
The Batmobile In Stealth Mode
This isn't a mirrored vehicle like the other invisible truck.
This is simply a bumper left on the road from an accident. It just happened to be left behind staying up perfectly.
What You See Determines Your Age
This sketch is called "My Wife and My Mother-in-Law" and is from 1915. Flinders University showed this picture to around 400 Americans over the age of 18. Participants were briefly shown the sketch and asked if they saw an old or young woman in the photo.
The study showed that the version of the woman participants saw was related to their own age. Researchers argued that people will usually tend to seek out people that are around their same age. Which do you see?
Aladdin's Magic Carpet In Shaking
It looks like this woman is floating in mid-air but in reality, she's just on a beach platform with the shadow of a flag beside her.
I bet if she was floating her speech would get a lot more attention.
A Meal So Good It Knocked Her Head Off
No, the person in the booth beside them isn't a victim of the French Revolution. They're simply a victim of an unfortunately placed mirrored-barrier.
We're glad they kept the guillotine out of the restaurant.
Going Natural
Women should be allowed to do whatever they please with their body hair. Still, an arm this hairy would catch anyone off-guard.
Luckily it's just another person's leg making an appearance.
Think Of All The Catnip This Chonk Could Have
I thought this cat had somehow learned to unhinge its jaws for about three seconds before I realized that this little kitty was just trying to rest its fluffy head.
Glad we'll never know what that mouth do.
Is This What Australia Is Like?
If I saw this giant spider on my street I would—and I cannot stress this enough—burn the entire neighborhood down.
Luckily, it's just a tiny spider that looks like it's the size of a car.
When You're So Angry Your Head Could Explore
This would be a great tactical advantage in a hockey fight.
If your head could just disappear and reappear whenever you wanted, your opponent wouldn't have a clue what was going on.
What Big Teeth You Have!
This dog might look like something straight out of a horror film, but he is merely playing with a pinecone it found on the ground.
No terrifying teeth to see here!
I Can't Tell Where He Stops and She Begins
Have you ever known one of those couples who, after dating for so long, started to seem like they had morphed into a single entity?
This couple took it to the extreme.
Watch Your Step! Or Not...
I would have definitely done a double take out of fear that I'd fall into a hole if I had I come across this in real life.
Luckily, this hay bale is just casting a misleading shadow.
There's No Danger Here!
What might look like a man standing on a precariously secured ledge is actually the result of a guy trying to make a joke using a tree that toppled over in his yard.
Be careful there buddy.
Even Garbage Can Fly!
What looks like a magical trash can is really just the result of a well-placed and well-sized puddle nearby.
It would have been way cooler if it was levitating though.
They Need A New Graphic Designer
I get that this company was trying to display their gardening services through a wholesome depiction of hands gardening, but all I can see is a pair of butts on the dirt.
This person seriously needs to hire a different graphic designer.
What Way Is The Glass Facing?
I've been staring at this image for about 10 minutes now trying to determine whether the glass is facing to the side or is actually facing his mouth.
If you figure it out, let me know.
Look Ma, No Legs!
If you go fishing often enough, I hear that you actually can become one with the lake.
I mean, this guy here is living proof! Jokes aside, his legs are in such a weird position.
That's A Long Dishwasher...
I truly thought that I was looking at the longest dishwasher in the world that could probably fit two hundred plates in it, but it's really just a metal fixture on top of a regular dishwasher.
The more ya know.
When Octopuses Fly
No, the alien invasion hasn't begun and those aren't flying octopuses (well, I mean, they technically are), but in reality, they're actually giant kites.
Here's a whole new fear I didn't know I had.
Scattered Shadows
Spotted at an airport in Arizona, this Southwest flight is taxiing down the tarmac, although the shadow it's seemingly giving off seems like it's bound for the opposite direction.
Have you figured it out yet?
Adventures Across America
Sometimes confusing perspectives and perfect timing collide at the same time and this RV has perfectly captured both.
So is that a decal on the back of the RV or is it actually a see-through camper? We'll let you decide.
Nature Photography
What you see here looks like a photograph of a beautiful bluebird day and fall foliage. But if you look a little closer, something doesn't look quite right, and the sky appears to be rippled.
This photo is upside down, and the colorful leaves you see are actually underwater.
Real Life Or Painting?
Is this a photograph of lemon slices on a glass table or is it a piece of art?
At first glance, it's hard to tell, but the artist behind this painting explains that it's a mixed piece of art combining both digital and acrylic mediums.
Partly Cloudy
This woman peered out of her car's sunroof and was amazed by the beautiful clouds hanging in the sky. Except, those are not clouds.
But she is partially right. While it's not fluffy clouds, it is made of water—just think more frozen.
Levitating Cruise Ships
Today's cruise ships don't just sail the ocean blue, but they also levitate across it too.
Just kidding, while these cruise ships are at sea, refraction is creating a mirage-type effect that makes them look like they are floating. Unless that's what they want us to think?
See-Through Trains
Anyone who's ever ridden the subway before knows that trains travel fast and this case of motion blur is a reminder of just how fast they travel.
While this woman is perfectly posed, the train behind her appears to be see-through and ghostly.
Look At That, I've Been Impaled
For someone who's just been impaled, this woman looks mighty happy.
As she poses for a photo in front of a black fence, her choice of shirt is giving the illusion that she's been impaled. Although this photo is so convincing, I'm not entirely convinced that she hasn't been.
On Your Wedding Day
The groom might be staring lovingly at his new bride in this photo, but we all are definitely staring at something else. Is the bride sitting on his shoulders or is there some other matrimonial sorcery going on here?
See, this is why no one except the bride is supposed to wear white.
Peekaboo!
At first glance, this looks like a person wearing a black hoodie who's been caught outside in a blizzard.
Have you noticed the two giant eyeballs on his back? Surprise! It's not a man wearing a hoodie at all, but instead a friendly snow-covered dog looking for some pets.
Disappearing Daughters
Where is the other half of this little girl and why does it look like she's disappearing into the earth beneath her?
This definitely gave her dad quite the scare while at the park one day. It took me a while to figure out what was happening too, so don't feel too bad.
Do I Have To Shake His Hand?
This team of construction workers and project executives looks ready to congratulate each other on a job well done, but the man in the suit looks like he would rather do anything than shake this guy's hand.
"I'll shake your hand, but I won't enjoy it," one Redditor joked.
Family Heirlooms
Do you have the feeling that someone is watching you?
This Redditor explains that this watch is a family heirloom that's been passed down for generations. The family photo that used to be contained within the watch is gone, but over time, it's left behind an eerie shadow.
Never Skip Leg Day
Perhaps Mom and Dad should have worn different colored t-shirts for this day's adventure outdoors.
Well, I'll admit this much: his butt looks fantastic in those denim shorts. Someone definitely hasn't skipped leg day.
Someone Who Has Skipped Leg Day
The man in the previous photo definitely hasn't skipped leg day, but it looks like this fluffy cow has.
He has fabulous and voluminous blonde hair, so I must know what kind of shampoo and conditioner he uses.
Crossing Doggo Chasm
Is this owner walking his dog on the cliffs overlooking the ocean, or is the pair trying to cross a bridge that spans a dangerous chasm below?
So it looks like Fido has safely made it across "Doggo Chasm," but will his owner be able to make the same perilous journey?
Time To Level Up
This Redditor notes that this wall is what you typically see in video games when there's an Easter egg or special prize hiding behind a door.
It's enough to make anyone do a double take and wonder just why this wall was constructed in such a meticulous way. Does anyone want to see what's inside?
It's So Cold That...
At long last, we have located the Batmobile!
It's actually the frozen shell of the front of a car that was parked there, but this icy structure is enough to make anyone awe at the marvels of nature. Were Batman and his invisible car really here?
