When our eyes see something, our brains do a lot of work in connecting things and filling in the blanks.
Sometimes, of course, there are factors that can complicate things. You’ll likely figure out what’s going on in each of these photos — but it might take you a few seconds.
“She has no problems reaching the top shelf.”
When you’re posing as part of a big group, with limbs draped everywhere, sometimes pics like this are the result. I’m still trying to figure out which two arms are coming together to look like one long arm.
“Land divers.”
Skydivers are already arrogant enough, what with being too good to walk around on land like the rest of us. Now, it appears that they’re conjuring up some dark magic to grow very tall and take us all over.
“Thought this was a picture of a guy swimming in the ocean.”
I can see the guy swimming in the ocean, and I can also see how it’s just a hand holding a sea creature. Pro tip: don’t step on those things. I’m speaking from experience.
“Zebra headstand.”
I get that zebras and horses and other four-legged mammals have large bodies and spindly little legs, but I still can’t understand where this stripey boy is hiding all his legs. Seriously, they must be absolutely tiny.
“Radiator skyline.”
It’s incredible how much a radiator can look like an art deco skyscraper from the right angle. I’m wondering where this pic was taken. It appears to be some kind of radiator graveyard, or maybe it really is a city skyline.
“Just my dad and his dog.”
This dog looks like he’s seen a lot of things, and at this point in life wants nothing more than to drive around in his pickup. It’s all about appreciating the simpler, quieter things in life.
“This is a flat wall.”
It took me awhile to figure it out, because this pic nearly broke my brain. I’m pretty sure the angle of the sun is causing the small window ledges to cast extremely long, angled shadows.
“Shoulder pads.”
Back in the ’80s, things were different. Fashion designers decided that everyone would like having massive shoulders. Then everyone decided that they were sick of looking like football players. Judging from this photo, though, there’s at least one holdout.
“Planking picture I took back when planking was a fad.”
I never thought I’d feel nostalgic for the planking era, but here we are. It just represents a simpler time: one in which things went viral, but in a slightly gentler way.
“Sometimes after a hike our feet get confused.”
Remember when I said that you’d be able to figure out all of these photos eventually? Yeah, it turns out I lied. I have no idea how this photo could even be possible.
“When you get a Labrador thrown at you.”
This is like the ice bucket challenge, only the icy water has been replaced by gross muddy water that’s transmogrified into a dog. There’ll be some cleanup required, but you can’t say it isn’t a neat trick.
“I thought 8 pigeons were staring at me menacingly.”
If they installed this outside my window, I don’t think I’d ever be able to shake the ominous feeling of being watched by a flock of angry pigeons. It would be a terrible way to live.
“Thank you for flying with Air Egypt.”
Do you ever see something that makes you want to scream, but you know you have to hold it in because no one else is freaking out? Yeah. I think this is one of those situations.
“Truck looks like it has a possum logo.”
This works too well. A possum might even be a good mascot for a company called Southern California Shredding. I don’t know much about possums, but I’ll bet those dextrous little paws could shred anything.
“The water looks deep and crystal clear but actually it’s just too dirty to see into at all.”
Not only is the cleanliness of the water in question, the very existence of the water is uncertain. When I look at this, I can trick my brain into seeing a dry tunnel.
“Giant bookshelf.”
I love it when reflections cast the interior of a building onto the outside world in a convincing world. I think those giant bookshelves make the streetscape look a little more cozy and inviting. It’s like the whole world is a study.
“Extremely long armed goalkeeper.”
You want your keeper to be someone who can leap and make a save on any shot. Being agile helps, being tall helps, but you know what helps the most? Having arms that are nine feet long.
“When I opened the trunk, I freaked out thinking someone stole the cover and the spare tire. Then I’ve remembered that I bought a mirror.”
It’s incredible how much this mirror makes it look like the trunk is just an empty void.
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“A very tight waist.”
When I see an article of clothing that’s designed like this, I just shake my head. Surely if you were designing a shirt, you’d consider how it would wind up looking on an actual human being.
“A mislabelled pack of sugar.”
Did they get the label wrong, or is this just an extremely bleached bag of brown sugar? Or are we living in some kind of Twilight Zone where up is down and nothing is the way it seems?
