16 Pics That Make You Think Twice

Photography's a fascinating thing. By capturing everything in frame, exactly as it appears, it's a great way to accurately document history.

On the other hand, capturing everything in frame can also make things more confusing than ever. Let's enjoy a few photos that are not what they appear to be.



1. STOP!!!

This crosswalk accomplishes its goal of getting drivers to slow down. The way it would completely and utterly mess with your brain upon seeing it is merely a secondary aspect.

2. Isn't that a Windows XP desktop background?

...or maybe a scene out of Skyrim? Believe it or not, this is an actual view from real life, from the bottom of the world's biggest sinkhole.

3. These trees value their personal space.

I don't know what this tree canopy has against intermingling and touching. It creates a cool effect (and, probably, cool shadows as well), but there's a clear fear of intimacy.

4. This mountain casts a shadow.

Logically, it makes sense that some mountains are tall enough to block out the sun's rays at dusk. But seeing it in action, at Washington's Mount Rainier, is pretty special.

                                                                                  
  5. Shimmer, shimmer.

These are wisteria trees in Japan — and no, the image is not Photoshopped. But if you want to see it as a shimmery purple sky, no one's going to stop you.

6. I have no idea...

Usually, it's fun to try and figure out what's actually going on when you see an optical illusion. But this one is so weird, I'm not even going to try.

7. Aim for the good water.

This swimming pool looks clean and inviting, which is more than can be said for the murky brown floodwaters that surround it. Let's hope the flood doesn't get any higher...

8. Nope.

It's never safe to be in the middle of an active forest fire. If you had any doubts, let this horrifying fire demon convince you that it's time to leave.

                                                                            
9. He's got the whole world on his shell.

It's said that a rolling stone gathers no moss, but this pic proves that a swimming turtle can gather all kinds of moss.

10. Stop messing with me, shadows!

Oh, how nice — those bike racks cast pleasing shadows. Wait, there's no smiley face in those bike racks! These aren't shadows at all! 

Is this how artists troll people?

11. Looks pointy.

Normally, Manhattan is viewed from the ground, or maybe from the side. But with this weird top-down view, it looks like a gem that has pointy crystal shards extending skyward. 

12. A bicycle built for two...

Tandem bicycles are nothing new, but this? I guess it's more compact than a standard tandem bike, but there's no way this configuration could actually work.

                                                                           
13. Trippy river.

I'm taking this on faith that it's actually a real river in Iceland and not a creative depiction of a fever dream. I've got a headache just trying to figure it out.

14. An eclipse from the air.

You might have had a good view of the latest solar eclipse, but it probably wasn't this good. At 30,000 feet, eclipses are indeed pretty mind-blowing.

15. Brocco-tree!

It's kind of crazy how nature repeats itself — and how a tree that's 40 feet tall can perfectly resemble a one-inch broccoli floret. The blossoms give it a bit of a cauliflower vibe, too.

16. Now that's a mirage.

No, it isn't actually a ghost ship (well, actually, we don't know that). It's (probably) an optical effect known as fata morgana which can create weird scenes like this at sea.

Which pics made you do a second take?