Mighty Optical Illusions » Indian

The Many Faces of Mountains

Jill Harness — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:57:22 +0000

Pareidolia is what happens when someone sees the Virgin Mary in a piece of toast or Jesus in Google Earth. Essentially, it is the result of our minds taking a random image or sound and turning it in to something more significant. Some scientists, like Carl Sagan, speculate that this message is hard-wired into our minds to help us identify human faces as quickly as possible.

One of the most famous non-divine examples of this phenomenon was the Old Man of the Mountain located in The White Mountains of New Hampshire. If you were wondering why I chose to say “was” instead of “is,” it’s because the Old Man is no more after the face fell from the cliff side in May of 2003. Even so, the face is still remembered by all of the world and it was such a major part of New Hampshire’s identity that it was used as the image on their state quarters that were released in 2000.

Here’s a composite image of the Old Man of the Mountain before and after the rock face crumbled.

If you’re looking for a similar natural illusion that is still standing, you can always head to Ebihens, France and explore the much less famous Apache Head in the Rocks pictured here.

Do any of you guys know other places where you can find human faces in nature?

An Eskimo or A Native American?

Vurdlak — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 16:47:08 +0000

If you frequently browse for optical illusion material around the net, there’s a big chance you’ve already encountered today’s picture. Can’t believe how we managed to skip this one. It belongs to the old school illusion collection, ones that are as old as Da Internet itself.

I’d like to know what do you see in this painting next to my text? Is it a Native American, or should we see an Eskimo entering some sort of cave entrance instead? Dunno, as I can see both of them. Btw, does the big face kinda remind you of those centuries-old stone heads from Easter Island? What’s with the mystery surrounding them? Was it by now discovered how they got there in first place? Be kind and comment if you have some news about this stuff…

Rusty’s Landscape Optical Illusion

Vurdlak — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:30:45 +0000

Update: in deed, it seems that the artist behind this one isn’t Rusty, but in fact Bev Doolittle. Thanks to all of you who pointed it out!

Donald “Rusty” Rust is an artist with a repertoire as extensive as his talent. He is an immensely prolific painter, who adeptly renders intriguing camouflage wildlife scenes, landscapes, seascapes, still-life’s and portraits. If you think you never heard of him, well he was the one responsible for our most commented optical illusion ever – The Hidden Tiger. Many other successful illusions from our archive were created by Rusty as well. This time Rusty draw a landscape with a Native American portrayed inside it. But our little Indian isn’t the only living thing inside this picture. Can you see what else Rusty tried to hide from us (for reasons unknown to me)? Shouldn’t be too hard for you, optical illusion veterans .

Donald "Rusty" Rust hid something in this painting. Can you tell what was it?