21 Real-Life Optical Illusions

Carly Tennes Published 07/27/2024 in wow

Are you seeing double? Good. Before you head to the optometrist for the most comprehensive check-up your insurance will cover, remember, not everything is as it seems. Case in point? these ultra-confusing real-life photos that somehow make our brains break, leaving us questioning what, exactly we're seeing on the screen before us.

From the mind-bending powers of yoga to a very evocative paper cut, here are 21 real-life optical illusions that will have you questioning your eyes.

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1. “Dress and weird proportions.”
2. “Painted staircase”
3. “Man riding woman”
4.
5.
6. “This is the only ‘in-person’ illusion I’ve seen. For whatever reason, the grating’s shadow doesn’t match the grating.”
7.
8. “This is a mirror not a canvas.”
9. “Long dog with a section missing.”
10. “Giraffe body paint!”
11.
12. “Transparent cat leg”
13. “Not a w—r”
14. “It's the same photo on the left and on the right. It's just been rotated 180 [degrees]”
15.
16.
17.
18. “Someone selling a roll of timing belt on FB Marketplace.”
19. “Is there an easy way to cover this hole in a mirror wall?”
20. “This optical illusion on a pedestrian crossing in Iceland to oblige cars to brake.”
21. “[Former] UK Prime Minister David Cameron hovering.”

1. “Dress and weird proportions.”
2. “Painted staircase”
3. “Man riding woman”
4.
5.
6. “This is the only ‘in-person’ illusion I’ve seen. For whatever reason, the grating’s shadow doesn’t match the grating.”
7.
8. “This is a mirror not a canvas.”
9. “Long dog with a section missing.”
10. “Giraffe body paint!”
11.
12. “Transparent cat leg”
13. “Not a w—r”
14. “It's the same photo on the left and on the right. It's just been rotated 180 [degrees]”
15.
16.
17.
18. “Someone selling a roll of timing belt on FB Marketplace.”
19. “Is there an easy way to cover this hole in a mirror wall?”
20. “This optical illusion on a pedestrian crossing in Iceland to oblige cars to brake.”
21. “[Former] UK Prime Minister David Cameron hovering.”