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It’s no secret that our minds often play tricks on us. Just take a look at our previous post on optical illusions that almost gave people a heart attack and browse through this list of optical illusions in everyday things that left people seriously confused.

But this time we are looking at a peculiar case of optical illusions that were created by shadows. Think of random shadows created by both inanimate and animate objects like windows, birds, trees and people.

And when you capture them at the right time in the right place (or rather, at a very random time and in a totally accidental place) you may come up with some very interesting results. Get ready to have your head spin, and be sure to upvote your favorite pics as you scroll through this list by Bored Panda!

#1

Shadows Cast From A Tree During An Eclipse

Shadows Cast From A Tree During An Eclipse

LordBandimer Report

#2

A Rare Optic Sight, The "Brocken Spectre," Occurs When A Person Stands At A Higher Altitude In The Mountains And Sees His Shadow Cast On A Cloud At A Lower Altitude

A Rare Optic Sight, The "Brocken Spectre," Occurs When A Person Stands At A Higher Altitude In The Mountains And Sees His Shadow Cast On A Cloud At A Lower Altitude

utkrixx Report

#3

Even The Shadows In Scotland Are Plaid

Even The Shadows In Scotland Are Plaid

BookerDeWittsCarbine Report

Previously we spoke with Lisa Yaszek, a Regents Professor of Science Fiction Studies at Georgia Tech, where she researches and teaches science fiction as a global language crossing centuries, continents, and cultures, who explained our never-ending fascination with optical illusions.

According to the professor, there is something inherently pleasing about the ability to perceive an image in different ways and it’s “part of our natural aptitude for learning.”

#6

The Way The Light Shines Through The Bookcase Making A Cityscape Shadow

The Way The Light Shines Through The Bookcase Making A Cityscape Shadow

Mitchdavismann Report

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MellonCollie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is so genius, I'm thinking it is done on purpose! Does anyone know where this is?

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It doesn’t matter the source or the nature of the illusion, each one has captivated us since the dawn of time. “Whatever the source of our love for optical illusions, it’s fascinating to note that the desire to create optical illusions seems to be as old as humanity itself."

Historical examples of optical illusions can be found with the work of the prehistoric artists who decorated the Cave of Altima 20,000 years ago. “They used the natural bulges in the rock walls of the cave to give volume and depth to the animals they drew there; the Greek-Egyptian inventor Heron of Alexandria (10CE–70AD) engineered a device that made it look like priests could open temple doors with verbal commands; and the Airavatesvara Temple in India is covered in 800+-year-old carvings of animals that change species when viewed from different angles.”

#7

This Shadow From Two Different Trees In My Parking Lot

This Shadow From Two Different Trees In My Parking Lot

UnholyFire23 Report

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#9

Shadow And Slope Makes It Look Like Heā€™s Floating

Shadow And Slope Makes It Look Like Heā€™s Floating

tommytwooo Report

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Our renewed fascination with optical illusions is nothing surprising, says Lisa, because whenever people invent new creative or technical processes, they use them to create optical illusions. “Indeed, we’ve seen this throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries: pioneering filmmakers like George Melies drew on vaudeville stagecraft and scratched and painted on celluloid to create the first filmic special effects; Op artists Josef Albers and Bridgette Riley manipulated geometric forms on canvas to convince the eye that unreal spatial places existed,” she explained.

Today, we use digital technologies that allow us to radically transform the scale and presentation of images in sometimes truly mind-blowing ways, while other times it’s nature that plays tricks on us!

#10

The Shadow On The Stairs Looks Like Another Set Of Stairs

The Shadow On The Stairs Looks Like Another Set Of Stairs

JazzFricker Report

#11

This Shadow That Perfectly Lined Up With The Light Pole

This Shadow That Perfectly Lined Up With The Light Pole

caitwcam Report

#12

The Horses Were Standing So Still That Their Shadows Still Have Frost

The Horses Were Standing So Still That Their Shadows Still Have Frost

Kelleykrider16 Report

#13

Spider Floating On Water Made A Unique Shadow

Spider Floating On Water Made A Unique Shadow

appleskittles Report

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#14

A Long Boi With A Shadow Of A Mandog

A Long Boi With A Shadow Of A Mandog

thedogpicguy Report

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Potato Man
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When we join our forces together no one can stop us as MANDOG

Sophie C
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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#15

Shadow Cast By My Light Looks Like The Gingerbread Man Hanged Himself

Shadow Cast By My Light Looks Like The Gingerbread Man Hanged Himself

billysherbert Report

#16

A Tree's Shadow Stopped The Snow Underneath It From Melting

A Tree's Shadow Stopped The Snow Underneath It From Melting

louissmlej Report

#17

This Restaurant Uses Shadows To Show Men And Women Restrooms

This Restaurant Uses Shadows To Show Men And Women Restrooms

Rook_Mozga Report

#18

Baby Deer Chilling On A Chair

Baby Deer Chilling On A Chair

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River Webb
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bambi found himself a lovely Chihuahua of a wife this is their oldest child cambi

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#19

The Shadow From A Rivet Makes It Look Like Sacajawea's Smoking A Blunt

The Shadow From A Rivet Makes It Look Like Sacajawea's Smoking A Blunt

pillowcurtain Report

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Troux
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had to look reeeeeally close. This is too perfect!

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#20

The Way The Shadows Look Between My Coffee Mugs

The Way The Shadows Look Between My Coffee Mugs

reddit.com Report

#21

The Shadows From These Window Cages Create A 3D Effect

The Shadows From These Window Cages Create A 3D Effect

Mike_ZzZzZ Report

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#22

Shadow Looks Like Painting

Shadow Looks Like Painting

Panishev Report

#23

The Shadow Of My Chimney Makes Me Look Like Lord Farquad

The Shadow Of My Chimney Makes Me Look Like Lord Farquad

atheistpianist Report

#24

Lahaina Noon In Hawaii Right Now - The Sun Passes Directly Overhead, So Anything That Isn't Top-Heavy Doesn't Cast A Shadow

Lahaina Noon In Hawaii Right Now - The Sun Passes Directly Overhead, So Anything That Isn't Top-Heavy Doesn't Cast A Shadow

notmedicinal Report

#26

The Personless Shadow

The Personless Shadow

HappyColoredMarble Report

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MellonCollie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The person right in front of the shadow, with the black shorts with green stripes, seems to be jumping. Hence the shadow not touching the ground.

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#27

Only 3 Spiral Ornaments And The Rest Are The Shadows They Cast

Only 3 Spiral Ornaments And The Rest Are The Shadows They Cast

frogs-and-flowers Report

#28

I Found The Shadow From My Sculpture More Interesting Than The Sculpture

I Found The Shadow From My Sculpture More Interesting Than The Sculpture

HazerLive Report

#29

I Genuinely Thought My Car Was Hovering Over The Parking. The Shadow Makes It Look Like It's Floating

I Genuinely Thought My Car Was Hovering Over The Parking. The Shadow Makes It Look Like It's Floating

theam107 Report

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#31

Around 2pm Every Sunny Day, There's A 1 Shadow On My Floor

Around 2pm Every Sunny Day, There's A 1 Shadow On My Floor

sleeptrouble Report

#32

The Shadow Of This Decoration Piece Makes A Horror Movie Villain

The Shadow Of This Decoration Piece Makes A Horror Movie Villain

shahidhanif0 Report

#33

The Shadows Formed On This Bench Are A Perfect Greyscale

The Shadows Formed On This Bench Are A Perfect Greyscale

bakic0 Report

#34

This Shadow From My Axis Am Allies Game

This Shadow From My Axis Am Allies Game

Bancaghedon Report

#35

The Clouds Shadows Make It Look Like They're Floating Islands

The Clouds Shadows Make It Look Like They're Floating Islands

reddit.com Report

#36

An Actual Full Rainbow And The Shadow Of My Plane

An Actual Full Rainbow And The Shadow Of My Plane

durkluf Report

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#38

The Shadow Left The Snow On The Roof Untouched

The Shadow Left The Snow On The Roof Untouched

somewhat-damaged Report

#39

Shadow Cast By My Lamp Looks Like A Happy Spider With A Ball

Shadow Cast By My Lamp Looks Like A Happy Spider With A Ball

composerken Report

#40

Straight Ladder Has A Crooked Shadow

Straight Ladder Has A Crooked Shadow

bpcity81 Report

#42

The Shadow Of My Bookshelf Looks Like A City Skyline

The Shadow Of My Bookshelf Looks Like A City Skyline

AppropriateForm Report

#43

This Fuel Filler Cap's Shadow Looks Like Batman

This Fuel Filler Cap's Shadow Looks Like Batman

jarzyniowski Report

#44

This Dog Shadow Looks Like Donald Trump

This Dog Shadow Looks Like Donald Trump

DonTramoya Report

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#46

The Shadow From The Bull's Head Making It Look Like It Has A Chicken's Body

The Shadow From The Bull's Head Making It Look Like It Has A Chicken's Body

Blanchere Report

#47

Changing My Friend's Car Radio When I Noticed This. The Shadow Looks Like An Alien Language

Changing My Friend's Car Radio When I Noticed This. The Shadow Looks Like An Alien Language

dr1fter11 Report

#48

The Shadow Of This Bench Looks Like Pixels In This Picture I Took

The Shadow Of This Bench Looks Like Pixels In This Picture I Took

cool_enough Report

#49

My Country Is So Poor It Even Has Low Quality Shadows

My Country Is So Poor It Even Has Low Quality Shadows

AziPloua Report

#50

Shadow Of The Hair On The Forehead Looks Like A Bump

Shadow Of The Hair On The Forehead Looks Like A Bump

xiangpornsroung Report

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Lauren Caswell
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There was a little girl who had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good she was very very good, and when she was bad she was horrid. A nursery rhyme I knew growing up (it rhymes the way I say forehead Lol, perhaps not a rhyme depending on your accent!)

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Note: this post originally had 108 images. Itā€™s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.