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Photographer Finds Look-Alikes That Are Not Actually Related By Blood But Look Incredibly Similar (30 Pics)
Sorry, but you aren't that special. At least when it comes to your appearance. Canadian photographer François Brunelle has released a twin photo series called “I’m not a look-alike!” where he features models that look very much the same and aren't even related.
The artist has been studying the human face since 1968 when he first started off as a photographer at the age of 18.
At first, François was searching for his models while traveling. Over the years, however, he has appeared in a TV interview, magazine articles, and lots of web media exposure which had lots of people around the world reaching out to him, tremendously helping his project.
More info: francoisbrunelle.com | Facebook
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François started the project in the year 2000 and has managed to capture 250 pairs of look-alikes since then. The models come from all around the world and the photographer categorizes them into 2 types of doppelgangers.
"Some people know each other already and when they reach to me sometimes it's been years that they live their likeliness," Brunelle told Bored Panda. "So, obviously, for them it is just fun to have a witness of that."
"Other people meet for the first time and then, they kind of have a surprise. Pleasant for the most part, as they meet someone who looks like them in a way or another. They feel safe and confident. And curious about the other person. Some of them in this category, but very few, remain friends, but it is definitely not the rule."
Despite the fact that Brunelle has been working on the project for 20 years, he is still wondering about this likeliness thing. "I think that we are all the same but that our appearance changes how others perceive us. For the good and the bad."
Interestingly, he happens to look like a well-renowned actor in his city, Montréal. "A few times, when going to an opening or to a first time restaurant, people would address me thinking I was the actor. I thought it was funny and great to be told that I would get a better spot in the restaurant or offered a white wine 'as usual?'"
As memorable as his project is, the humble photographer said he can't stop thinking about its impact. "The world is having a tough time at the present and I wonder if my work is relevant at all. I wish I could help. I wish my images could help us reflect on what we are after all and where we are going to. I am not the one who can tell. The only thing I can do is do my job: make photos."
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What do you think ?
Rick 4 years ago
I like these. On a planet with over 7 billion people living on it and we only ever meet less than 1 percent, I wonder how many doppelgängers out there we all actually have?
Dorothy Parker 4 years ago
A few were remarkably similar. Many is was the accessories, styling and intentionally identical expressions. My daughter and I look nothing alike, but people seem a great similarity because she has my facial expressions. Another aspect is many seem to come from the same area or ethnic background as their match. DNA testing would be amazing here.
Laura Parker 6 months ago
I think that was intentional, so that people with no imagination could see it too.
Load More Replies...
Chris DiFonso 4 years ago
It's interesting, and somewhat disturbing, that siblings can look very different yet a person can have a doppelganger that isn't related by blood
MacDudu 4 years ago
Why is the photographer so intent on having people touch who are probably complete strangers to each other outside of their physical similarities.
Dippin Dot 4 years ago
I thought the same thing. Some of those poses looked really intimate too.
Load More Replies...
Vicky Zar 4 years ago
I'm sorry but most of them just look a bit alike because they have the same hairstyle snd/ or glasses. Take that away and they will look very different from each other.
Rissie 4 years ago (edited)
No, many do have very similar features. What is noticable though is the tiny differences that make them identifiable as unrelated. So it's commonalities on a larger level than we identify as looking alike. Kind like hair color and structure. But with for instance the combination of general eye shape, mouth shape and face shape, but without the little quirks that makes family family. That is why you can look absolutely nothing like a relative and still see familiarities.
Load More Replies...
deanna woods 4 years ago
A few years ago, I went to a state fair with my family. We saw a girl that looked a lot like me. She had the same body shape, was the same height, and even the same hairstyle. Last year at my aunt's funeral, I got to meet this girl. Turns out she is my cousin that I hadn't seen in years. I think that my doppelganger being family is actually pretty cool. I know some people will say that family often does look alike, but my cousin could be my twin.
Niels Veldhoven 4 years ago
This proves my "theory"... They ran out of molds for casting people..
Lyone Fein 4 years ago
Honestly, I think that the majority of the "matches" were people who had racial or ethnic similarities in common. Like there are ways that all Italians, or Ethiopians, or Nepalese are going to resemble each other. Just because two older gents are the same weight and are both Irish that doesn't mean they look close enough to be brothers.
Alan Metcalfe 4 years ago
Apparently, there is a finite number of combinations for human DNA, that for the number of people on the planet, there are four lookallikes for everyone.
Andrea Anthony 4 years ago
these pairs all feel like they could be siblings, not identical, which is still really cool. having grown up not knowing anyone I'm genetically related to, I like it!
Living_Shadow 4 years ago
This photographer should meet my mom's brother. His look alike is the Indian actor Shahrukh Khan. When my uncle goes out, some people do a double take because he looks so similar!
Carole Reid 4 years ago
Some are a bit of a stretch but I have seen actual siblings that don't resemble each other at all. But the you might have to ask the milkman, as my Grandma used to say.
Pasi Ahdevainio 4 years ago
I can relate to these. I once saw a guy in a train that eerily looked like me. I thought "Is he a relative I'm not aware of?".
Cuitlahuac Guerra 4 years ago
I don't see a resemblance in many of those couples. I can see the photographer trying to influence us with similar clothes and expresions, but that's it. Probable 4-5 legitimate doppelgängers but that's it. Reminds me of this episode of Friends, when joey hires his "identical twin", 😄
Cuitlahuac Guerra 4 years ago
some of these couples are not similar at all. The same clothes, glasses and pose force the perception a little. Buy hey, nice pictures.
Rick 4 years ago
I like these. On a planet with over 7 billion people living on it and we only ever meet less than 1 percent, I wonder how many doppelgängers out there we all actually have?
Dorothy Parker 4 years ago
A few were remarkably similar. Many is was the accessories, styling and intentionally identical expressions. My daughter and I look nothing alike, but people seem a great similarity because she has my facial expressions. Another aspect is many seem to come from the same area or ethnic background as their match. DNA testing would be amazing here.
Laura Parker 6 months ago
I think that was intentional, so that people with no imagination could see it too.
Load More Replies... Chris DiFonso 4 years ago
It's interesting, and somewhat disturbing, that siblings can look very different yet a person can have a doppelganger that isn't related by blood
MacDudu 4 years ago
Why is the photographer so intent on having people touch who are probably complete strangers to each other outside of their physical similarities.
Dippin Dot 4 years ago
I thought the same thing. Some of those poses looked really intimate too.
Load More Replies... Vicky Zar 4 years ago
I'm sorry but most of them just look a bit alike because they have the same hairstyle snd/ or glasses. Take that away and they will look very different from each other.
Rissie 4 years ago (edited)
No, many do have very similar features. What is noticable though is the tiny differences that make them identifiable as unrelated. So it's commonalities on a larger level than we identify as looking alike. Kind like hair color and structure. But with for instance the combination of general eye shape, mouth shape and face shape, but without the little quirks that makes family family. That is why you can look absolutely nothing like a relative and still see familiarities.
Load More Replies... deanna woods 4 years ago
A few years ago, I went to a state fair with my family. We saw a girl that looked a lot like me. She had the same body shape, was the same height, and even the same hairstyle. Last year at my aunt's funeral, I got to meet this girl. Turns out she is my cousin that I hadn't seen in years. I think that my doppelganger being family is actually pretty cool. I know some people will say that family often does look alike, but my cousin could be my twin.
Niels Veldhoven 4 years ago
This proves my "theory"... They ran out of molds for casting people..
Lyone Fein 4 years ago
Honestly, I think that the majority of the "matches" were people who had racial or ethnic similarities in common. Like there are ways that all Italians, or Ethiopians, or Nepalese are going to resemble each other. Just because two older gents are the same weight and are both Irish that doesn't mean they look close enough to be brothers.
Alan Metcalfe 4 years ago
Apparently, there is a finite number of combinations for human DNA, that for the number of people on the planet, there are four lookallikes for everyone.
Andrea Anthony 4 years ago
these pairs all feel like they could be siblings, not identical, which is still really cool. having grown up not knowing anyone I'm genetically related to, I like it!
Living_Shadow 4 years ago
This photographer should meet my mom's brother. His look alike is the Indian actor Shahrukh Khan. When my uncle goes out, some people do a double take because he looks so similar!
Carole Reid 4 years ago
Some are a bit of a stretch but I have seen actual siblings that don't resemble each other at all. But the you might have to ask the milkman, as my Grandma used to say.
Pasi Ahdevainio 4 years ago
I can relate to these. I once saw a guy in a train that eerily looked like me. I thought "Is he a relative I'm not aware of?".
Cuitlahuac Guerra 4 years ago
I don't see a resemblance in many of those couples. I can see the photographer trying to influence us with similar clothes and expresions, but that's it. Probable 4-5 legitimate doppelgängers but that's it. Reminds me of this episode of Friends, when joey hires his "identical twin", 😄
Cuitlahuac Guerra 4 years ago
some of these couples are not similar at all. The same clothes, glasses and pose force the perception a little. Buy hey, nice pictures.
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