Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: dentstudent on 04/11/2008 12:41:05

Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: dentstudent on 04/11/2008 12:41:05
Well, I do all the time and this phenomenon is called "Pareidolia". It is the ability of the mind to make patterns from random "noise", such as seeing faces in the fronts of cars by the way the headlights and grill are situated. Also, with something like this  :-)  smiley face. This happens not only with visual stimuli, but with sounds too - sometimes you may think that you have heard a voice, but in fact it was the result of a mixture of sounds and/or harmonics that your brain translates as something more recognisable. This ability to "see" patterns in otherwise random structures can be seen as an evolutionary advantage - those that spotted the predator in the jungle (the face in the random noise) were more likely to have survived than those that didn't.

My favourite pareidolia effect can be seen on Google Earth (which I'm assuming that you already have and am therefore not advertising for it). Just put in these coordinates, and tell me what you see!

50° 0'38.20"N 110° 6'48.32"W

Post up your own pareidolia photos and favourites - there are plenty around - just look in your burger bun!
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: neilep on 04/11/2008 12:55:51
YES YES YES YES !!!!


Is that what it's called ?

I see pareidolia all the time in my curtain pattens !...for the sake of good taste I will abstain at the moment from posting a picture because they are very  1990's....quite floral and although very nice, might make ewe think you're on an acid trip in a floral meadow.

However, I see faces in the various swirls all the time and always look out for more.

Mirrors too !...are prime examples where I experience pareidolia indefinitely !  [;D]

As does my 12 year old daughter who clearly sees this in any reflective surface !!... [:D]

Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 04/11/2008 13:23:34
The NunBun (a cinnamon bun resembling Mother Teresa of Calcutta)...

  [ Invalid Attachment ]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4562170.stm

It also looks like an unsuccessful boxer wearing a hoodie. 
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: neilep on 04/11/2008 16:57:19
Lets not also forget the Messiah in a dog bum !



 [ Invalid Attachment ]

Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 04/11/2008 17:25:40
Rasputin in cat ear/fur...

 [ Invalid Attachment ]
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: techmind on 05/11/2008 20:36:43
At my parents' house when I was young they had a wallpaper in the hallway which was basically a creamy colour with an autumnal "leafy" pattern (pale-ish leaves and big-ish gaps between them). In bed as a child I used to stare at the wallpaper, and I could see at least three different faces in the paper, including an older (male) clown, a youngish (18-19yo) girl, and another. I don't know whether we have any samples of the paper still lying around...

Of course the original is the man on the moon!
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 05/11/2008 21:12:22
Of course the original is the man on the moon !

The Chinese see a rabbit in the moon...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_rabbit

(The moon does appear different from different latitudes,
 of course in the southern hemisphere it is the opposite way up).
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 05/11/2008 21:14:41
I often see a face in the bathroom mirror.
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: lyner on 05/11/2008 22:00:28
When I look in mine, I see my Dad.
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Don_1 on 06/11/2008 07:59:38
50° 0'38.20"N 110° 6'48.32"W ???

So that's what the Mrs has been getting up to on Friday evenings; helping out at a youth club, my foot.
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: dentstudent on 06/11/2008 09:29:13
In our last apartment, you couldn't help but see a lion in the tiles. At a conference recently, I saw Pris (from Bladerunner) in the linoleum floor. I have the photo somewhere....
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: dentstudent on 06/11/2008 09:37:09
Of course the original is the man on the moon !

The Chinese see a rabbit in the moon...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_rabbit

(The moon does appear different from different latitudes,
 of course in the southern hemisphere it is the opposite way up).

Other extra-terrestrial pareidolia phenomenon are the face on Mars:

http://www.msss.com/education/facepage/face.html


Bigfoot on Mars (it's a busy place!):

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/01/23/scimars123.xml

and of course, the Horsehead Nebula

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsehead_Nebula
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 06/11/2008 12:20:41
I saw a cloud shaped like a beaver. Does that count?
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: dentstudent on 06/11/2008 12:28:28
That's odd, I once saw a beaver shaped like a cloud....
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: dentstudent on 06/11/2008 12:29:23
So, what's at 50° 0'38.20"N 110° 6'48.32"W?
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: dentstudent on 06/11/2008 12:35:16
Here's a recent item where scientists thought that they may have found a body of a WWII airman.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/asia_pac_enl_1220522706/html/1.stm

but infact merely was the way that moss, vines and the trees had grown

Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 06/11/2008 13:15:53
So, what's at 50° 0'38.20"N 110° 6'48.32"W?

Have a look for yourself http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=50%C2%B0+0%2738.20%22N+110%C2%B0+6%2748.32%22W&ie=UTF8&om=1&t=h&z=16&ll=50.010759,-110.11116&spn=0.005668,0.014377 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=50%C2%B0+0%2738.20%22N+110%C2%B0+6%2748.32%22W&ie=UTF8&om=1&t=h&z=16&ll=50.010759,-110.11116&spn=0.005668,0.014377)
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: dentstudent on 06/11/2008 13:18:10
So, what's at 50° 0'38.20"N 110° 6'48.32"W?

Have a look for yourself http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=50%C2%B0+0%2738.20%22N+110%C2%B0+6%2748.32%22W&ie=UTF8&om=1&t=h&z=16&ll=50.010759,-110.11116&spn=0.005668,0.014377 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=50%C2%B0+0%2738.20%22N+110%C2%B0+6%2748.32%22W&ie=UTF8&om=1&t=h&z=16&ll=50.010759,-110.11116&spn=0.005668,0.014377)

DB - I was asking the others if they had looked - I know what's there 'cos I asked it in the first place!!!
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 06/11/2008 13:25:53
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fdoh%2F2.gif&hash=fef6931e562a6dc5fd0fd29a97202c70)

I had a late night
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 06/11/2008 17:26:22
I saw a cloud shaped like a beaver.

Was it an angry beaver  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Angry_Beavers) ?, like this angry geezer ...


 [ Invalid Attachment ]

http://www.schizoidman.com/top-20-things-that-look-like-other-things.html
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Karen W. on 06/11/2008 17:52:23
I often see a face in the bathroom mirror.

LOL.... me too!!! Sometimes the face is quite scary!!!
Hey..I love this thread!!!!!!! I did not know there was a name for this phenomenon.... I am awful about this.. I see faces in clouds, shower stall swirly design in the Formica or wall panels... I also see them in the curly redwood ceiling in my bedroom.....knotty pine also... in tons of things.. I have always loved patterns in things...

Cool thread!!!
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 06/11/2008 17:54:48
Quote
I see facs in clous

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fclueless%2F1.gif&hash=ba6e884e2ac18d739c0e89967c82862b)
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Karen W. on 06/11/2008 19:06:16
Sorry was on my phone.. and the keyboard is itsy bitsy! All corrected now!
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Make it Lady on 06/11/2008 21:17:38
After a make it session I brought my glitter trays home to hose down and noticed Jesus in one and Elvis in the other. I also saw Jeremy Paxman on the top of a mushroom. I really must stop picking them.
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Bass on 06/11/2008 22:32:08
There's a face on my clock...

(no, not the digital ones) [;D] [;D]
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Don_1 on 07/11/2008 09:20:03
RIDDLE

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi77.servimg.com%2Fu%2Ff77%2F12%2F57%2F44%2F24%2Fth%2F2ead7210.gif&hash=31a3bdcaba5cd83a0749563258937d7f)

Brothers and sisters have I none,
But that man's father is my father's son.

Who is this portait of?
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: dentstudent on 07/11/2008 09:30:01
ooh ooh! I think I may have worked it out. I'll send a PM to you Don just incase, by some remote chance, it's right, and I don't want to spoil it for anyone else.
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: dentstudent on 07/11/2008 09:33:58
bugger, hang on Don......
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: dentstudent on 07/11/2008 10:03:46
Sent it now!
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Don_1 on 07/11/2008 10:04:05
The fact that the picture here is of a chimp is immaterial. Just a picture I used for the purpose, it could have been a fish or a house!!!
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: dentstudent on 07/11/2008 10:09:36
So the picture is immaterial? Could the picture be of anything at all?
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Don_1 on 07/11/2008 10:29:24
So the picture is immaterial? Could the picture be of anything at all?

Yes.

Let me elucidate, I am standing in front of a portrait....
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi77.servimg.com%2Fu%2Ff77%2F12%2F57%2F44%2F24%2Fth%2F2ead7210.gif&hash=31a3bdcaba5cd83a0749563258937d7f)

I pose this riddle....

Brothers and sisters have I none,
But that man's father is my Father's son.

Who is this portrait of?


I thought you had it, you were on the right track.
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: dentstudent on 07/11/2008 10:31:49
try this PM...
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 07/11/2008 19:40:59
I think the portrait is of "your son".
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Don_1 on 07/11/2008 19:43:47
I think the portrait is of "your son".

Nope, wrong.

Try again
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 07/11/2008 20:13:50
"Your son" fits the riddle...

"Brothers and sisters have I none" => you are an only child. So "My father's son" can only be you.

"that man's father is my Father's son". So "that man's father" = "my Father's son" = you.

Which means you are "that man's father", i.e. the portrait is of "your son".
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Don_1 on 07/11/2008 20:19:13
You have the answer, but still walk away from it and come to the wrong conclusion.
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: dentstudent on 10/11/2008 08:42:38
"Your son" fits the riddle...

"Brothers and sisters have I none" => you are an only child. So "My father's son" can only be you.

"that man's father is my Father's son". So "that man's father" = "my Father's son" = you.

Which means you are "that man's father", i.e. the portrait is of "your son".


This is what i thought too. The "answer" is "my son", and yet it isn't correct....unless the riddle and the portrait are not linked at all, in which case the portrait could be of anything...hang on - Is the answer the son of Don_1? But that should be the same as "your son".....(thinking aloud)...

are we agreed that the answer to the riddle is your/my son, but this is not the answer to the portrait question?
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Don_1 on 10/11/2008 15:51:24
OK, here's the answer,

That man's father is my father's son. = the portait is of me!!!
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 10/11/2008 16:06:50
Quote
Usually it goes, "Brothers and sisters have I none, but that man's father is my father's son." Rhymes, you see. Rash and impetuous persons are often inclined to say that the guy in the picture is the speaker himself. However, those who have had their minds toughened by regular exposure to the Straight Dope will see at once that the guy in the picture is the speaker's son.
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/451/whats-the-answer-to-the-riddle-that-mans-father-is-my-fathers-son


Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Don_1 on 10/11/2008 17:01:12
This Straight Dope answer cannot work.

My father's son can only be me.
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: dentstudent on 11/11/2008 07:33:46

My father's son can only be me.

Certainly! But he isn't "that man". "That man" can only be my son (or perhaps nephew). I am pointing to "that man" who is in the portrait.
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Don_1 on 11/11/2008 07:39:38
No. If the picture is of me, then that man's father is my father.
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 11/11/2008 21:33:57
You're outnumbered Don_1...

http://thinks.com/riddles/a1-riddles.htm# => "My son".
http://www.azkidsnet.com/brainteasers.htm => "his son".
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Bass on 11/11/2008 23:08:41
Praying child, snow on Mt. Rainer, Washington

 [ Invalid Attachment ]
Google Earth image
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 11/11/2008 23:39:48
Don't you mean ET (in profile)...

 [ Invalid Attachment ]
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 12/11/2008 00:33:13
.
 [ Invalid Attachment ]


This one isn't photoshoppery: I've seen the video footage from which it is taken. It's the spitting image of Tinky Winky (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teletubbies).   [:)]
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: dentstudent on 12/11/2008 08:08:29
Praying child, snow on Mt. Rainer, Washington

 [ Invalid Attachment ]
Google Earth image

I can also see an alien facing to the right with a slack jaw and great big ears!
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 12/11/2008 23:59:14
The snow picture was like an Rorschach ink blot test...


 [ Invalid Attachment ]


http://www.theinkblot.com/   [:)]

This one is just like Krusty the Clown (from the Simpsons).
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 13/11/2008 00:17:16
What about the face on Jupiter blowing a kiss?

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi148.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs26%2FDoctorBeaver%2Fthings%2Fjupiter.jpg&hash=20e228720d835e88f64dacd0c56b4491)
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: erickejah on 13/11/2008 03:17:09
this picture looks like donkey kong runing behind a barrel.  [;D]
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: dentstudent on 13/11/2008 07:34:35
What about the face on Jupiter blowing a kiss?

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi148.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs26%2FDoctorBeaver%2Fthings%2Fjupiter.jpg&hash=20e228720d835e88f64dacd0c56b4491)

That was good for a chuckle! Nice one Eth!
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 13/11/2008 09:17:34
Those features are actually on Jupiter. I just added a bit of colour to highlight them.
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: dentstudent on 13/11/2008 09:45:56
the Great Red Teenage Spot I know about - I guess the others were "swhirly white things"? (Official term, of course)
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 13/11/2008 09:52:41
I guess the others were "swhirly white things"? (Official term, of course)

Or a Cat from Red Dwarf term

Here is the original Jupiter pic:-

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2Fe%2Fe2%2FJupiter.jpg%2F240px-Jupiter.jpg&hash=735439b02112542fcde506add1ad5b47)

OK, maybe I added the nostrils  [;D]  but you can clearly see the eyes & mouth.
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: dentstudent on 13/11/2008 10:07:14
Ah yes, "Swhirly thing alert!"
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 31/10/2009 18:35:16
. [ Invalid Attachment ]  [ Invalid Attachment ]

Quote
Michael Jackson spotted on a Rover 200?

There is an uncanny resemblance to Billie Jean singer. But then again, it could also be confused with any of the following:

• Generic Eighties rock band frontman
• Jesus
• Noel Fielding
• Alan Rickman in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves 
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS/news/AUTOTRADER/CELEBRITYCARS/michael_jackson_spotted_in_a_rover_200.html
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Nizzle on 03/11/2009 08:56:10
Here's a funny one too:
Look on google maps with satellite view for this: 32.676139,-117.157786
Gotta love the irony of the US Military [;)]
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Don_1 on 03/11/2009 09:07:44
Vot ist ironic here??? (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffc05.deviantart.com%2Fimages2%2Fi%2F2004%2F08%2F3%2Fa%2FNazi_Smiley.gif&hash=08f790ce9480d6b060d72db6afe90f18)
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 03/11/2009 14:50:38
I've heard a space heater produce "garbled voices"; however, as I understand speech production and recognition, it's was obviously combinations of frequencies approximating vowels formants (in fact, it all sounded like garbled "vowels" and no consonants).

On the subject of recognising of garbled voices ... http://www.mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk/people/matt.davis/sine-wave-speech/

[Not pareidolia]
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: AllenG on 03/11/2009 16:13:11
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fweb.me.com%2Fawcg%2FiWeb%2FBF%2FPhotos_files%2FGargoyle%2520Dog%2520Food.jpg&hash=c18a7f904b2cef17e51a499c416bc6e0)
I'd swear it looks like there is a gargoyle on the back of my dog's bag of food.
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 01/12/2009 01:31:14
RD, that sine-wave speech is pretty cool.

I believe it is similar to what people with a cochlear implant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochlear_implant#Efficacy) "hear".
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 01/12/2009 01:34:22
Jesus I hate ironing ...
 [ Invalid Attachment ]

http://www.nydailynews.com (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/11/28/2009-11-28_new_hampshire_woman_finds_image_of_jesus_on_bottom_of_iron.html)
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Mr. Scientist on 07/12/2009 05:03:52
Well, I do all the time and this phenomenon is called "Pareidolia". It is the ability of the mind to make patterns from random "noise", such as seeing faces in the fronts of cars by the way the headlights and grill are situated. Also, with something like this  :-)  smiley face. This happens not only with visual stimuli, but with sounds too - sometimes you may think that you have heard a voice, but in fact it was the result of a mixture of sounds and/or harmonics that your brain translates as something more recognisable. This ability to "see" patterns in otherwise random structures can be seen as an evolutionary advantage - those that spotted the predator in the jungle (the face in the random noise) were more likely to have survived than those that didn't.

My favourite pareidolia effect can be seen on Google Earth (which I'm assuming that you already have and am therefore not advertising for it). Just put in these coordinates, and tell me what you see!

50° 0'38.20"N 110° 6'48.32"W

Post up your own pareidolia photos and favourites - there are plenty around - just look in your burger bun!

It happens to me on a daily basis - but i never knew there was an atual scientific name for it.

Good post!
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Mr. Scientist on 07/12/2009 05:04:36
I initially thought i had a form of synesthesia.
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 11/01/2010 13:24:56
A weird phenomenaan
 [ Invalid Attachment ]
http://www.telegraph.co.uk (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/picturesoftheday/6965982/Pictures-of-the-day-11-January-2010.html?image=8)

Does Russell Brand (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Brand) need any more publicity ?.  [:)]
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: stephens1949 on 16/08/2010 16:20:47
To me The Philippines looks like the bones of an animal with a big scull.
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: stephens1949 on 16/08/2010 16:22:29
There is a silhouette in the east as well as the western borders of the state of Idaho.
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Make it Lady on 16/08/2010 17:18:15
I had Elvis in my glitter tray once or was it Jesus? I'll try and fine the photo I took.

I've done it all my life. I used to sit for hours on the toilet in my Mums house as the floor tiles were strangely patterned and you could find many different faces if you looked at them differently. I heard that babies are predisposed to focus on facial features in order to recognise Mum and safe people. I guess some of us never stop doing it. When the light shines in my bathroom window the sun and shade make Brian Blessed appear. What fun!
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 17/08/2010 03:48:54
When the light shines in my bathroom window the sun and shade make Brian Blessed appear. What fun!

Probably not as good as his appearance on HIGNFY ...  [:)]
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Variola on 17/08/2010 09:56:09
When the light shines in my bathroom window the sun and shade make Brian Blessed appear. What fun!

Probably not as good as his appearance on HIGNFY ... [:)]

I remember laughing so much my stomach ached and I was in tears watching that....  [;D]

One of the best of the guests I think, the full Boris was a good one too.
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: andrewbrak91 on 23/08/2010 10:43:16
- This forum is must for people like me.
Regards
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Airthumbs on 26/12/2010 04:27:55
Does this also explain why sometimes when I hear a loud noise and my eyes are closed I see a flash of white light?
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 26/12/2010 05:11:59
Does this also explain why sometimes when I hear a loud noise and my eyes are closed I see a flash of white light?

That sounds like phosphenes (not pareidolia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareidolia)) ...

Quote
A phosphene is an entoptic phenomenon characterized by the experience of seeing light without light actually entering the eye. Phosphenes are flashes of light, often associated with optic neuritis, induced by movement or sound
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphene

or possibly synesthesia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia#Sound_.E2.86.92_color_synesthesia).
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Geezer on 26/12/2010 22:04:30
- This forum is must for people like me.
Regards

That's quite a signature you have there Andrew.


For those of you that cannot see it, it says:

Immigration Attorney Salt Lake City | Cheap Printer Cartridges | Cosmetic Dentistry NH |CD Mastering

(NH is New Hampshire, so I reckon Andrew has a private jet.)
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 29/06/2011 12:55:03
OK this MJ (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=18086.msg281371#msg281371) lookalike is deliberate  [:)] ...

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpoorlydressed.files.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2Ffashion-fail-michaels-back.jpg&hash=c5abfc97426d58e5b49e0f1ea744dfe3)
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: grizelda on 02/07/2011 04:17:20


In beaver cosmology, your soul goes back into the trees. [ Invalid Attachment ]
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 02/07/2011 15:38:31
In beaver cosmology, your soul goes back into the trees.

Beaver ? , surely it’s a sloth …
Title: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: grizelda on 02/07/2011 22:15:49
It's got beaver written all over it. Just shows you are what you eat.

 [ Invalid Attachment ]
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 09/03/2012 23:38:06
Tree rex ...

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mirror.co.uk%2Fincoming%2Farticle754895.ece%2FALTERNATES%2Fs615%2FA%2Bproperty%2Bmanager%2Bwas%2Bleft%2Bstunned%2Bafter%2Bstumbling%2Bacross%2Bthis%2Btree%2Bthat%2Blooks%2Blike%2Ba%2Bgiant%2BDINOSAUR&hash=461257469c0100bae217e740c9d45e9c)
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/dinosaur-discovered-in-norfolk-or-at-least-a-tree-755249
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 11/03/2012 00:43:46
Marmite Jesus ...

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2Fnol%2Fshared%2Fspl%2Fhi%2Fpop_ups%2F08%2Fuk_enl_1243508841%2Fimg%2F1.jpg&hash=c32ccdf38913973bd7651050b5ec9777)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8071865.stm

Gotta spread that on Jesus toast (http://www.burntimpressions.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=69).
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 29/03/2012 19:27:03
E.T.  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ETChrist.jpg)has logged in ...

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbcimg.co.uk%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2F59046000%2Fjpg%2F_59046646_imag0108.jpg&hash=48157cb5ec62938e4ffe5398a56901c6)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-17350987
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: refly1278 on 02/04/2012 11:09:32
I see thing on woods... faces, animals and more
<botox link removed>
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: techmind on 05/04/2012 13:31:53
Do you see a face in this plastic sheeting? It was staring at me when I was in my kitchen a year or so ago!
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: leanna murphy on 17/05/2012 02:40:07
Seeing faces in patterns and textures is a huge part of my life. Faces of the unknown surround me, one forming another and another as I create them with my brush or they spontaneously appear in my camera lens.

Pareidolia, Paranoiac Critical Method, Frottage, Visual Perception, Facial Recognition, these are just a few of the terms used to describe my ability. I have spent hundreds of hours researching, trying to find out why I see these faces, who they are and if there is anyone else that has the same type of visions as I do. 

To clarify my work, I will start with my paintings; pretend you see a face in the clouds and had a long paintbrush; you could bring out the face with the brush by highlighting and shading so others could see what you see.  Well, that's how I create the faces in my art, they are already there, I just bring them out for you. My photographs are completely different and more perplexing for me. I don't do anything to my photos, the faces just appear.  They are everywhere. 

Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 17/05/2012 03:06:18
Do you see a face in this plastic sheeting?

higher contrast and a tighter crop helps ...

 [ Invalid Attachment ]
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Geezer on 17/05/2012 05:11:57
I was sheet faced on Saturday night.
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 17/05/2012 06:18:36
Seeing faces in patterns and textures is a huge part of my life ... they spontaneously appear in my camera lens.

 My photographs are completely different and more perplexing for me. I don't do anything to my photos, the faces just appear.  They are everywhere. 

Any thoughts?

Excessive pareidolia can be a psychiatric symptom,

If you see faces "everywhere" then you will see faces in photographs of everwhere,
i.e. the camera is not generating the frequent face illusions, your brain is.
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: leanna murphy on 17/05/2012 07:35:30
Ok
Seeing faces in patterns and textures is a huge part of my life ... they spontaneously appear in my camera lens.

 My photographs are completely different and more perplexing for me. I don't do anything to my photos, the faces just appear.  They are everywhere. 

Any thoughts?

Excessive pareidolia can be a psychiatric symptom,

If you see faces "everywhere" then you will see faces in photographs of everwhere,
i.e. the camera is not generating the frequent face illusions, your brain is.


Hmmm....   Please count how many faces you see before clicking on this thumbnail.
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: leanna murphy on 17/05/2012 07:48:39
Others see them as well..
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 17/05/2012 08:27:44
Others see them as well..

I'm only getting a witchy face on "face 1" ...

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

I can't see any faces on "face 2".
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: leanna murphy on 17/05/2012 15:29:54
I would like RD to explain to me how this is possible.. I have thousands of pictures with faces in them that are so clear, it only takes a second for someone to see them. Without prompting, or power of suggestion.


This picture I took will be the perfect example.  Look in the center of the photo and tell me the first thing you see.
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 17/05/2012 23:10:11
I would like RD to explain to me how this is possible.. I have thousands of pictures with faces in them that are so clear, it only takes a second for someone to see them. Without prompting, or power of suggestion.

The brain is biased towards identifying patterns as faces, there has been evolutionary selection for it : an animal will have a better chance of survival if it errs on mistaking an inanimate thing as a face than vice versa.  [ the unrecognized face could be a predator or prey ]

Very little visual information is required for us to interpret something as a face, e.g.   :-)   :¬)
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 18/05/2012 01:13:39
MJ (again (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=18086.msg281371#msg281371)) ...

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.terra.com.br%2Fi%2F2009%2F06%2F30%2F1252438-3843-atm14.jpg&hash=4dc6fc032de2d9ea3ba9dbb8fbbb3765)

http://noticias.terra.com.br/popular/interna/0,,OI3851955-EI1141,00-Imagem+de+Michael+Jackson+aparece+em+forma+de+carne+assada.html
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Geezer on 18/05/2012 02:27:17
Are you sure it's not Boris Karloff?
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 18/05/2012 02:53:49
Are you sure it's not Boris Karloff?

I didn't know Boris wore red lipstick ...

 [ Invalid Attachment ]
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 01/06/2013 03:57:16
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.telegraph.co.uk%2Fmultimedia%2Farchive%2F02574%2Fhitler-kettle_2574818b.jpg&hash=f1e77a52a6be226291647644580ed159)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10084348/Kettle-that-looks-like-Hitler-brews-trouble-for-JCPenney.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10084348/Kettle-that-looks-like-Hitler-brews-trouble-for-JCPenney.html)

IMO the kettle is a better match than the "Hitler house (http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/hitler-house)".
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 26/11/2013 02:32:25
Chonosuke Okamura saw faces in millimetre sized mineral grains ...

 [ Invalid Attachment ]
http://www.improbable.com/airchives/paperair/volume6/v6i6/okamura-6-6.html

[ Not just faces ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chonosuke_Okamura ]
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 03/05/2014 14:15:22
I spotted these in a mandelbox (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandelbox) fractal

 [ Invalid Attachment ]
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: swoodall on 16/10/2014 12:53:02
I see faces in things all the time, Mostly clouds.
I've just started a Facebook page with lots of photos I have taken ...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/600377633407123/
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 25/04/2015 18:57:47
human-shaped cloud emerging from the ash of Chilean volcano eruption ...

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDXOvNrWIAAZ7_e.jpg:large)
https://twitter.com/YahooNewsUK/status/591923115615105024
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Colin2B on 26/04/2015 10:00:25
Problem is, once you start you can't stop, you see them everywhere.
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Aemilius on 27/04/2015 09:00:23
9/11....

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs7.postimg.org%2Ftwdz937ij%2FDEVILDEVIL.jpg&hash=7618b53042edd7024add123bf35fca6c)
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 27/04/2015 21:55:30
9/11....

You've cropped out the Cyberman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cybermen_costumes.jpg) & cartoon beaver ...

 [ Invalid Attachment ]
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Aemilius on 27/04/2015 23:25:07
Bush appears a couple seconds later from a different angle....

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs18.postimg.org%2Fnug1bcctl%2FBUSHBUSH.jpg&hash=9170f295637ad2bd7565bba9f0829aa3)
Yes I know it's fake, I made it.

Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 27/04/2015 23:50:01
Bush appears a couple seconds later from a different angle....

I vote photoshoppery on that Bush one : it looks like it's been inspired by this image ...   [ Invalid Attachment ]

Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Aemilius on 28/04/2015 01:19:37
I vote photoshoppery on that Bush one : it looks like it's been inspired by this image ... 
 [ Invalid Attachment ]

Right, like I said (beneath the image)....

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs18.postimg.org%2Fnug1bcctl%2FBUSHBUSH.jpg&hash=9170f295637ad2bd7565bba9f0829aa3)
Yes I know it's fake, I made it.

Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: yamo on 28/04/2015 06:03:55
When i wear a T-shirt in the summer i see faces in my sweat stains.  Once it was Hey, Kool Aid.  Once it was Jesus with a crown of thorns.
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Aemilius on 29/04/2015 12:37:59
When i wear a T-shirt in the summer i see faces in my sweat stains.  Once it was Hey, Kool Aid.  Once it was Jesus with a crown of thorns.

Funny, I always get Hitler....

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs11.postimg.org%2Fd7qv70bkz%2FDIITler.jpg&hash=197ae71107bcbad902ea03a4bfb85b9b)
Yes I know it's fake, I made it.
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: roger_b on 16/05/2015 13:41:49
Google Earth faces.
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 21/08/2015 18:51:46
Top-quality retro pareidolia ...

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Su%C3%A8de_par%C3%A9idolie.jpg)

The giant moustached face in profile is actually a young girl wearing a white T-shirt & bonnet.
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 15/07/2017 05:51:55
Golden Re-tree-ver ....

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C3b9MnQWIAEh-45.jpg)
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 15/07/2017 15:52:24
(https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/styles/story_large/public/thumbnails/image/2017/07/14/11/skull-mountain-2.jpg)

https://www.indy100.com/article/volcano-on-fire-mount-vesuvius-smoke-cloud-skull-apocalypse-mountain-notorious-7840466
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 07/08/2017 05:03:01
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pedagonet.com%2Fbrain%2Fgaragedoor.jpg&hash=d97146a9e0aa911f0e4e635b3a1fbabe)

Un-be-leaf-able
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Colin2B on 07/08/2017 18:09:07
That is quite impressive.
Problem is when you see one you start seeing them everywhere.
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 07/08/2017 21:52:52
(https://www.yahoo.com/sy/ny/api/res/1.2/CurSmevR.shzk7HFAQJjvg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9ODAw/http://media.zenfs.com/en-US/homerun/cosmopolitan_438/ed93612fc77359fb4f942959ae0150ab)
https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/photo-every-makeup-lover-laugh-170404302.html (https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/photo-every-makeup-lover-laugh-170404302.html)
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 07/11/2017 06:14:39
Dogeared Trump ...
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fassets.kompas.com%2Fcrop%2F1x10%3A800x542%2F750x500%2Fdata%2Fphoto%2F2017%2F11%2F06%2F2321063906.jpg&hash=b9bd1270099466a508ccd5b0edf90e19)
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: Petrochemicals on 09/11/2017 01:32:37
These are good, especially the more unconventional.

We are actually hard wired to see "faces" in things, by that i mean 2 dots over another dot. It is where the devil et al come from, the beast and the predator, your hard wired self presevation instinct.
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: chris on 09/11/2017 07:40:38
This interview about how the brain recognises a face (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/interviews/how-we-recognise-faces) that was aired in the latest episode of the Naked Scientists Podcast (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/naked-scientists) may be of interest to readers.

In the above, the researchers obtain neural recordings from an epilepsy patient undergoing studies ahead of brain surgery. Some of the electrodes are in a region called the FFA (fusiform face area) at the back of the brain. Intriguingly, when this area was stimulated, the patient saw a face on top of whatever he was looking at.
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: evan_au on 10/11/2017 11:37:27
This podcast is about those who cannot recognise faces - Oliver Sacks and Dr Karl are some people who suffered this condition.
And it talks about those who are extraordinary at recognising faces.
This all points to specialised brain areas involved in recognising faces (30 minutes).
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/allinthemind/whats-in-a-face-prosopagnosia/8269742
Title: Re: Have you noticed faces in things?
Post by: RD on 17/12/2018 11:04:35
(https://www.snopes.com/tachyon/2018/12/zoomed-in-feces.png?resize=733,412)
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/scientific-paper-trump-turd/