Windows allow us a view into an inner world or an outer world, depending on where we are situated. And we can see through windows, yet they are also reflective. In this sense windows are mirrors.
When I take photos I often look for visual tricks that may give the viewer a double take. I like creating a sense of ambiguity for it ties in with how I see the world. There are many constants, yet so many flaws and inconsistencies. The best we can do is try and enjoy the ride (and in my case, document it.)
Have you ever looked at the front of a house and seen a face smiling at you? Or looked at some tree bark to see a profile of Elvis Presley? Grab your camera, and take a photo. There may be thousands of others who want to see it, or even buy it.
Pareidolia is the phenomenon of the mind seeing a familiar pattern of something that doesn’t really exist. The most common examples are animal shapes in clouds, the man in the moon, and faces found on various surfaces, including toast.
It is not new—Leonardo Da Vinci wrote of pareidolia as an artistic device, “Look at walls splashed with a number of stains, or stones of various mixed colours. If you have to invent some scene, you can see resemblances to a number of landscapes… Also, you can see various battles, and lively postures of strange figures, expressions on faces, costumes and an infinite number of things, which you can reduce to good integrated form.”
So, the next time your toast pops up, or you find yourself in front of a stone wall, have a good, long look; who knows what your imagination may discover.
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Photo tip: Look for reflections in windows. People and objects in the reflection can mingle with what is in the scene to create interesting, imagined narratives.
