40+ Photos We Need to Look at Twice to Understand

A picture says a thousand words. And sometimes, the right picture (or wrong, depending on your perspective) leaves us with a thousand questions. Enjoy looking at these photos once, twice, or three times to try to figure out what the heck is happening!

Look, this tree was tired. Bone tired. It was an exhaustion he could feel in his very sap. So he decided to take a seat on a conveniently located sidewalk and that was history.

He’s too comfortable to stand up again, and he invites you to chat with him and rest your weary legs. Life is too short to not take a moment to sit and enjoy the scenery.

OK, first of all, where are these people? They look like they’re somewhere public — perhaps in a nightclub. But what in the world are they doing? Before you lose your lunch over the position that the woman’s neck is in, look closer. There are three people in the photo.

The first is on the right, holding the legs of the second person, who’s apparently doing a headstand in a yellow sweater. The woman whose face we can see is actually wearing a black sweater and is doing her best to hold up the acrobat.

What a great photo opportunity. We imagine this must have been an agriculture, veterinary, or FFA class judging by the poster hanging on the wall in the background. But honestly, we can’t take our eyes off the perspective in the middle of the photo.

The class is probably taking a look at their homework, as it pertains to bovines. The girl probably has no clue that the horns are positioned perfectly on her head.

At first glance, this is a delightful family photo. Three generations are sitting on the same couch, having a good time together. But that’s where the plot thickens. Sure, there are three people sitting on the couch.

But how many legs can you count? And where are the legs of the man sitting on the far left of the couch? Look carefully: the first leg you count on the left doesn’t actually belong to the man sitting in the middle.

What’s going on here? Is this a modern-day rendition of the Tower of Pisa in Italy? It couldn’t be, because this building is apparently in use. You’ll need to tilt your screen to figure out what’s going on in this photo.

The car parked on the street is actually parked pretty precariously. That’s one steep hill. The building is straight up and down if you’re trying to orient your brain to what’s happening in this photo.

Are these cucumber slices surprised at their fate? Or are they just shocked to see you? It’s interesting to see how fruits and veggies look when they’re cut. Sometimes, nature surprises us with the kinds of designs and patterns inside of a seemingly neutral cucumber.

When all these slices are in the bowl together, we can’t help but wonder what they might have been thinking throughout their short lives.

Hugs solve everything. Fine, so they might not solve world peace. But they sure can make a day feel brighter. It doesn’t matter if you’re a person or a couple of skyscrapers reaching for the clouds. Hugs make everything better.

We’d like to thank the architect of these towers for reminding us that helping someone have a better day could be as easy as giving them a quick hug and telling them how much they’re appreciated.

We often wonder what big tractor-trailers are hauling when we pass them on the interstate. Anything could be underneath those tarps or behind those doors. However, we weren’t prepared when we saw what looks an awful lot like the Cookie Monster from Sesame Street.

The color of blue is practically the same shade, but the eyes look haunted and full of regret. Perhaps this is what happens when you eat too many cookies.

Imagine working on a carpentry project or just minding your own business, splitting logs for your fireplace, when you came across this anomaly. This is a strange case of nature imitating nature.

The knots and coloring in the wood clearly look like a dog suspended forever in time and space. What a good boy to wait so long to be discovered! Now — how are we going to get him out of there?

This power strip looks like a group of people horrified at what the other person must be seeing through the lens. The plug almost appears to be a virtual reality headset of some kind, leading us to wonder what is so stunning.

However, when we consider all the amazing things we’ve seen through VR, we kind of understand the shock and awe. Don’t be afraid to go toward the light!

We humans are really good at making everything about us. That includes the tendency to see faces in anything — including inanimate objects like this sink. Furthermore, we assign emotions to those faces. This sink, for example, is extremely worried.

In fact, you might say that it has a sinking feeling that something bad is about to happen. We hope this sink gets through this. We’re here for you, buddy! You got this!

We’ve been staring at this photo for the past five minutes, trying to figure out what we’re looking at. Upon first glance, we were so sure it was a flock of parrots or even large hummingbirds perching around the rim of a glass to take a sip of the liquid within.

But no — these aren’t birds. They’re a bunch of fruit, hooked artfully on the glass to fool us all.

If you know, you know. That dastardly little squirrel whose acorn is always causing him to get into trouble from the animated movie Ice Age is starting right up at us. We really appreciate the creative minds who bring us our entertainment in film format.

We imagine that they keep their minds turned on at all times so they can be inspired by anything they see. We’re pretty sure this faucet is the source material for that squirrel.

How is it possible to be fascinated, delighted, and repulsed all at the same time? That’s what this photo did to us. When you see it, you can’t think of anything else. The woman’s two knees look like little baby faces. It’s startling and strange.

We wonder if she realizes what she’s carrying around. Has anyone told her that her knees could be completely mistaken for newborn infants in the right lighting and at the correct angle?

We have to assume that the butcher knew what they were doing when they sliced these cuts of meat. Because we can’t not see a perfect pair of sneakers, ready to take us on our next adventure. Maybe this is meat art, and a commentary on how important protein is to give us energy for our workouts and muscle sculpting.

We honestly wouldn’t be surprised if a sneaker company saw this photo and tried to recreate the look in an exclusive drop that fans would spend hundreds — or even thousands — to own.

If we found ourselves at this stoplight, we would be terrified. The way the tree’s foliage bush out behind the two traffic lights makes it look like the lights are the eyes to a horrifying monster, eager to eat whomever might disobey the lights.

We would certainly never run a red light at this intersection. We wouldn’t even chance trying to get through on a yellow. Maybe every traffic light needs a monster to help people behave.

If the movie franchise Harry Potter was set in a vastly different time and place with blue collar workers instead of exalted magical families, we imagine that this traffic cone is exactly what the sorting hat would look like. We wouldn’t have Hogwarts, of course.

We imagine we would have a parking garage of some sort, or perhaps an underpass that’s slowly being constructed while clogging up traffic. The sorting cone would tell you what your role for the project would be.

This cat was born ready for battle! His little fur pattern looks exactly like a sword that belongs in legends somewhere. We hope this kitty uses his weapons prowess for good against home invaders like mice, bugs, and other annoyances.

And we hope he has an appropriate name for just how amazing his coat of fur is. Excalibur would be our choice — King Arthur’s legendary blade. But we would be open to suggestions.

Being a turtle in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles saga probably wasn’t as glamorous as the TV show and movies made it out to be. There had to be boring missions in between saving the world, defeating the bad guys, and noshing on pizza down in the sewers.

We imagine there were many mundane moments in the brothers’ lives, including possible undercover or surveillance missions. Because this child’s swing looks exactly like Rafael. We only wonder what Master Splinter had asked him to do.

We imagine that stormtroopers in the Star Wars franchise had their fair share of on-the-job accidents while serving the Empire. If Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo ended up in a trash compactor while trying to escape evil forces, we believe storm troopers could’ve slipped and fell into the trash.

You can try to convince us that this is actually a photo of a sink full of dishes, but we can’t look away from the stormtrooper in peril. Somebody save him!

When your olive looks like it’s puking its guts out in your cocktail, you might want to consider switching to water. The pimento is on its way out of this stuffed olive, foreshadowing a terrible evening if you imbibe a few too many martinis.

Let his be a warning to everyone to enjoy themselves responsibly so they don’t get into stomach-turning situations. We hope this olive’s friends put him to bed and left him with a big bottle of water for the morning.

Sometimes, it feels like birds have a vendetta when they target your car. You often find yourself shaking your fist at them for marring the paint job of your ride — or even restricting your line of sight by speckling your windshield and sideview mirrors.

However, we wouldn’t be angry if a bird dropped this work of art on our car. We probably wouldn’t even wash it off for a while. Because when droppings look like the animal that dropped them, that’s just special.

Did this picture-taker use the panoramic effect on their camera to extend those legs? Or is this simply the world record holder for the longest legs on the planet? We imagine that it’s a trick of perspective to make these legs look like they’re going and going.

We could be surprised, however, if we ever meet this person in real life and find that they’re just all legs. They’d have to be at least 6 feet tall, by our estimations.

At first glance, this is a sweet photo of a little girl having a restful nap. Upon closer examination, however, we notice that it looks like she has an unnervingly big and hairy arm. Seriously — that little face is too sweet for that buff, furry forearm.

Then, we have to assume that her father is sleeping just behind her, keeping her tucked in and safe with an arm thrown over her. It’s a cute photo. We just can’t stop thinking the little girl has the arm of a grown man.

We have to admit that this photo made us jump out of our seat and toward our screen. Don’t hold the baby like that! It wasn’t until we stopped to take a breath that we noticed the baby’s legs were in the father’s arm.

The onesie is what’s throwing us off — the baby is only wearing the top portion, while the legs portion is hanging down. We almost lost it there — it was a close one!

We understand what this photo is depicting. It’s a pair of cats — one black and one white — enjoying a nice nap under the sun. However, we’re going to let our brain turn its back on that reality so we can embrace another one.

We choose to believe that this is a photo of a white cat luxuriating in her fuzzy black hat. She is beauty. She is grace. She’ll purr and shed all over the place.

We truly love just how many cats there are in this collection of improbable photos. We like to believe the reason is because cats are, by their very nature, an improbable creature. Take this cheeky kitty, for example.

On what was probably a calm and bright — if perhaps a tad chilly — night near Christmastime, this cat decided to take centerstage in a nativity scene. She’s replaced the baby Jesus so she can sit in the manger, snug and safe and warm.

This is really a mind-bending photo. Someone has pressed their hands into red sand or dirt, resulting in these prints. However, by a trick of the light, angle, or perspective, it actually look like these handprints are backward.

That means that there must be someone below that layer of earth, pushing upward to try to escape whatever lies underneath. This photo freaks us out a little bit! We wouldn’t want to meet whoever’s under there.

This photo scared us, at first, because we were afraid this dog was about to hit the ground after a fall while sleeping. However, we’re relieved to discover that, upon another look, the dog is simply enjoying an afternoon nap on a sunny deck.

The photo is taken from above, making it look like a confusing perspective for the viewer. We’re happy that the dog is in no danger — and that he’s having what looks to be an excellent rest.

We were so very confused when we first saw this photo. Why would a body builder spend so much time on their top half and completely neglect their bottom half? It seems to us like he would be terribly top heavy.

However, after some careful studying of the picture, we realized that it’s the fault of the pants he’s wearing. The inner black part that offsets the camouflage pattern makes it look like his legs are much thinner than they are.

Listen, we’re not a big fan of waking up early. Sometimes, like if you have a school, work, or life commitment, it just has to happen. But we’re not going to be happy about it.

And neither is this slice of banana, which looks like it’s screaming into the void about how unhappy it is to be a part of a balanced breakfast. We know this person had to take a step back when they saw how angry their banana slice was in their bowl of granola.

If we worked in this eatery, we wouldn’t be able to tolerate a dog sitting right on a tabletop that customers use to enjoy their food. Bad boy! But then, we have to look twice — something isn’t quite right in this photo. In fact, out of the five dogs you see in frame, only two are actually inside the store. All five are being very good boys — or girls.

Because the three pups you see closest to you are actually outside — the window is forcing the perspective that they’re inside and all over the furniture.

What a head of hair this baby was born with! At least, that was our first impression when we laid eyes on this photo. We thought that mother and daughter had matching ponytails.

At least this mom will know that her daughter will look excellent in updos when she grows enough hair to have them!

What would you do if you were enjoying a sunny day in your living room and, when you looked up, saw yourself on the silver screen? No, this isn’t a scene from a TV show captured in a photograph.

This is simply the reflection of someone sitting in a chair near a television screen that’s been turned off. It looks so vivid because of the lighting in the room. We would be awfully surprised if we saw ourselves on television.

When you climb to the highest heights, you’re sure to feel like a giant among men. But this photo’s perspective and the terrain of the peak combine to make this trekker look larger than life. The rocks below the hiker’s boots blend in with the distant peaks of other mountains.

Instead, when you look closely, the baby’s ponytail is actually a wig hanging up on the side of a mirror on the far while behind the pair. It makes the individual in the photo look like they could simply take a step over to the next peak, and the next one, and the next one!

Whoever designed this cat toy deserves an award. They probably didn’t consider just how hilarious it would look when a cat would decide to travel with the donut. We see a feline with super full lips, looking around for someone to kiss.

We hope a major makeup company finds this photo and signs this kitty immediately to represent their brand. Because with lips like those, they can showcase any color in the rainbow.

The sun, the sand, the surf — this photo makes us want to take a trip to the beach. But if you’re hesitating about enjoying yourself by the sea because you’re not sure about how you look in your bathing suit, we want to stop you right there.

Every single body is beautiful, and this guy with the beard proves that anyone can rock a bikini! Fine, you got us — this tricky photo is actually a girl hugging a seated man. But we still think everyone looks great at the beach!

What would you do if you were passing by your front door and saw this in your driveway? You’d be forgiven if you flew into a panic, running outside and looking for the garden hose to quench the flames currently consuming your car.

However, there’s no need to fear. This photo is actually a trick. The flames are reflected in the glass, roaring away in a cozy fireplace. The vehicle parked outside is in no danger of burning.

We couldn’t believe our eyes when we first saw this photo. First of all, we were outraged that nobody had told this poor woman that her pants had fallen down. Then, we realized that what we were witnessing was some questionable fashion choices.

Those aren’t fallen jeans around the woman on the right’s legs. They’re actually denim boots with a ton of extra fabric gathered at the top. We can’t say that we’re fans of this look.

What kind of trickery is this? Clearly, we don’t see a star topping the Christmas tree in the photo. However, there is clearly a star reflected with the shadow on the wall behind.

It wasn’t until we really stared hard at the photo that we realized the star almost perfectly blends into the color of the wall behind it. Squint hard — it’s a gold-colored star on the very top branch. Maybe this family should go with a different color next year!

This photo really boggled our mind. How in the world is that canoe floating on air? It took us way too long to realize that the water is so clear and shallow that we’re actually seeing the shadow of the boat on the bottom of the creek.

It really looks like she’s airborne, though! We hope she can take it down for a smooth landing once she’s done cruising around and having fun.

Merry Christmas! There’s nothing sweeter than a new baby on Christmas. There are tons of opportunities for cute onesies and photos like this one. And if you’re lucky, the baby will bring you your own gift.

That tiny little fist looks like it’s clenched around the red gift bag on the floor. This baby just wants to make sure everyone has a present — and a good time during holiday celebrations!

Wow! We can’t believe how much of a resemblance there is between this man’s side profile and actor Woody Harrelson. We hope, at some point, that Harrelson sees this and meets this man, somehow.

Then, they could recreate the profile and really make a viral image. They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery. However, we don’t understand how this kind of thing could’ve been staged. It’s just life imitating art in the best possible way.

What are we looking at here? Is it a view in space captured by a satellite? Or could it be something in the universe seen through a telescope? Neither, as it turns out.

It’s the light of a phone charger in a dark room, reflecting off a chair. Maybe, though, we can suspend our disbelief and pretend this is a beautiful thing in the deep night sky. We prefer that to the reality!

We can’t get over just how much this folded sheet looks like Sir Patrick Stewart of Star Trek and X-Men fame. Is Captain Jean-Luc Picard taking a break from helming the Enterprise?

Or is Professor Charles Xavier having a quick nap in between counseling Wolverine and Jean Grey? Whatever the case may be, we hope whoever took this photo sent it to Stewart. He seems like he has a great sense of humor and would love to see this strange fabric anomaly.