What do you see in this photo? Odd debate erupts over image shared by national park
It is not uncommon for people to share photos on the internet and report they found a mysterious image hidden within the cracks and lines.
However, it adds a level of weight to the discussion when it’s a national historic site making the assertion.
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site in Elverson, Pennsylvania, posted what seems to be a routine image of boards Sunday and said it was puzzling to the staff.
“This water stain was photographed by a Hopewell Furnace park ranger to report some rain damage, but then remarked that there was an apparent image in the stain,” officials wrote.
“Another park ranger pointed out a separate apparent image. What do you see in this water stain?”
Those on social media were all too willing to play along, resulting in a string of answers — including some that were down right dark.
Here’s a few of the guesses:
- Baseball pitcher
- Soldier in a trench
- “Is it Jesus!”
- “Someone hitchhiking”
- “A man hanging by the neck”
- Director Alfred Hitchcock’s silhouette
- Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
- Someone chasing bubbles
The park didn’t say what the rangers thought they saw in the image, leaving the question open ended when it comes to a correct answer.
However, one commenter summed things up the debate by asking: “I thought alcohol wasn’t allowed at the park.”
The ability of humans to see meaningful things in random objects is a “psychological phenomenon” called pareidolia, and NASA scientists experienced it on a grand scale in October when they said a recently photographed nebula looked like Godzilla.
“There are a number of theories as to the cause of this phenomenon,” LiveScience.com reports.
“Experts say pareidolia provides a psychological determination for many delusions that involve the senses. They believe pareidolia could be behind numerous sightings of UFOs, Elvis and the Loch Ness Monster and the hearing of disturbing messages on records when they are played backwards.”
This story was originally published November 8, 2021 at 6:52 AM with the headline "What do you see in this photo? Odd debate erupts over image shared by national park."