The image above looks like a lovely wintry scene, doesn’t it? A couple of dogs frolicking in the snow, while their human keeps an eye on them. And since it’s snowy, the person is outfitted in their winter coat and threw a beanie on, right? Well, while that may seem like what’s going on, you’ll have to think again, as there isn’t a singe human in the image. It’s all an optical illusion.
The mind-boggling image has inspired users to share it across several platforms, including Reddit. To be fair, the image is low-quality, which helps maintain the optical illusion. Surely, there are two dogs on the right side of the picture, but what’s that on the left? A first clue would be the proportions—isn’t the dog on the right a little too big? Then, check the texture of the pretend person’s all-black outfit. It’s all very fluffy. Too fluffy even. Ready for the answer?
There are three dogs in the picture. The one on the left is not a person, but a black French poodle. The perspective is all fairly confusing. What passes for the person’s head is actually the poodle’s rounded tail, wagging just above its head. What looks like a bulky jacket around the person’s shoulders is the dogs head. And most conveniently, the dog’s front paws are positioned in a way that looks like a person’s legs.
You can check out the explanation below. Our friends at PetaPixel ran the image through ChatGPT to see if the AI could discern the image, and wound up with some interesting results. “This image is a snowy outdoor scene with three animals and an intriguing visual illusion,” the chatbot deduced. “Upon first glance, it may look like a person in dark clothing standing with their back turned, but upon closer inspection, it is actually a black dog with curly fur and a fluffy tail. The optical illusion is caused by the dog’s posture, which mimics the silhouette of a person.” They almost had them for a minute there. How long did it take you to figure it out?
Here’s what’s really going on in this wintry photo of what looks like a person with two dogs.
Sources: Optical Illusion Tricks the Viewer Into Thinking a Person is in This Photo
Related Articles:
New Book Explores the Fascinating Role of Optical Illusions in Architecture and Design
Optical Illusion Tattoos Look Like Symbols Stamped Deep Into the Wear’s Skin
Vibrant Colors and Shapes Pop Out of Creative Duo’s Joyful Optical Illusions