'Discovering' pareidolia: a (subtle) image within an image

I was going to devote today's post to a final, "all other pictures that didn't fit into subjects of previous posts" nod to Wasatch Lake, but something unexpected happened in the 24 hours or so since yesterday's post. Specifically, it pertains to the lead photo in that post (repeated above for your convenience).

While processing my images from the Wasatch Lake visit, I first noticed in this image what appeared to me to be a one-eyed face folded into the rippling water in the middle of the image, which was composed to focus on the duck cruising in the water. At my Joe Konz Photography page on Facebook, whose main attraction is a frequent "Photo of the Day" feature that usually carries a story that goes with the photo, the above image was my featured photo on Thursday. In the text accompanying the post, I happened to ask -- quite innocently, actually -- whether anyone else noticed "the face" that I had seen. Actually, the "one-eye" is because the face, as I see it, is turned to the right in an almost mid-profile, not because it's a deformity or cyclops. So, in the view I see, you see the person's left eye, an eyebrow, a forehead, a hairline and even the beginnings of a nose. (A quick aside: Since then, I've actually been able to see a second "eye" ... tilted down and to the right of the one I originally noticed, but I don't think it has nearly the impact or realistic impression as the one-eyed impression.)

I received two acknowledgments in comments on Facebook, and two emails about it later on, including one from one of the people commenting on FB, who also happened to send me images of a print she owns in which this phenomenon exists. The image is titled "Sacred Ground" by Bev Doolittle, but because I don't have permission to reproduce this image here, I provided a link to it so you can check it out yourself. If you google the title, you probably can find larger versions as well. The writer tells me that Doolittle is known for works involving "hidden images."

In "Sacred Ground," the "hidden images" are three beaked heads (no torsos), probably eagles, tucked into a dot pattern among a series of dense, leafless trees in a snow-filled forest. The creatures would seem to be protecting hallowed property by hovering large over two smaller, but very discernible -- and apparently spooked -- horses, one of which carries a human rider. Frankly, I'm not sure I would have noticed the creatures in the dots if the sender hadn't connected them (literally) for me; they were far more subtle than I feel the one-eyed face is in my photo.

I'd heard of this phenomenon before, though never really invested much time exploring or understanding it. I figured it had to have a scientific name, and after some quick research on the Internet, I came upon the term pareidolia, a form of apophenia.

This post isn't intended to go deep into the subject ... or say that my eyes (excuse pun) are suddenly open to pareidolia, or even that I'll be studying it intently in the near future. It's just to make you aware that if you ever noticed something of this sort before, or do so on a regular basis, you apparently are not alone.

The next post will be the one I had planned for today -- a final word (and pictures) on my trip to the lake.

To see all my images from my three-day visit to Wasatch Lake, see my Wasatch Lake Spring 2012 gallery.

Through the Lens: Eye of the Beholder opens to large crowd at GPAC

Saturday's reception to open this year's "Through the Lens" photography exhibit at the Garfield Park Arts Center was a pleasing success. This was the Indiana Photographic Society's sixth annual show at the GPAC -- and the second that I have been involved with.

This year's theme was "The Eye of the Beholder," and by all indications, it was the largest-attended opening in the modest history of the show. Club President Tony Carlino said he asked the arts center staff how the attendance compared to other exhibit openings, and they said Saturday's was one of the highest -- if not the highest. We had a nice ambiance this year, thanks to a string quartet from Perry Meridian High School. It easily surpassed my recollection of last year's opening, and I have to say I was even more excited when three of my children and three of my grandchildren showed up -- as did five members of the Indy Meetup Photo Club, the other local photography club I belong to. It made the evening for me.

These photos were taken from the reception; most I grabbed early on, well before the crowd reached high volume. By the time attendance peaked, I was immersed with enjoying visits from family and friends. If any of you read, please know I was very happy to see you -- and grateful you took time out of your day to stop by.

If you missed the opening-night reception, you have plenty of time to see the exhibit. "Through the Lens VI: The Eye of the Beholder" will remain on display through April 15. Admission, always free, is during normal hours of the GPAC (for location, see map on the Photo Potpourri homepage), which are 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. The center is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

And if you're out of town or can't make it otherwise, I posted the pictures I contributed to the show at my page on Facebook, Joe Konz Photography.

 

Through the Lens VI: Eye of the Beholder

This evening, the Indiana Photographic Society will open its sixth annual "Through the Lens" exhibit at the Garfield Park Arts Center in Indianapolis.

This will be my second year of participating in the show; I'm one of more than a dozen club members who are participating this year and have images on display. A week or so ago, I posted at Joe Konz Photography on Facebook a gallery of the four images I'll have in the show. They are from a collection I call "Blues" -- images that either have dominant blue color subject matter or monochromes that have been tinted with blue hues.

By the luck of assignments for hanging spots, my images will be displayed in the hallway immediately outside the main gallery hall. In fact, if you access the hall by using the staircase (instead of the elevator), mine will be the first you'll see at the top of the stairs.

Today's opening will include a reception at the Arts Center from 5 to 7 p.m. All participating photographers will be on hand, refreshments (munchies and beverages) will be available, and music will be provided by the Perry Meridian High School Wind Ensemble. The music was arranged by club member Shelli Layman, who works in the Perry Township School system. Shelli and her daughter, Ashley, also will be participating in the exhibit. Everything -- admission, refreshments, music -- about tonight's reception is free.

After tonight's reception, you can view the exhibit -- also free -- anytime during regular Arts Center hours, which are 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. The center is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.