Interview
If you were to take a couple of minutes and look around, you’d be surprised by how many faces and familiar-looking creatures surround you. You may ask, ‘Where?’ Well, everywhere! If you’re still not familiar with the term, let us introduce you to pareidolia. Is this your first time encountering this term? Despite its exotic sound, it’s a rather common phenomenon. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, it is defined as ‘a situation in which someone sees a pattern or image of something that does not exist, such as a face in a cloud.’ Now we’re on the same page! Haven’t we all experienced that at some point?
For some people, it’s a delightful coincidence, while others are dedicated to focusing their attention and seeking new examples of pareidolia. What they share is the practice of capturing their discoveries and sharing them with others online. Thanks to this, we’ve been able to curate this fascinating collection of images featuring various things spotted by people from around the world.
Scroll down to see the best instances of pareidolia spotted and shared by people, as well as to read our interview with the founder of the Stone Face account curating the best images showcasing faces appearing on beach stones.
#1 I Looked Up At The Moon And Felt As If The Moon Was Looking Back Down At Me
Final score: 144points 
Libstak Libstak Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
That is the darkside obviously…evil looking.
26 26points reply View More Replies… #2 This Duck Has A Perfect Cartoon Dog Face For A Beak
Final score: 138points WindySwede WindySwede Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 2 weeks ago Report
“What’s up duck”
24 24points reply #3 Look At This Kitty
Final score: 117points WindySwede WindySwede Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 2 weeks ago Report
Kitty Nebula!
21 21points reply
We reached out to Jules behind the Stone Face Instagram profile. On her profile, the pareidolia enthusiast has so far shared a wide range of nearly 2k examples of stones with some facial features.
We wanted to know what initially inspired Jules to start searching for and sharing cases of pareidolia in beach stones on her account. We found out that: “I’ve always collected stones. Every holiday, when everyone else was swimming or sunbathing, I would be pacing the beach, head-down, intrigued by the stones and pebbles. I’ve always spotted stonefaces on the beach, but during lockdown I started photographing them and putting them on Instagram. Because the stones have such different personalities, I was soon writing little funny sentences or stories about them. People joined in and soon I discovered that there were quite a few pareidolia accounts out there. People spot faces everywhere and in everything!”
#4 This Sunflower With Lips
Final score: 115points 
Deta Rossiter Deta Rossiter Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
Feed me Seymour!
101 101points reply View More Replies… #5 The “Heartwood” Of This Tree Is Shaped Like A Human Heart
Final score: 109points 
Dave Nalesnik Dave Nalesnik Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
Or an advertisement about chainsaw safety depicting a fingerless hand…
18 18points reply View More Replies… #6 I Was Trying To Make A Heart
Final score: 108points WindySwede WindySwede Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 2 weeks ago Report
Oppenheimers meme of “This is Fine!”
30 30points reply
We were curious if Jules could describe one of the most striking or memorable instances of pareidolia that she’s discovered. The founder of Stone Face mentioned her best finds: “My holy grail is finding stones with ancient sea urchins as eyes (like this, this, or this one). Quite a few of my followers (and I follow them too because they are SO interesting) are fossil hunters and they really appreciate the stonefaces and join in with#stonefacesunday!”
#7 A Cat Reaching For The Sky
Final score: 107points WindySwede WindySwede Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 2 weeks ago Report
Trying to push the sun over the edge! /jk
32 32points reply View More Replies… #8 My Pepper Looks Like A Fist
Final score: 106points WindySwede WindySwede Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 2 weeks ago Report
“Hulk smash!”
34 34points reply View More Replies… #9 Look At This Little Mushroom Owl
Final score: 103points WindySwede WindySwede Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 2 weeks ago Report
Little Owl!
15 15points reply
Asked what some of the most common reactions or comments Jules has received from Stone Face’s followers were, she said: “Most common reaction is joy! My followers are such a fantastic, eclectic, wonderful tribe of people. They follow every post and comment on it, or laugh, or suggest another take on what they see. I always respond and appreciate every emoji and every like. It’s an ever-growing tribe of interesting, lovely people!”
#10 I Accidentally Created A Porcupine By Pouring Instant Coffee Over An Americano
Final score: 102points WindySwede WindySwede Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 2 weeks ago Report
Now it’s a Pour Cu Pine (cone) (Cu as in copper) 🤓
11 11points reply View More Replies… #11 Sad Person Sitting On A Ledge
Final score: 100points 
Mistiekim Mistiekim Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
It’ll be ok sad person – as I understand it, Dawn will take care of those greasy pans
22 22points reply View More Replies… #12 I Found A Baby Groot
Final score: 100points 
Auntriarch Auntriarch Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
Cyoot Groot
12 12points reply
Lastly, we were wondering how curating these pareidolia examples on Instagram has affected Jules’ perception of the everyday objects and patterns around her. She shared with us: “I see faces in literally everything now! I’ll go for a run and see faces in the leaves (there are Instagram accounts for just faces in leaves) or on every building or in the clouds. If everyone just stopped and looked, they would see them too.”
#13 My Knee Imprint At The Gym Looks Like An Ear
Final score: 99points WindySwede WindySwede Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 2 weeks ago Report
Even the smallest pads have ears..
10 10points reply #14 I Started Drawing Over To Show What I See In Detail. Here’s A Sad Bear Trapped In A Wall
Final score: 98points 
Nat of Clan P Nat of Clan P Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
That drawing is fantastic!
46 46points reply View More Replies… #15 This Jalapeno Looks Like A T-Rex
Final score: 97points 
RabidChild RabidChild Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
Rawr!
11 11points reply #16 Rocky Face
Final score: 96points 
Child of the Stars Child of the Stars Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
Shhhh, let him sleep!
18 18points reply #17 I Overcooked An Egg And It Looks Like A Person Is Trying To Climb Out Of It
Final score: 96points 
Sue Lynn Chan Sue Lynn Chan Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
You choice: Free it or Burn the possessed egg?
15 15points reply #18 Yellow Yukon At Work Today. I Felt Bad Peeling It
Final score: 95points Libstak Libstak Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
I am groot
75 75points reply View More Replies… #19 A Rock Created Bird-Shaped Window Art On My Car
Final score: 94points 
Lara Lara Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
You should keep it and frame it when they replace the glass! Its beautiful
15 15points reply View More Replies… #20 This Cactus That Looks Like A Bird
Final score: 92points 
Vasana Phong Vasana Phong Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
Nice yard, oh yeah there are baby birdies in the pot
8 8points reply #21 A Piece Of Driftwood That Looks Just Like A Seagull
Final score: 92points Mistiekim Mistiekim Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
Finally! A seagull that won’t try to steal your sandwich
25 25points reply View More Replies… #22 Unsure If I Saw A Cloud Or A Dragon The Other Day
Final score: 92points WindySwede WindySwede Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 2 weeks ago Report
I was thinking Gator?
27 27points reply View More Replies… #23 My Little Peanut Friend
Final score: 92points Dave Nalesnik Dave Nalesnik Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
Bored Peanut
10 10points reply #24 Staring Contest
Final score: 90points Norm Gilmore Norm Gilmore Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
Alas Smith and Jones!😁 alas_smith…30d61d.jpg 
17 17points reply View More Replies… #25 This Cross Section Of An Onion
Final score: 90points SD SD Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
😄
16 16points reply #26 This Ice Melted Into A Shark
Final score: 88points Mistiekim Mistiekim Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
Sharknados are real!
12 12points reply #27 This Yam That Looks Like A Human Hand
Final score: 88points VioletHunter VioletHunter Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
No, just no.
20 20points reply #28 I Found This Tree With Eyes
Final score: 88points WindySwede WindySwede Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 2 weeks ago Report
Biblically accurat birch?
28 28points reply View More Replies… #29 A Seal In My Potatoes
Final score: 88points WindySwede WindySwede Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 2 weeks ago Report
“Hi my name is Fry!” /😮
12 12points reply #30 Tree Fox
Final score: 88points 
Friendly neighborhood possum Friendly neighborhood possum Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
Fennec!
8 8points reply #31 Whilst Walking Into A Kitchen I Saw This Guy
Final score: 87points Norm Gilmore Norm Gilmore Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
19 19points reply View More Replies… #32 My Wife’s Bag Has A Grumpy Face
Final score: 87points WindySwede WindySwede Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 2 weeks ago Report
“You seriously are telling me they turned me into a MK backpack?”
14 14points reply #33 This Terrier
Final score: 87points #34 The Camera In The ER Looks Like A Surprised Panda
Final score: 85points WindySwede WindySwede Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 2 weeks ago Report
*surprised panda sound*
23 23points reply #35 This Knot In The Wood Looks Like A Frog
Final score: 84points Deta Rossiter Deta Rossiter Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
tree frog
20 20points reply View More Replies… #36 Dragon Tree In The Chellah Necropolis, Rabat
Final score: 82points 
PandaGoPanda PandaGoPanda Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
I can’t tell you how many times I walked in the Chellah, but never saw anything beyond a tree. Will now never be able to unsee the dragon.
6 6points reply #37 I Went Boating On Saratoga Lake, NY And Saw This Cloud That Looked Like A Victorian Lady
Final score: 82points WindySwede WindySwede Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 2 weeks ago Report
“Lady Madonna, children at your feet” – Beatles
9 9points reply #38 Snow Elephant On A NYC “Citi Bike”
Final score: 77points 
J L J L Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
Perfect!
5 5points reply #39 The Imprint Of My Spoon Handle Looks Like A Cat
Final score: 76points Deta Rossiter Deta Rossiter Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
Shiba Inu
20 20points reply View More Replies… #40 My Toothpaste Came Out Looking Like A Nose
Final score: 75points Mistiekim Mistiekim Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
Silly putty is an odd choice for toothpaste.
82 82points reply View More Replies… #41 Water Stain On A Wall That Looks Like A Pirate With A Long Beard
Final score: 75points Dave Nalesnik Dave Nalesnik Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
Raspustain
40 40points reply View More Replies… #42 The Back Side Of This Studio Microphone Appears To Be Holding Its Head, Screaming In Pain
Final score: 75points 
SkyBlueandBlack SkyBlueandBlack Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
Understandable.
16 16points reply View More Replies… #43 This Potato Looks Like A Reptile Or A Dino
Final score: 73points 
egg egg Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
Why is a potato with a bunch of onions
20 20points reply View More Replies… #44 Wasps Built A Wasp
Final score: 69points PandaGoPanda PandaGoPanda Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
Nah, that’s ET.
13 13points reply #45 Cute Kitty On A Windshield
Final score: 67points 
Wolf Myst (she/they) Wolf Myst (she/they) Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 days ago Report
How could you betray me like that?
1 1point reply #46 Pepper Monster
Final score: 66points 
Spittnimage Spittnimage Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
Just yawning.
8 8points reply #47 Puppy At The Barbeque
Final score: 64points WindySwede WindySwede Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 2 weeks ago Report
Gromite! 500px-Gromit_1.jpg 
7 7points reply View More Replies… #48 I Asked To Have A Motion Sensor Light Installed. I Guess I Should Have Asked To See It First
Final score: 64points 
Don Golosso Don Golosso Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
It’s a Moo-tion sensor light…
28 28points reply View More Replies… #49 These Cameras Look Like A Pair Of Eyes
Final score: 63points VioletHunter VioletHunter Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
The eyes don’t really care for what they see. Where is the excitement around here?
4 4points reply #50 It Looks Like There’s A Dog Trapped In This Tree
Final score: 63points WindySwede WindySwede Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 2 weeks ago Report
Doge plainDoge.jpg 
13 13points reply View More Replies…
Note: this post originally had 85 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.