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Article created by: Gabija Palšytė

Context is everything. Without it, some seemingly innocent images might not even make you do a double-take. But when you know more about what’s pictured, your reaction can be completely different. Raw. Visceral. Full of fear. On the other hand, some photos ooze evil and immediately turn on our fight or flight (or freeze or fawn) response.
Today, we’re featuring some of the creepiest photos ever taken, as shared on the immensely popular @fasc1nate account on X, formerly Twitter. Scroll down to take a peek at them, and be sure to share your thoughts on the photos in the comments at the bottom of this post.
Warning: this list is not for the faint of heart, as some topics are very sensitive.

#1

Survivors From The 87th Floor Of The World Trade Center (North Tower) Wandering In The Dust After The Collapse Of The South Tower – New York City, September 11, 2001

Two women covered in dust walking through a debris-filled street in one of the creepiest photos ever taken in history.

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    #2

    The Last Photo Taken By Bill Biggart, The Only Journalist Who Lost His Life. Covering 9/11

    Collapsed buildings with dust and smoke filling the air in one of the creepiest photos ever taken in history.

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    #3

    The Nuclear Shadows Of Hiroshima

    Shadow resembling a human figure on stone steps in a black and white creepy photo from history.

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    #4

    Motel Manager James Brock Pours Muriatic Acid In The Monson Motor Lodge Pool To Evict Black Swimmers, 1964

    Man in suit pouring liquid on people in a pool, a creepy and unusual moment captured in black and white history photo.

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    #5

    A Pod That Allows A User To Take Their Own Life. At The Push Of A Button, The Pod Would Fill With Nitrogen Gas, Rapidly Lowering Oxygen Levels

    Man inside futuristic pod-like enclosure waving while holding plants in one hand, creepy photo with eerie atmosphere.

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    #6

    The Start Of The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami

    People running as a massive wave crashes ashore near palm trees in one of the creepiest photos ever taken in history.

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    #7

    Josie (6 Years Old), Bertha (6 Years Old) And Sophie (10 Years Old) Worked Regularly At The Maggioni Canning Company

    Three dirty young girls in worn-out dresses, standing solemnly in a historic creepy photo from long ago.

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    #8

    A Chinese Woman Whose Feet Were Bound From Childhood, Late 1800s

    Black and white vintage photo of a person in traditional clothing seated with bare feet, one foot oddly bent, creepy photo.

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    #9

    The Last Photo Before The Dyatlov Pass Incident

    Black and white photo of a group skiing through a snowy and foggy landscape, one of the creepiest photos in history.

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    #10

    Coal Miners Returning From The Depths After A Days Work, Belgium, C. 1900

    Historic black and white photo showing miners in crowded cages underground, one of the creepiest photos ever taken in history.

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    #11

    This Photo Captures 28-Year-Old Marcy Borders, A Bank Of America Employee At The World Trade Center As She Takes Shelter In An Adjacent Office Building Following The Collapse Of The South Tower

    Woman covered in dust walking through a hazy yellow room in one of the creepiest photos ever taken in history

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    #12

    A Photograph From 2019 Shows Two Colombian Soldiers Giving A Final Salute As They Free Fall. The Rope That Was Carrying Them Suddenly Broke During An Airshow

    Soldier dangling from a malfunctioning parachute creating one of the creepiest photos ever taken in history.

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    #13

    Halloween During The 1930s

    Group of people wearing eerie vintage costumes and masks in one of the creepiest photos ever taken in history.

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    #14

    A Photo Of A Possibly Shell-Shocked Soldier During Wwi

    Soldier with a creepy grin sitting in a trench, wearing a helmet and old military uniform in a historic black and white photo.

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    #15

    Alison Parker, A Young Journalist, Met A Tragic End During A Live Television Broadcast In 2015

    Reporter holding a microphone live on air in a dimly lit corridor, illustrating one of the creepiest photos ever taken in history.

    While conducting an interview, she and her cameraman, Adam Ward, became the targets of a former coworker, who shot them. The image shown here captures a moment from that last interview.

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    #16

    A Photo Taken Shortly Before A Huge Wave Hit The Shore During The Devastating 2004 Tsunami

    Group of people on a beach with boats in the water, captured in one of the creepiest photos ever taken in history.

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    #17

    This X-Ray Reveals A Tear Gas Canister That Was Fatally Embedded In A Protester’s Brain During Anti-Government Protests In Iraq In 2019

    3D CT scan showing an unusual foreign object inside a human skull, one of the creepiest photos ever taken in history.

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    #18

    A Tunnel Rat Explores A Hole Between “Floors” Of A Viet Cong Tunnel System

    Soldier crawling through narrow tunnel in a dark, confined space, an eerie and creepy historical photo.

    hese changes in elevation were among the most dangerous situations for tunnel rats because they could not ensure no traps or enemies were present before going through

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    #19

    A Doll With Two Faces

    Vintage creepy doll with unsettling smile and reflection showing a distorted face, one of the creepiest photos in history.

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    #20

    Btk Killer Takes A Photo With His Daughter

    A vintage photo of two people near a shaped tree in a garden, featured in creepy photos shared on X account.

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    #21

    The Mask Worn By Dennis Rader (Btk) When Carrying Out His Attacks

    Disturbing creepy mask with hollow eyes and smeared makeup, an eerie photo fit for creepy photos ever taken in history.

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    #22

    A Baseball Team Of Prisoners Whose Executions Were Delayed Only As Long As They Kept Winning, C. 1910

    Black and white historic group photo of men and a child in old-fashioned uniforms, one holding a doll in a creepy setting.

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    #23

    A Trapper Boy, One Mile Inside A Mine In West Virginia, 1908

    Young coal miner standing in a dark, narrow tunnel with a headlamp, one of the creepiest photos ever taken in history.

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    #24

    Photo Of Jeffrey Dahmer At High School With A Fellow Student

    Black and white creepy photo of a laughing boy standing near lockers while another boy looks down on the floor.

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    #25

    A Mickey Mouse Gas Mask For Children During Ww2, 1942

    Person wearing a creepy Mickey Mouse gas mask holding a swaddled doll, one of the creepiest photos ever taken in history.

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    #26

    The Modern Remains Of A Kindergarten Classroom After The Chernobyl Disaster

    Creepy abandoned room with peeling walls, a damaged red chair, a doll's head, and scattered debris on the floor.

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    #27

    Richard Ramirez In Court

    Black and white photo of a man in court with two other men, one wearing a police uniform, in one of the creepiest photos ever taken.

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    #28

    Princess Diana Her Bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones And Driver Henri Paul Shortly Before The Fatal Crash

    Three people sitting inside a car at night, with a man in the passenger seat making a gesture, creepy photos concept.

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    #29

    A Female Omothymus Spider In Malaysia

    Tree trunk covered with numerous creepy large spiders at night, one of the creepiest photos ever taken in history.

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    Data1001
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yep, that's the point where you discover you can run faster than Usain Bolt (in the opposite direction). 🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️

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    #30

    An X-Ray Of The Pelvis Of Albert Fish Reveals Needles He Had Inserted Into His Pelvic Area For Pleasure

    X-ray image showing a pelvis with multiple sharp foreign objects, one of the creepiest photos ever taken in history.

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    #31

    De Beer Mine Worker Is X-Rayed At The End Of His Shift Before Leaving The Diamond Mines. In Kimberley, South Africa, October 1954

    Black and white creepy photo of a man having an X-ray taken, showing ribs and chest in old medical setting.

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    #32

    A Photo Of Clowns Found At An Abandoned Old Folks Home

    Two people in vintage clown costumes with striped jackets and painted faces posing against a brick wall in a creepy photo.

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    #33

    A Japanese Soldier Wades Into The Sea Off Cape Endaiadere, New Guinea, With A Grenade Against His Head Moments Before It Goes Off, Defying An Australian Soldier Calling On Him To Surrender, December 18, 1942

    Soldier on a beach observing a person standing in the water, one of the creepiest photos ever taken in history.

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    #34

    Police Excavate The Backyard Of Gary Ridgeway

    Aerial view of a backyard excavation site with marked grid sections, uncovered soil, and scattered tools and equipment.

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    #35

    The Last Security Footage Of 17-Year-Old Kendrick Johnson Walking Inside The Gym Of His High School On January 10, 2013. The Following Day, His Body Was Found Rolled Up In A Gym Mat

    Empty indoor gym with a basketball hoop and a solitary figure walking, evoking eerie vibes in this creepy photo.

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    #36

    Picture Of A Man With Schizophrenia Before And After His Lobotomy

    Black and white vintage photos of men with intense expressions, part of the creepiest photos ever taken in history collection.

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    #37

    Ted Bundy’s Yearbook Photo From 1965

    Black and white yearbook portrait of Ted Bundy, one of the creepiest photos ever taken in history.

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    #38

    Btk Decorates A Christmas Tree With His Daughter

    Vintage photo of a man holding a girl placing an angel on a Christmas tree, creepy photo from history collection.

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