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Real-life can be far, far weirder than fiction and what our imaginations can sometimes come up with, and we’ve collected the proof. What you can do with a camera is practically magical, and we’ve got a lot of respect for all types of photographers (aka Light Wizards). They can use perspective and reflections to their advantage to stage some truly mind-bending images.

Bored Panda has painstakingly hand-crafted this list, featuring some of the most impressive and coolest photos from the internet, which are incredibly hard to believe aren’t photoshopped. However, they’re completely ‘natural’ and unedited, with all of their illusory effects captured either intentionally or entirely by accident.

Scroll down for some truly impressive unedited pics that look photoshopped to the max, and upvote your fave ones. If these photos inspired you to try something similar, we’ve got an extra dose of phantasmic and fantastical photography motivation for you right over here.

Professional photographer Dominic Sberna was kind enough to answer our questions about photography, recognizing photo-editing in images, and the importance of camera angles. You'll find our full interview with him below, so be sure to scroll down and read his thoughts, Pandas.

#1

Clouds In Harrodsburg, Kentucky. No Filter

Clouds In Harrodsburg, Kentucky. No Filter

Johannah McKinney Cheek Report

Bored Panda wanted to get pro photographer Dominic's opinion on what amateurs can do so they can react to awesome photo opportunities and miss as few of them as possible.

"Take your camera wherever you go if feasible or at least bring it with you if it's not on your person," he said that having your gear with you is incredibly important if you want to be ready for everything.

"Reacting to a quick situation is just something that takes practice and doing it over and over. Luck is probably a factor too, depending on the situation of course," he told us that amateur photographers shouldn't stress out too much about missing good opportunities; their ability to react to events will improve with time and practice.

According to Dominic, there isn't a foolproof way of knowing whether or not a photo has been subtly photoshopped, unless you know what you're looking for. Becoming familiar with different editing techniques and what is physically possible without manipulating an image is how you can understand if someone has altered the image.

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#4

Perfectly Timed Picture Of My Firework

Perfectly Timed Picture Of My Firework

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#5

The Clearest Water In The World, Melissani Lake, Greece

The Clearest Water In The World, Melissani Lake, Greece

JustSadd Report

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Panda-riffic
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That would freak me out. With the water being so clear you have no perspective as to where the actual bottom is.

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#6

The Perspective Makes This Dog Look Like A Big Monster

The Perspective Makes This Dog Look Like A Big Monster

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chiizkake
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here's a treat! Come on, boy, come-- no, wait, go... go go GOOOOO!

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Meanwhile, when it comes to mind-bending images, Dominic has had some experience with them, but they're not what he focuses on usually. "I have taken some unique reflection photos, but it is not something I do regularly. Getting different angles also depends on the situation and what I'm trying to achieve with an image," he said that the angle from which a photographer snaps a pic can change a lot about image, and it all depends on the pro's intent.

Previously, Bored Panda had an in-depth interview about ‘all-natural’ images and editing pics with professional photographer Anna Chii.

“Often when people hear the word ‘Photoshop,’ they imagine Instagram girls which make their faces unrecognizable by “photoshopping” them and think that Photoshop is used just for that. Actually, people mistake it for other apps like ‘Facetune.’ Photoshop is a software package for working with digital imagery and is used not only for photography but also for design, video editing, photo manipulations, and more,” photographer Anna told us earlier.

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#7

My Black Cat Looks Like My White Cat’s Shadow

My Black Cat Looks Like My White Cat’s Shadow

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#8

What A Cold Front Looks Like

What A Cold Front Looks Like

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#9

This Window Makes My Backyard Look Like It’s In 4 Different Seasons

This Window Makes My Backyard Look Like It’s In 4 Different Seasons

pommiegurl130 Report

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Cecilia Herrera
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This could be on a book jacket on "A Window Into Autumn," the sequel to "A Door into Summer," (By Robert A. Heinlein,) had he written a sequel.

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“When we talk about photography, there is no single proven way of using this software when it comes to editing pictures. Every single photographer or retoucher has his or her own style, way of editing, or set of skills used for making the best photos possible,” she told us.

“That’s why photoshopped pictures can look wildly differently: from waxy or plastic faces to an absolutely natural look. From drastic changes in face or body features to just color corrections. From creating a fantasy world around your subject to simply removing unwanted objects from the background,” Anna explained that every photographer has their personal approach.

“From personal experience, after many years of learning and experimenting, shooting takes the least amount of time in comparison to the other parts of the process—planning and retouching,” she said that the editing part can be very time-intensive.

“I mostly take portraits. Usually, my clients are not professional models with heavy makeup, which covers all of their imperfections and barely requires any retouching. My models are people who want to have lovely pictures of themselves, who want to portray their lives and experience fun time while freezing those moments—without pressure or fear of being imperfect,” she told us a bit about how she works and what her professional philosophy is.

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#10

He’s Charging Up For His Special Attack

He’s Charging Up For His Special Attack

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#12

The Sun Hit This Freshly-Paved Tarmac Just Right And Made A Real-Life Rainbow Road Through Polarized Lenses

The Sun Hit This Freshly-Paved Tarmac Just Right And Made A Real-Life Rainbow Road Through Polarized Lenses

kenziemonsterrawr Report

“I do believe that my clients need to get the best result they can get. And making a regular picture great requires not only taking pictures correctly from a technical point of view, but also adding some magic to each and every one of them,” she said that she retouches every single photo, even if it’s just a bit.

“And it’s not about changing features, or making people look perfect and not representative of the way they look in real life. It’s about the small details, which make the photo stand out without making it look unrealistic. It’s about colors and lighting. About mood,” she explained why editing photos is so important, overall.

“Every person that I shoot has their own story and a unique aura. I want to make my pictures reflect the feeling I get when being with the person and share it throughout the final image. And it can take from half an hour to a couple of hours per image. Depends on the emotion I want to portray in the final picture,” Anna told Bored Panda.

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#13

A Shot Of Burning Man That Looks Like A Solar System

A Shot Of Burning Man That Looks Like A Solar System

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#14

Cat Nearly Gave Me A Heart Attack

Cat Nearly Gave Me A Heart Attack

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“If we are talking about portraits, I do believe that if you have a great team (assistant, makeup artist, hairdresser, stylist), you have a beautiful location with the lighting set up correctly, you have a model with clear skin and everything is under your control, then you can take really good pictures and editing could be almost unnecessary,” she said.

“But usually, you don’t have all the people and props which could help to create a great image. When you work alone, sometimes mistakes slip past the cracks as you need to cover many areas during the photo shoot,” the photographer pointed out that photographers can’t do everything perfectly, so they end up fixing small mistakes during the postproduction process.

#16

My Broken Antenna On My Car Looks Like A Half Sunken Boat

My Broken Antenna On My Car Looks Like A Half Sunken Boat

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Pansexual Pancake (She/they)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If not for the caption I would have thought it to be a perfectly normal boat on some really debris filled water

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#17

Space Needle In Seattle Over Clouds Looks Like The Cloud City From Star Wars

Space Needle In Seattle Over Clouds Looks Like The Cloud City From Star Wars

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#18

The Pic I Took Of This Fire Looks Like A Deer

The Pic I Took Of This Fire Looks Like A Deer

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“For me, Photoshop is not about changing the person in the picture, but about enhancing the quality of the picture. Correcting shadows and lighting, enhancing colors, correcting small details like wrinkles on clothes or makeup makes a huge difference,” she said.

“It can be done with the help of professionals—makeup artists, assistants, stylists. Before and during the shoot they will correct makeup, clothes, hair, hold a reflector for better light. And it can also be done during post-production in Photoshop. Almost the same result, simply a different way of achieving it. Producing a quality photograph requires time and effort. So Photoshop is not an easy way to get beautiful pictures with just a few clicks of a mouse.”

According to the pro photographer whether or not someone ends up editing their photos depends on the purpose of their pictures.

#19

Any Interstellar Fans Out There?

Any Interstellar Fans Out There?

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#20

My Cat Sitting On The Back Of My Chair Makes It Look Like She’s Wearing A Leather Jacket

My Cat Sitting On The Back Of My Chair Makes It Look Like She’s Wearing A Leather Jacket

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“Photos are like a form of art, images for advertising, family pictures, nature, product posters and many other genres. All of them serve a different purpose. The viewer should also have critical thinking while looking at the images and understand the nuance and the nature of the photos in question.”

She continued: “People have different beliefs on every subject possible. Some think girls with makeup are unnatural, some think it makes them prettier and more feminine. The same goes for photography. I think it’s a really lovely thing to have something you do like as well as something you don’t like about the final images.”

#22

Found This Chili With A Perfect "Mild To Hot" Gradient

Found This Chili With A Perfect "Mild To Hot" Gradient

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#24

This Lava Looks Like A Pile Of Body Limbs

This Lava Looks Like A Pile Of Body Limbs

Palana Report

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Apachebathmat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve never been, but I think this is what the head office of the company I work for looks like

s115526 avatar
🦩Laneypooh🦩
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This reminds me of the Hercules movie whare they all swim into that green goo pit.

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Mama Penguin
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Him standing so close to the hole makes me more nervous. One little slip and it's over.

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GoddessOdd
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me too! And that hard hat isn't going to do a thing to protect him. I want to pull him away.

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Lakota Wolf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like this was a type of lava flow called pahoehoe! (I was close to becoming a geologist once before I switched my major… I still regret switching XD )

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Laura Jackson
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought Cerberus guarded the gates of Hades to prevent souls from leaving... 🤔

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Angeline Nealy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It reminds me if the scene in Herceles were he jumps into the pool of souls to get Meg’s soul.

jessifaz215 avatar
Jessica Facendola
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg that is creepy and cool at the same time and WHY is that person that close to a volcano?!???

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KAREN
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is probably where the idea of Hell came from a long long time ago...

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LynzCatastrophe
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The souls trying to escape the pits of hell. The punishment is to be solidified, frozen in the moment of agony, while within reach of freedom.

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PanCott
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is sooo good! Without the person on top, you could probably earn some cash die this shot :)

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She said: “If you like pictures without Photoshop and want to have a photo shoot for yourself—that’s great. Find a photographer that takes ‘natural pictures’ and hire her/him. And yet, I don’t believe that, if they are professionals, they will give you a photo without any (at least slight) retouching. Maybe the picture will look natural, but will it really be, is a different question (unless all a photographer cares about is to get the money and get rid of the client as fast as possible).”

In Anna’s opinion, photographers who aim to develop their skills throughout their journey as professionals need to be open to learning new techniques, including how to use photoediting software. In her mind, someone knowing how to Photoshop images is only a plus.

#25

By Complete Coincidence, The Trees Along This Street Matched The Colors Of The Buildings

By Complete Coincidence, The Trees Along This Street Matched The Colors Of The Buildings

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#26

Floating Above A Manhole

Floating Above A Manhole

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human?
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it took me so long to see she's actually sitting a few feet ahead of it

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#27

Entrance Of An Underwater Observatory In Lake Zug (Switzerland). I Took The Photo At The Weekend, Reminds Me The Truman Show

Entrance Of An Underwater Observatory In Lake Zug (Switzerland). I Took The Photo At The Weekend, Reminds Me The Truman Show

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Anna Harding
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Was nothing real?" "You were real. That's what made you so good to watch."

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“But you can’t produce good photographs if you can’t take good photographs, Photoshop won’t help you create a good picture out of a terrible shot. If you don’t know how to use Photoshop, probably it will end up being the opposite. You can make a picture even worse than it was before. But if the photograph itself is good, then Photoshop can enhance it and make it a little bit better in a different way.”

#28

I Took A Picture Of A Window With Rain On It And It Looks Like A Planet Surrounded By Millions Of Stars

I Took A Picture Of A Window With Rain On It And It Looks Like A Planet Surrounded By Millions Of Stars

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Meanwhile, those who want to create natural, unedited pictures should aim to shoot on good old film. “Film cameras take lovely pictures. And it’s so fun to make. I would say, film cameras have a certain magic about them,” she said.

“After all, it’s all about your preferences. There is no good or bad photography. There are just the photos which you like and the ones you don’t. Remember, you are the one who chooses the photographer for your own photo shoot. So talk with a potential photographer, look at his/her work and decide if the style, mood, colors, outcome, attitude are the ones you would like to see in your pictures. And trust. Trust and believe in your photographer.”

#31

My Cat Seems To Have Misplaced His Body Somewhere

My Cat Seems To Have Misplaced His Body Somewhere

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#32

The Clear Ice In My Absinthe Looks Like A Chunk Was Cut Out Of It

The Clear Ice In My Absinthe Looks Like A Chunk Was Cut Out Of It

merlinrising Report

#34

The Tapestry Above My Bed Made A Pretty Sweet Reflection In My Coffee This Morning

The Tapestry Above My Bed Made A Pretty Sweet Reflection In My Coffee This Morning

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#36

I Saw A Lenticular Cloud Over A Cumulus Cloud That Made It Look Like A Helicopter

I Saw A Lenticular Cloud Over A Cumulus Cloud That Made It Look Like A Helicopter

Zulu_x Report

#37

This Lucky Perspective Shot Makes It Look Like A Reckless Giant Snail Is Dangerously Overtaking The Car On The Turn

This Lucky Perspective Shot Makes It Look Like A Reckless Giant Snail Is Dangerously Overtaking The Car On The Turn

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#38

Sat On A Bench Outside An Office And Noticed My Reflection In The Window Perfectly Fit In The Chair

Sat On A Bench Outside An Office And Noticed My Reflection In The Window Perfectly Fit In The Chair

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#39

The Dew Forming On This Trampoline Is Squared Out By The Fabric

The Dew Forming On This Trampoline Is Squared Out By The Fabric

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#40

Managed To Get This Perfectly Timed Photo Of My Pom Today

Managed To Get This Perfectly Timed Photo Of My Pom Today

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#41

Photo I Took On My Phone Looks Like Live Action GTA

Photo I Took On My Phone Looks Like Live Action GTA

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#42

Shadow And Slope Makes It Look Like He’s Floating

Shadow And Slope Makes It Look Like He’s Floating

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#43

Power Of Shadows

Power Of Shadows

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Samantha Mannion
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg I was trying to figure out what shadows were in the 2 pictures for longer than I should have lol

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#44

At The Right Time Of Day, My Dog's Favorite Napping Spot Makes Him Look Really Magical

At The Right Time Of Day, My Dog's Favorite Napping Spot Makes Him Look Really Magical

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#47

I Covered A Door In Mirror Paper Squares And Now It Looks Almost Like Some Sort Of Portal

I Covered A Door In Mirror Paper Squares And Now It Looks Almost Like Some Sort Of Portal

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#48

The Reflection Of My TV Makes It Look Like Girl With The Pearl Earring Is In My Backyard

The Reflection Of My TV Makes It Look Like Girl With The Pearl Earring Is In My Backyard

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#49

Spotted A Construction Worker Glitching Today

Spotted A Construction Worker Glitching Today

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#50

We Can Now Project The News Into The Sky

We Can Now Project The News Into The Sky

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Note: this post originally had 120 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.