Pareidolia Effect on Feathers
This journal entry presents a series of black-and-white photographs featuring tiny baby bird feathers. By mirroring these photographs, I attempted to create the pareidolia effect – where you perceive faces or familiar shapes within abstract patterns. These curated artworks are part of a larger collection themed around the Pareidolia Effect.
My Process for Creating Pareidolia-Themed Art:
Found objects: I like to use natural materials I’ve discovered, and for this set, I used delicate baby bird feathers.
Staging: Staging these feathers can be tricky because they’re so light and easily disturbed by the slightest breeze.
Documenting: I take multiple photographs of feathers, experimenting with different frames, and compositions.
Producing: After selecting the most compelling photograph, I turn it into a black and white artwork.
Mirroring: The final step is mirroring the image, which can involve a bit of guesswork to reveal the most interesting shapes and patterns.
However, not every photo reveals a clear pareidolia effect- sometimes, the shapes don’t emerge in a recognisable or compelling way. What do you see in this collection? Let your imagination guide you.
For more playful explorations of the pareidolia effect, check out these other collections and let your mind wander. If you’d like to dive deeper into the concept of pareidolia, I recommend visiting the Live Science blog for some famous examples.
