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Jesus optical illusions

1) Probably the most common Jesus optical illusion found on the web is the following: Stare at the four black dots in the centre of the image for 30-60 seconds. Close your eyes and look at something bright. Most see a white circle with an image inside of it.

oij_big

The following two are taken from here

2)

jesus-christ

3) In the following, if you see nothing, move away from your screen or narrow your eyes:

lines_or_jesus_illusions

4) The following is taken from here by Octavio Ocampo (see comment 13)

jesus-christ-crucifixion-250-1

5) The following is taken from here

Comment 7 below, identifies the artist as Joe Castillo
Used by permission © Joe Castillo, www.JoeCastillo.com

bandw

6) The following is taken from here

crucifixion by Octavio Ocampo (see comment 13)

7) The following photo has been circulating since the 1950s. The story is along the lines of this having been taken by a Chinese photographer considering Christianity and converting to it having seen this photo developed from one he took of melting snow.

snow

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34 thoughts on “Jesus optical illusions”

  1. If the pictures are original to other sites, it is against copyright law to copy them even if you provide a link. Copyright laws are about COPYING someone else’s articles, photos, and images. Thou shalt not steal.

    1. Thanks Kathryn for this reminder. If you can point out any of these “pictures that are original to those other sites” I will work through the appropriate processes.

      I have had my original material taken from this site and placed on other websites and used by the church in official publications, without request, permission or acknowledgement as if it was their own material. I try my best to trace copyright and acknowledge as much as possible, placing clickable links back to sources. I have only ever had thanks for acknowledgement and referencing. I have a policy seeking acknowledgement if people use material here and have written about copyright previously. If I have breached your copyright, Kathryn, please let me know so I can deal with it.

      1. I have searched for since 1958 for this No 5 picture. I first saw it printed in the British newspaper Sunday People. Only some people saw the face of Christ. I did & cut out the picture & carried it for years until it fell to pieces.

    2. The copyright extends 72 years beyond the photographer’s life. There are also many which are in the public domain. Then of course one may ask permission to use something created by another.

  2. The last picture was on the wall of a shop in Pasadena, Texas when I was a child in the late 1950’s to early 1960’s. I don’t remember what kind of a shop it was. It was large, covering about half of the front of the building. I think that you could get a postcard of the picture with the explanation of its origin on the back. The story was the same as the one you have, so that hasn’t mutated over the years.

  3. I am so saddened about the intellectual property argument. If they are God inspired…. how does it go?
    Matt 22: 21
    “Caesar’s,” they replied.
    Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
    NIV
    My ministry is in the virtual world ‘second life’ where I make objects that God has inspired, it is an illustration of the Word of God, a form of sermon. I do not charge.

    1. Thanks Michael [“loozeta”] for your point. I have made similar points particularly in relation to liturgical texts (put “copyright” in the search box – a huge issue as the English-speaking Roman Catholic Church moves from one translation to another – savvy investors take note!). There are issues, in my mind, to the copyright that is put to, for example, an English translation of the Lord’s Prayer. A recent example: a website put a lot of effort typing some of the prayers from the NZ Anglican Prayer Book, acknowledging it, crediting the source. This site received an official, formal warning from our church of breaching copyright in making available this possibility of praying on the web – the webmaster made no gain from this gift. A little later and times have changed: an official General-Synod financed NZ Anglican site now links to that site that had been warned so that it can provide an online prayer experience!

      As I commented previously, I do also acknowledge care needs to be taken. In the case when material was taken from my site unacknowledged, and not merely a section, but whole articles – one of my fears was that Google would “sandbox” my site, then in its infancy. Google does not like the same material being repeated.

      Thirdly, a reminder to commentors: please do not send anonymous or pseudonymous comments.

    1. Thanks Dona – that’s very helpful. I have just sent the following email to Joe:

      Greetings Joe

      I run a website on spirituality and worship, the most-visited Christian site in New Zealand.
      I have today placed on my site your beautiful, thought-provoking picture “the Face of Christ”
      http://www.liturgy.co.nz/blog/jesus-optical-illusions/2760
      A commentor has just identified the image as produced by you and I have placed a clickable link to your site.
      I make no profit from my site, and produce it all totally voluntarily, independently, and in my spare time.
      If I am in breach of your copyright, please can you let me know
      and I will remove the image.

      Richest blessings as we approach Easter

      Bosco
      http://www.liturgy.co.nz

  4. In a quick search, http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&rlz=1T4ADRA_enUS358US358&tbs=isch:1&q=jesus+illusion&sa=N&start=18&ndsp=18 it seems that many of these “pictures that are original to those other sites” are not that original as a pure source. Did these people create these images… most likely not. But, if you look over the search you will see the same images here used at many other sites… So, I see if the person is the original creator and states “do not copy” or “copyrighted” then if others sites are using it without being asked to not do so, there should be no issue. That being said, if in doubt it is best to ask or at the very least give credit to the site where you found it… even if it is not their creation… at least you are acknowleding where you found it.

  5. Iggy, you describe precisely what I have done. When I go to your website I see a number of images that you have not created – this is common blogging practice. I am yet to be convinced that the intention of the creators of the images on your site is that they not be available in the manner that you have used them.

  6. Don’t you think pictures of Jesus are a really interesting phenomenon? I wonder where the ‘classic Jesus face’ originates? It does tend to look a bit too classically handsome for “he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2) 😉

    Those are some fun optical illusions!

  7. Several of the pictures are by Mexican artist Octavio Ocampo. #4 and #6 definately are, and #2 probably is since the style is similar. I shared the site, and someone told me whose work they were, and I looked his name up on Google. He has some really interesting art.

  8. Thanks Susan, I’ve updated the post.
    I have also received permission from Joe Castillo.
    He has an updated version of the image which includes the resurrection, and I’m trying to obtain that also.

  9. Ocampo Is one of my favorite artist. He can see things that most can’t. He just amazes me with his paintings. My wife is hispanic so we have alot of spanish art work in the house. Ocampo paintings are all mine, I have even gotten a couple of his paintings tattooed on my body. Now I know some of you legalistics arew saying thats an abomination. Well I let my body glorify the lord ( and I had to coverup some things that I wasnt proud of) “..judge not least ye be judged”…. “judge no mans salvation”…..”Seek out your own salvation with fear….” Oh and I am an Artist that does Tattoos.

  10. Wow amazing you are blessed with a gift you make it interesting like god is saying you should do this because people should know that god is always with you god bless you AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

  11. I am searching for a photo my father told me of. it was taken by a northern European photographer and is just white snow, but those who believe in Jesus are able to see his name clearly in the snow. The person is asked, “what do you see” and they respond either nothing or the name Jesus.There is no prompting on the question and if you have faith you are supposed to be able to see the name.

  12. This is in response to #7. I have inherited a photograph from 1941 from my grandmother. She had it for years. She said that a friend of hers who became a nun, took a picture of a lightening storm and this was the result. She gave it to my grandmother. She told me that she thought it was in life magazine. I have not been able to confirm that because Life does not have records on photographs taken by non-Life photographers.

  13. I have an original photo of #7 given to me by my mother. She was given the photo by her neighbor in Detroit in the 1930’s. Her recollection was that the neighbor had taken a picture his dog (she thinks a collie) and when he turned it upside down he saw the face of Jesus. I am so puzzled by these other stories. Which is true, we may never know, but I can tell you that the original has many more shadows and accuracy. This has been photocopied many times. I am curious to know if anyone actually owns the copyright on this picture.

  14. Fernando Matheu

    In the seventies my father painted a black and white mural on the wall of the garage in Puerto Rico. (photo #7) The story he told me, was that a Plane was flying in a storm and the pilot took a picture of the sky.

    Every time someone came to my house, my father used to say: Close your eyes and open them, What do you see? Some people saw it right away but others didn’t see anything, but when they discovered it, they were amazed. Thanks for sharing!

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