Artist - Song

Pareidolia


	Pareidolia? Don't worry, I didnt know that word either, until quite recently. The dictionary describes it as "the tendency to impose a meaningful interpretation on a nebulous stimulous, usually visual, so that one detects an object, pattern, or meaning where there is none." For example, "seeing faces" in inanimate objects ... which perfectly describes an affliction I've had for most of my adult life: I see faces ... EVERYWHERE! Maybe you do, too?



	In June 2025 an interesting article appeared in the Smithsonian Magazine: "Did a Neanderthal Who Lived 43,000 Years Ago Paint a Red Nose on a Rock That Looked Like a Face?" Authored by Sarah Kuta, the article was accompanied by a photograph of a small rock (approximately 8" x 4") with vaguely face-like features. The researchers wrote: “The fact that the pebble was selected because of its appearance and then marked with ocher shows that there was a human mind capable of symbolizing, imagining, idealizing and projecting his or her thoughts on an object". If I may add to this, I'm convinced this particular Neanderthal also had a sense of humour!

A number of years ago I started taking photographs -- or scanning images -- whenever I thought I saw a "face".

Some of the examples below are better than others, but here's a selection of images I've collected ...


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	Take-out coffee lid		Take-out coffee lid		Wine bottle seal?


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	Take-out coffee lid, Toronto (some days this is how I feel)		Picture frame hook		Cardboard packaging material


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	Traffic barrier New York		Traffic barrier New Jersey		Old door with plate removed


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	Picture frame hook		Elevator, Millburn NJ		Elevator, Naples FL


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	Plastic packaging material		Cardboard packaging material		Stryrofoam packaging material


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	Security camera with lights		House somewhere?		Lightouse Martha's Vineyard


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	Antique brass door latch, part 1		Antique brass door latch, part 2


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	Fire hose outlet New York?		Fire hose outlet New York?		Fire hose outlet New York?


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	Not sure what this is. It's next to the Target store, Maplewood NJ		Thule bicycle seat London, UK		Thule bicycle seat London, UK


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			Airplane ceiling air vents		Electrical switch London, UK


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			Miele vaccum, carpet attachment		Remington hair clipper


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	Microwave rotor		Electrical adaptor		Bottom of trash bin, London


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	Vileda mop strainer		Airplane lavatory, hot-cold faucet		Wall-mount tool-holder


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	Mop, Brooklyn NY		Online screen capture		Bollard, Martha's Vineyard


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	Vileda Ultamax mop part		Henkel pasta ladle		Vileda Ultamax mop part


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			Toaster interior		Sidewalk stain, New York


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	Audi key fob


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	Air fryer, screen capture		Winter boot clasps		Purse, screen capture


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	Shopping cart, Home Depot Maplewood NJ		Old brass door plate


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	Floor access panel New York subway car		Luggage rack bracket New Jersey Transit train		Restaurant, Brooklyn NY


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	Wire-cutter tool		Cupboard Le Colombier Restaurant London UK		Hotel lobby, lights and chimney


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	St. Yeghiche Armenian Church London UK		Door latch, washing machine London UK		Old barn, Lougheed Highway Mission, BC, Canada


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	Security camera Online screen capture		Össur backpack London UK		Sidewalk, Cromwell Road London UK


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	Some kind of portable barrier? Heathrow Airport		Elevator Heathrow Airport		Concrete roadside barrier Mission, BC, Canada


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	Gate latch, London		Door pull		Oven knobs, New York


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	Swiss cheese slices		???		UAD Pultec audio plug-in


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	Irrigation cover Las Vegas		Front Desk decoration Hotel, Las Vegas		Cupboard


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	United Airlines galley latches		Las Vegas airport		Latch (screen capture)


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	New York subway


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	???		Landscape drain		Heavy duty jack, base


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	Stairs, New York subway		???		Water spout, New York


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	X-ray panel, New York		Coat - gromets and zipper		Outdoor propane heater, base


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	Toilet button		New York Street		Tub drain lever


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	???		Weight for a tent pole		New York Street


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	Cardboard on the street		New Jersey Transit		Detail of a dermatology device


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	NJ Transit train?		NJ Transit train?		Air vents Barcelona airport


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	Air vents, Dishoom Restaurant Kensington, London		Part of a childrens shoe measuring device, London		Toilet, Mercer Hotel Barcelona


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	When I was in London a friend sent me this image from New York		The very next day, while walking in London, I saw this brick-size item in Trevor Street near Harrods!		Sidewalk, Battersea Power Station London


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	London		Some kind of vent, London		London


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	New York subway		Pilates machine		New York sidewalk


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	New York fire hydrant		Subway station		Sliced strawberry