Lurking in the mountains of Olympic Valley, California, among the lifeless trunks of trees which once stood tall and majestic, are faces of things which seem suspiciously alive, full of expression and familiarity.
On this page are five such images, part of an ongoing collection I call “Deadwood Society.”
The psychological phenomenon that causes people to see patterns or shapes, such as faces, in random stimuli, including tree trunks and clouds, is called pareidolia [pair-ahy-doh-lee-uh].
Creatives draw upon this way of seeing for inspiration. Whether or not you’re a “creative,” I hope these images inspire you to find examples of pareidolia on your next hike in the woods. Once you start noticing instances of pareidolia, the world takes on a whole new perspective.
From embryos and animals to wicked eyes, the woods are alive with life and lifeless expressions. In the classic words of Jack London, “Don’t loaf and invite inspiration; light out after it with a club, and if you don’t get it, you will nonetheless get something that looks remarkably like it.”
~ Michael Kennedy is a resident of Olympic Valley. He’s an accomplished writer and photographer, recognized for his nature photography and interviews with local celebrities, including Osvaldo Ancinas, Brig. Gen. “Bud” Anderson, and Stephen Wampler. You can follow Kennedy on his website bluewolfgallery.com, on Instagram @BlueWolfGallery999, and you can reach him via email at michael.kennedy999@gmail.com.
