Every good picture should have a clear focal point.
But every good viral photo should, apparently, have a bizarre and head-scratching element that makes you amused, curious, afraid to learn more, or a little of all three.
Check out these truly perplexing shots that will leave you wondering just what set of circumstances could possibly have led to their creation.
Really, They’re Not Going to Kill You
One woman’s fluttery, brightly colored beauties can be another woman’s flying nightmare, and a paralyzing fear of butterflies—or lepidopterophobia—is actually a thing, as this photo indisputably proves.
If you suffer from this rare phobia, you may want to avoid parks, gardens, open fields, or meadows, where the winged monsters are most likely to lurk.
Or you can go the extra cautious route and stay indoors completely from April to September or so.
Remember, everyone has a quirk or two. But before you take a friend for a walk, be sure to ask her if she has any debilitating fears which may put a damper on the mood.
Freedom Riders
While cultural norms vary globally, public displays of nudity are generally frowned upon, particularly atop a motorized bike. That said, the sun appears to be shining quite brightly in this photo, so perhaps this nude motorcyclist was simply fed up with sweating and suffering in a hot climate, all in the name of social acceptability.
Though it may well be thought of as indecent exposure, it’s hard not to respect someone so comfortable putting themselves quite literally out there.
On second thought, perhaps Freedom Rider here is merely shirtless, while his companion is wearing short shorts behind him.
That would both explain the optical illusion at play and would generally be considered more acceptable.
Who Needs Keys?
Everyone has those absent-minded mornings when their bodies are in one place and their thoughts in another.
But it seems like this woman is in particularly desperate need of a lesson in mindfulness and learning to think in the present.
She was so singularly focused on beating the traffic and getting to her critical morning meeting that she inexplicably managed to leave her keys in the car door. Now that’s next-level distracted!
Given that she clearly forgot her car keys in the car door, how on earth did she then manage to successfully start the car? Did she hot-wire her own ride? Impressive!
This Is Why Mats Were Invented
Grass may look nice and cushiony after you’ve had a few drinks, but read any Cirque Du Soleil contract and you’ll learn quite quickly that it’s best to practice those acrobatic stunts in a nice padded training hall, rather than the backyard of a day-kegger.
And how can these three girls casually pose in the foreground after they abandoned their friend in a complex pyramid? It looks so painful!
Pro tip: If you can’t safely roll out of a fall, soften its impact with your arms rather than your nose. Facial reconstruction is far more expensive and time-consuming than mending a busted elbow.
Elmo Is Mad Jealous
Ask any celebrity and they’ll tell you that one frustrating aspect of fame is when you’re just trying to live your day-to-day life and fans constantly interrupt, demanding photos and autographs.
But an even more bitter reality of fame is that it eventually ends, and you’re left staring at the younger, newer luminaries, wondering why people suddenly care about a talentless hack like Woody and not a bonafide star like Elmo.
What will the Muppets do now that showbiz work has dried up? Statler and Waldorf have a clear future as pundits and the Swedish Chef has obvious culinary skills, but Elmo’s employment prospects may be scant.
Pretty Pedicure
Let’s assume this is a screenshot from a PSA about the dangers of taking Halloween candy from strangers.
Be warned that ingesting sour gummy worms will not only erode your tooth enamel, shoot up your blood pressure, and increase your risk of developing diabetes; it might also, as this photo unequivocally proves, transform the bottom half of your body into that of an emaciated hobgoblin with a penchant for bold pedicures.
That said, give credit where credit is due: Fuchsia nails pair well with the green and orange candy stripes. Add French tips and a toe ring and this mysterious creature is set for the post-Halloween party!
Blessed With Three Legs
Mad respect to this man for living a full, uninhibited life, even though he was apparently born with three legs and one arm. What many may perceive as an inherent anatomical disadvantage hasn’t interfered with his joie de vivre one bit.
And anyway, his right arm is still strong enough to swing his beloved over his shoulder and blissfully run off with her into the ocean. Go get ‘em pal!
If given a choice, would you elect to keep the standard two arms, two legs setup, or might having three legs be advantageous? Lifting a fork with a foot seems challenging; but maybe, like anything else, it just takes practice?
You’re a Naked Man, Charlie Brown
The wrong set of well-intended hands can turn what should be a charmingly wrapped gift into a mess of clumsy folds and careless cuts.
It takes talent and dexterity to do the job in an aesthetically pleasing manner, but it takes a special degree of foresight and creativity to form an entirely new image out of the wrapping paper’s original print. Half Charlie Brown, half Snoopy; half impressive; half uncomfortable
It’s hard to read Charlie Brown’s expression here, but it seems like he might be a trifle embarrassed to be suddenly undressed and sporting a tail, no less. It happens to the best of us!
Does This Angle Make Her Nose Look Wide?
The only sin more destructive than vanity is the sin of carelessly posting a selfie without reviewing the contents of your frame beforehand. But though this may seem like a ruined shot on first glance, not all is lost.
If she ever opts to take a photography class she could feasibly submit this to her instructor as some kind of intentional, tongue-in-cheek self-portrait. That kind of self-deprecating humor would get at least a passing grade in most art schools!
Furthermore, if you have a nearly full-length and relatively clean bathroom mirror, is it really necessary to throw in another small, dirty mirror right in front of it?
He’s So Not Ready for This!
A good reaction shot is fun, but a three-in-one, multilayered reaction shot is a riot. The wedding attendant in the foreground clearly seems quite ecstatic to have caught the bouquet, her boyfriend to her right appears absolutely terrified by the prospect of tying the knot next, and her father’s reaction is ambiguous.
Is he thinking, ‘Hahaha, I remember this moment well!’ or ‘My daughter’s a catch! What’s with the apprehension?!’
Shame we can’t fully see the expression of the woman on the far left (Mom?). Maybe she’s wondering if the bouquet is appropriately sized for the occasion.
Watch Your Step
From this overhead angle that looks remarkably like a banana peel on the ground, right? But it’s actually just a well-placed painting of a banana peel. It’s not the first time merchants have embedded a highly clever image into a store’s flooring.
There are other reports of peppering the ground with fake quarters or even five-dollar bills—reportedly a great way to get customers to stop in certain strategic parts of the store that they might otherwise walk right by.
This trick is also a good-natured test of ethics, eh? Those who reach down to pick up the peel both benefit from a good laugh and feel reassured that they care about their fellow man’s safety.
