"Pareidolia"(para-doh-lee-uh) is the phenomenon of finding meaning
in a seemingly random event. Everyone is capable of experiencing this
phenomenon, but not everyone finds the same significance within it.
For more information about pareidolia, click here.
I would like to share an image with you that is a unique example of pareidolia:
a photograph titled "Stream of Souls".
My name is Ant, and I have always enjoyed amateur wildlife and nature photography in my
home state of Queensland, Australia. One picture that I took a few years ago seemed
like an ordinary nature photograph: a moss-covered rock at the bottom of a bubbling stream.
Then I enlarged it.
The enlargement reveals hundreds of surprising images hidden within the water.
First, I'll show you a picture of the place where I took
The Stream of Souls photograph.
This is The Stream where I took the picture:
.
On the day I took these pictures, the image that I actually wanted to capture was the gentle current of
this beautiful stream running over the rocks. It was such a bright day that the sunlight reflected the
vivid green of the moss up through the bubbles.
Next, here are two pictures showing some of those rocks in The Stream:
 One of the many moss-covered, submerged boulders in the Stream. |  The bubbling water of The Stream. |
At the time that I took the pictures, I didn't notice anything unusual about the water,
or the patterns within it.
Now, here is The Stream of Souls Photograph.
There are many distinct faces and figures visible within it. What do you see?
.
Did you see any faces or figures yet? If you didn't, don't worry.
In the image below, I have enlarged the Stream of Souls photograph further and drawn in a
yellow rectangle, to give you a place to focus.
In the image below, I have enlarged the Stream of Souls photograph further and drawn in a
yellow rectangle, to give you a place to focus.
In the next image below, I have circled two of the many recognizable figures and placed two images of paintings of the Holy Family (purchased from here).
Many of the figures appear to be cloaked or ringed with halos, as found in countless historical iconic images.
.
There are hundreds of distinct faces in the Stream of Souls photograph.
Below are more enlargements: these are just some of the individual images that can be identified within it.
 Cloaked woman holding an infant and a cloth draped between her outstretched hands  Behind white mist, hooded face with full beard |  Figure carrying length of wood over his shoulder, head appears crowned  Bearded face, fully ringed and crowned |
.
This stream supports a large number of animal and plant species.
Its continued healthy existence is critical for their survival, as the area is increasingly threatened by industrial, agricultural, and
urban development.
Proceeds from the sale of all Stream of Souls prints and
Wildlife of The Stream prints go to the protection of this place.
For more information, click here.
Its continued healthy existence is critical for their survival, as the area is increasingly threatened by industrial, agricultural, and
urban development.
Proceeds from the sale of all Stream of Souls prints and
Wildlife of The Stream prints go to the protection of this place.
For more information, click here.