Have you ever looked at a cloud, a stain on a wall, or tree bark and seen something unexpected — a face, an animal, or even a mythical creature? In my journey with smoke photography, I discovered how our minds create meaning from randomness, turning what we see into something familiar.
As I watched the smoke, I saw fantastic creatures that seemed to belong in fairy tales, mythology, or deep ocean worlds. But then I realized these shapes weren’t real — they were just creations of my imagination.
This experience made me think: How often do we view reality through the lens of our expectations instead of seeing what’s truly in front of us? And can we really trust what we perceive?
Want to see the full story and photos? Dive deeper into how perception shapes reality and explore the images that inspired these thoughts. This story was first published in Full Frame on Medium, where it was boosted because the editors loved it. I also published it on Substack.
👉 Read the full story here!
About the Author: I am a passionate photographer and a philosopher of both photography and life, a TEDx speaker, a Master of Molecular Biology, and a product manager. I curate two newsletters: Lens Chronicles, where I explore the intersections of photography, travel, and philosophy, and Thoughtful Corner, where I share ideas, reflections, and insights for curious minds. Thank you for taking the time to enjoy my work.
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