Stunning optical illusion photo will make you question everything

Sky in optical illusion
(Image credit: Green_Substance5732)

A photograph has been shared online of the most stunning real-life optical illusion I've ever seen, and it's garnered over 5,000 upvotes on Reddit so I'm not the only one to be impressed. Consisting of a sunset as viewed from a car, the sky looks exactly as if there is a river running underneath it, with the sunset turning the water a beautiful pink hue.

Staring at the illusion for longer does nothing to take away the spectacle, it's actually very difficult to see the reality of the image – that the river is actually made out of clouds framing the sky in a certain way. It's genuinely one of the best optical illusions I've come across, real or not. The clouds above the 'river' even look like mountains.

Sky looks like a river in a photo

(Image credit: Green_Substance5732 via Reddit)

Stunning, right? It's definitely an artistic cut above from the usual optical illusion. Comments are equally as impressed in the r/opticalillusions subReddit.

Sky looked like a river from r/opticalillusions

"Are you sure that’s not a river… I’m pretty sure I see a guy fishing on the lower left. 😆," says one response.

And even photographers are impressed. "As a lifelong sky photographer, I'm soooo jelly!"

"This looks almost exact to the Niagara River from an out look at Queenstown heights Ontario very nice pic," another comment reads.

And the similarity with the beginning of a Disney film does not go unnoticed: "Whooah God made that Disney intro scene!! 😂" another impressed Redditor adds.

For more, see these optical illusion artworks that also made me gasp.

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Georgia Coggan
Editor

Georgia has worked on Creative Bloq since 2018, and has been the site's Editor since 2023. With a specialism in branding and design, Georgia is also Programme Director of CB's award scheme – the Brand Impact Awards. As well as immersing herself with the industry through attending events like Adobe Max and the D&AD Awards and steering the site's content streams, Georgia has an eye on new commercial opportunities and ensuring they reflect the needs and interests of creatives.

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