This epic optical illusion is making waves on Instagram

Let's be honest, optical illusions don't tend to look particularly dramatic. Usually they involve staring at static geometric shapes which appear to move. But here's one that's about as epic as it gets.

A photographer has captured an awesome shot of a wave crashing into a lighthouse in Sunderland – but look a little closer and you might just make out a ghostly face in the water. We'll be adding this one to our list of the best optical illusions.  

"Could it be the Goddess of water, Amphitrite?" Asks photographer Ian Sproat on Instagram. And followers are loving the shot, with many also comparing the regal profile to that of Queen Elizabeth II.

Sproat, an electrician, told BBC News he took up photography as a hobby after lockdown affected his business. "I needed something where I could get my peace and I found that with photography because you are just in the moment and it takes your mind off of everything else."

Like the mind-boggler recently spotted by the Hubble Space Telescope, this is definitely one of the most dramatic optical illusions we've seen. If you're inspired to take up photography, take a look at our guide to the best cameras.

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