Photographer Accidentally Captures Brilliant Optical Illusion of “Three-Headed Deer” Roaming in Forest

Optical Illusion Photo of 3-Headed Deer

At first glance, photographer Renatas Jakaitis appears to have captured something straight out of science fiction. Three deer heads seemingly sprout from one body as they peer at you from the snowy surroundings. This isn't the  work of Photoshop; however, it’s all an optical illusion. The three-headed deer doesn’t exist, but it’s moments like this in photography that capture the imagination.

Getting an incredible shot like this one is often about being in the right place at the right time. To capture this image, Jakaitis was walking behind the deer in the forests of Lithuania, snapping photos along the way. The sound of the camera shutter caused the animals, who were walking one after the other, to turn their heads all at the same time and produce this mind-bending image.

It’s incredible luck to capture a photo like this, and fortune was certainly on Jakaitis’ side. “I think my camera shutter gave me away, as they quickly looked up when I started capturing them,” he said at the time. “I was lucky to get them all looking at the camera all at once before they disappeared, they all ran away when they saw me! They must have been camera shy.”

Since snapping the famed photo (years ago), Jakaitis has continued to photograph wildlife. Scroll down for some of his recent photos.

Photographer Renatas Jakaitis captured the surreal sight of a “three-headed” deer and has continued to snap photos of wildlife.

Wildlife Photography by Renatas Jakaitis

Wildlife Photography by Renatas Jakaitis

Wildlife Photography by Renatas Jakaitis

Wildlife Photography by Renatas Jakaitis

Wildlife Photography by Renatas Jakaitis

Wildlife Photography by Renatas Jakaitis

Wildlife Photography by Renatas Jakaitis

Wildlife Photography by Renatas Jakaitis

Wildlife Photography by Renatas Jakaitis

Wildlife Photography by Renatas Jakaitis

Wildlife Photography by Renatas Jakaitis

Wildlife Photography by Renatas Jakaitis

Wildlife Photography by Renatas Jakaitis

Renatas Jakaitis: Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Renatas Jakaitis.

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Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
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