This ghostly face appears to mysteriously change its features when you look at it for a while (Some viewers have even reported experiencing traumatic visions!). But that’s not all – if you unfocus your eyes and look steadily through the image, you’ll notice that after about 10-15 seconds, the face gradually disappears…
This spooky portrait is created by merging together 50 common human faces. The process of averaging multiple exposures of human faces isn’t really new. In fact, as early as 1879, Sir Frances Galton experimented with this photographic technique, and others have since followed suit, using it for artistic or social purposes. Artists like Ken Kitano, Jason Salavon, Donald Scott Bray have all borrowed this technique for their own work.
But why does the face seem to change or disappear? The mechanism underlying this illusion is neural adaptation, as in Troxler fading, combined with the ensuing filling-in being driven by face circuits. If you want to learn more about the mechanism behind this phenomenon, read on.
I even created a gif to enhance the apparition of multiple distinct faces by animating two frames indefinitely. Even though the face in each frame is identical, the resulting human face seems to morph and move.
“Apparition” is a striking optical artwork that brings a captivating visual presence to any living space or studio. It has been showcased in museums and science festivals worldwide, recognized for its blend of artistic vision and perceptual intrigue. Exclusive fine art prints are available through my official gallery.
The work has also been recognized in print, appearing in Taschen’s Library of Esoterica, Vol. 6: Spirit Worlds (August 2025) on page 268, alongside iconic artists such as René Magritte. Discover the book here.
