The art of photography began in the 19th century, and since then, newspapers, magazines, books and personal photo albums have been replenished with countless photographs. Many of them were of value only to their authors.
However, the strangest photographs in history have long outlived their photographers, and they still admire, infuriate or amaze people around the world. But what to say, take a look for yourself.
30.Solway Firth Astronaut
A selection of the most unusual photographs opens with the famous photograph that was taken in Solway Firth (England). Behind Jim Templeton's daughter, who was supposed to be the only figure in the picture, there is another creature resembling an astronaut. But Templeton insisted that he hadn't seen anyone else when the photo was taken. Modern analysis has shown that this figure could have been the photographer's wife with her back to the camera, but even this explanation is not convincing enough.
29. Fairy circles
Found in the arid grasslands of western South Africa, the magic circles are circular tracts of barren land with a diameter of 2 to 5 meters. The origin and history of their creation is a mystery. One suggestion is that termites made them.
28. Pyramid on the Moon
This image was taken by Apollo 17 in December 1972 during its flight to the moon in the area known as Geofon Rock. NASA has never given a reliable version of this pyramid-shaped object.
27. Chinese Beauty
Each country has its own concept of beauty. For a long time in China small “lotus” legs were considered the canon of female beauty. Their appearance for Europeans was as shocking as the way in which this kind of foot was achieved.
The bandaging of the feet began around the age of five. Mothers wrapped narrow strips of cloth around their children's feet. For the next five years, the girls wore the stripes all day and night without removing them. As the child grew, the shape of his feet slowly changed. At the same time, I had to endure terrible physical pain.
This crippling tradition lasted ten centuries and only disappeared in the 20th century.
26. Ghosts of Watertown
In December 1924, James Courtney and Michael Meehan, crew members of the Watertown tanker, were cleaning the hold and suffocated from a gasoline leak. The crew buried them at sea, but, to the surprise of the sailors, the next day the ghostly faces of the dead appeared in the water. The captain even ordered to photograph them, and later the experts checked the negative and recognized it as genuine.
25. Death of Evelyn McHale
The strangest photographs in the world are often associated with death and afterlife. For example, this photo captures "the most beautiful suicide in the world."
In May 1947, 23-year-old Evelyn McHale jumped off an observation deck in New York's Empire State Building from the 86th floor and landed in a limousine parked on the sidewalk.
Photography student Robert Wiles photographed McHale's corpse just minutes after her death. And - to his shock - her body was unnaturally whole, given the enormous height from which she fell.
24. Mysterious Companion
In 1954, Western newspapers published articles attributed to retired naval major and UFO researcher Donald Keeho. They said that the US Air Force had detected two satellites orbiting the Earth. At the time, no country had satellite launch technology, leading to much speculation about the object's origin.
23. Pied Piper and His Catch
Nowadays the rat-catcher is one of the disappeared professions. However, in 1904 (and this is when this picture was taken), rat catchers searched the sewers of Europe and received money for each rat killed.
22. Head against the wall
No, this is not a weird way to commit suicide. This is how the football helmet was tested.
21. Batman Riding an Elephant
Apparently the Batmobile was being repaired.
20. Clarifier
With one shot, this firearm monster could shoot up to 50 birds. It was banned for being too effective, which led to the extinction of a large number of waterfowl.
19. Lion tea
In between filming, Alfred Hitchcock served tea to the lion, which roars at every intro in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films.
18. Salvador Dali and the anteater
Such a shocking and original artist as Salvador Dali had an unusual pet as well. He also had an ocelot named Babou.
17. Feeding polar bears
Russian soldiers are so harsh that instead of seals they treat them with milk to polar bears. The photo was taken in 1950.
16. The concept of a portable TV
We do not know how clear the picture could be in such a device. But here's what we know for sure: walking with such a TV on your head would be terribly uncomfortable.
15. UV protection
Looking at this strange photo, you might think that this is an inept cosplay of a ghost or a shot from a low-budget horror movie. But no, in fact it is a raincoat designed to protect delicate human skin from the effects of ultraviolet rays.
14. Sound Finders
During World War I, these devices were used to determine the direction of movement of enemy aircraft.
13. Dog Cannons
Another invention of the First World War. They were used by the Belgian troops.
12. The first selfie in history
This photograph, dated 1839, was taken by the Dutch chemist Robert Cornelius. He is the first photographic portrait in the world.
11. Equipment for diving
The diving suit has gone through a long evolution before evolving into the aesthetically pleasing and comfortable outfit it is today. Before you is one of the stages of this evolution (1940).
10. Horse diver
Nowadays you will not surprise anyone with human divers. However, the sight of a horse rushing head down into the depths of the sea inspires fear for the fate of the animal.
Horse diving first began on a pier in Atlantic City in the late 1890s. The horse under the control of the rider had to jump from the steel pier into the ocean. The show was canceled after World War II thanks to the efforts of the American Society for the Protection of Animals.
9. A child sent by mail
It is difficult to imagine that a parent can safely send his son or daughter by mail, like a regular parcel. However, this is exactly what happened in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1913, the Post Office Act was passed in the United States. However, it was ill-considered to the end, which was taken advantage of by some cunning citizens.
The law said that the mail can deliver live cargo weighing up to 50 pounds (22.68 kg).For comparison: an ordinary five-year-old boy weighs 20-22 kg, and a girl - 19-21 kg.
Since it cost less than a dollar to ship the child, it was cheaper than sending him by train. For example, in 1913, Madame Louis Bodge received her grandson by mail, which cost her parents only 15 cents. And Mrs and Mr Savis of Pennsylvania mailed their daughter, which cost them as much as 45 cents.
Such "baby parcels" were sent and received in the United States until 1920. And the photo you see just illustrated the text of the USPS ban.
8. Delivery of the computer in 1957
Among the strangest photographs, this picture at first glance looks like a black sheep. Well, the workers deliver some huge item, so what? Now imagine that this is a delivery to your office, and a huge object is the first computer in your city.
7. Norma Jeane
Who is this beauty, as if descended from the Soviet poster "We will fulfill and overfulfill the plan of the current five-year plan?" Yes, this is the future movie star Marilyn Monroe working in a factory in 1944.
6. Vulture and boy
The most unusual photographs in the world can be truly creepy. As well as the history accompanying them. In 1933, photographer and journalist Kevin Carter, based in the Sudanese city of Ayod, photographed a small, emaciated boy named Kong Nyong crawling after his parents. They ran to the plane for humanitarian aid.
A vulture watched the boy carefully and patiently.
This shot earned Carter the Pulitzer Prize, worldwide fame, and accusations of inhumanity. Three months after receiving the award, the journalist committed suicide.
The boy was exited at the UN food aid station. According to his family, he died in 2008.
5. Salon 1 class on the Titanic
This photo was taken in 1912 on the infamous Titanic ship, which is associated with many myths and strange stories... First class passengers not only had luxurious cabins, but also a Turkish bath, swimming pool, gym and many other entertainments.
But boats became the greatest wealth when the ship, considered unsinkable, met an iceberg. And they were sorely lacking on the Titanic. As a result, only 31.97% of passengers and 24% of the crew survived.
4. Miss atomic bomb
The atomic arms race has inspired the most dangerous weapons in history. She also inspired the coronation of Miss Atomic Bomb. At the same time, there has never been an official beauty contest with such a name.
And the Miss Atomic Bomb title has stuck with Lee Merlin, a dancer at the famous Sands Casino, ever since a Las Vegas News Bureau photographer took this photo during a photo shoot. The story goes that photographer Don English attached an atomic fungus cotton to Merlin's swimsuit. The photo was published in 1957.
3. Striped crew
Such an unusual and extravagant crew belonged to Lionel Walter Rothschild. But if you thought that the son of a billionaire was simply "mad with fat", you are wrong. Lionel was more interested in the animal world than in business, he became a famous zoologist and realized his old dream - he opened a zoological museum.
And with the help of a crew with zebras, and other shocking at the time antics, he drew the attention of the British public to his collection of rare animals.
2. Joseph Stalin jokes
In the circle of close people, the strict "father of nations" could joke and fool around like an ordinary person. This picture of "Stalin with a nose" was taken by the head of his security, Nikolai Vlasik.
1. Time Traveler
A photograph taken to commemorate the reopening of the South Forks Bridge in Canada in 1941 shows the alleged time traveler.
At first glance, the picture looks like a typical painting from that period, but if you look at the details, you will find something amazing. There is a man in the crowd in modern clothes, fancy glasses with a strange logo on his clothes. It looks like he is holding a modern camera in his hand.
Recently, photography has become widespread on the Internet, and now this person is often referred to as a time-traveling hipster.