There’s something beautiful about taking a photo that will later serve as a memory and a reminder of what you’ve done. Sometimes, though, without even realizing it, these pictures might capture people, actions, and expressions that we’d never even expect and that can be a source of joy and surprise.
That’s what happened to one hiker when he took a random photo on the Irish hill he was trekking, only to spot the craziest thing in it a few days later. When he shared it online, his followers went crazy because the image was one in a million.
Gavin Best was hiking with his friends near Cavehill in Belfast when he decided to stop and take a photo
The 43-year-old was spending New Year's Eve walking atop the 368-meter (1,207 feet) rocky hill that’s part of the Northern Irish landscape. He then took what he thought was a regular picture of the mountainside, view, and cliff in the distance. He didn’t think much about it and enjoyed the rest of his time with his friends. Even days later, when he checked the images he took, nothing weird really stood out to him until he zoomed in.
The hiker noticed an unintentional photo-bomber in the photo, who was in the most shocking position
Gavin posted the image on Twitter in 2018 and told folks that he spotted something in the distance that was a prime example of perfectly coincidental timing. It showed someone on a rocky outcrop far away who appeared to be floating in midair.
Their body was positioned in what looked like an impressive star jump, creating a silhouette against the scenery. People were shocked by the crazy coincidence and urged the hiker to try to find the accidental photo-bomber.
People later began getting worried about the safety of the stranger who was captured in the photo
Since the photo-bomber on the distant cliff seemed to be jumping in the air, netizens began speculating whether they were making a fatal leap or just striking an innocent pose for a picture. Gavin later assured his followers that he spotted a group of people on that same outcrop just minutes after taking the picture, and that nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Appearing in someone else’s photo by accident can sometimes become a story of its own
According to research, the term ‘photobombing’ refers to spoiling someone’s pictures by unexpectedly appearing in the camera’s field of view. This typically takes place as a practical joke, but it can also happen by accident. This behavior became so common that the Collins English Dictionary made it the “Word of the Year” in 2014.
The intention of the person jumping into someone else’s photograph does make a big difference in whether the action is received with pleasure or annoyance. Unfortunately, in cases like Gavin Best’s, since he can’t contact the other person, it’s hard to know whether they even planned to be in the picture.
Memes and social media culture turned photo-bombing into a viral phenomenon
Because of this, we've all come to accept that someone or something accidentally appearing in our pictures can add a comedic element. One of the best-known examples is the innocent stingray that jumped onto the backs of three women posing for a photo in the water, leaving them absolutely petrified.
This kind of situation shows the interesting coincidences that have to happen for such images to exist. Most of the time, with photo-bombing, even the person behind the camera doesn’t know what will happen next and, by pure luck, captures a unique moment.
One of the earliest examples of this was an image labeled “Sally and Mrs. Reed”, taken in 1853 by a woman named Mary Dillwyn, who was one of the earliest female Welsh photographers. In her picture, a man’s smiling head and face appear in the background, clearly showing his intent to be captured too.
In those days, because of the camera’s slow exposure rate, photo-bombing was clearly more intentional than it is today. Someone in the past would probably have to hold the pose for a while just to appear on film.
Invading someone’s picture could either be seen as comedic or an annoyance
Photographers explain that conscious photo-bombers should choose the right moment to pull their prank. It shouldn’t be done at someone’s wedding or special event, as it could ruin a precious moment. Even making lewd gestures or pulling obscene poses might not be the best thing to do.
Luckily for Gavin Best, his accidental capture was extremely unique and also impressed a lot of folks. Next time, he opts for a scenic photo, though he might have to recreate the pose from a distance to generate the same level of interest.
Have you ever photo-bombed someone, or has it happened to you? We’d love to hear your stories in the comments.
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Folks were in awe of the stranger captured in the distance, with different replies ranging from humorous to appreciative
