I love surfing the internet and finding all sorts of WTFery. Case in point, this article about headless photography. It appears that as much as we adore Photoshopping Robert Downey Jr’s head onto cats (I shouldn’t have to tell you that it’s worth the click), the Victorians enjoyed their own sort of novelty illusions. Apparently, one could create such an effect through layering of multiple negatives or selective use of blocking or double exposure to create the desired effect. I have no idea why this seems to have been a popular thing to do, but holding ones own head in hand (or on a plate, or putting it on a baby or uh…) became something of an ancient meme.
I appreciate the Headless Horseman quality of this one from around 1875. Katherine and I would totally put this on our invites for our annual Halloween party.
This reminded me of this sketch from The Young Ones (please tell me that there are still those who remember the Young Ones!) where the headless ghosts come round (serious hilarity starts at the :30 mark).
This is some Children of the Corn business here. I might be legit freaked out by this one. The dead eyes on “Mom” and the neck bone are particularly choice.
This guy, however, I love. Cheers, mate! But the true winner is…
Credit: Coll. Michael G. Jacob
As the gesture in the portrait indicates, Q.E.D. *mic drop*
The Victorianachronists 
Bloody awesome! Great post.
Many thanks! Some of these were so good I nearly kicked my own head off!
This is so cool! Thanks for sharing. BTW, I am totally going to steal WTFery.
Yay, glad you liked! And it works for so many things/occasions. Like a little black dress.
wow
Right?
This is so cool.
I think so too. Glad you liked!
Pingback: Can’t Keep Austin Weird? Look Around: It’s Everywhere | Vanishing Austin
Btw first and 3rd were dead. Guy is clearly showing bleeding out his neck and eyes and jaw and woman in third I see bleeding out nose and mouth. Now also I heard that all of this headless photography was causing a stir so the brother and sister set out to play a practical joke so they axed their mother’s head off…
I’m sorry meant to say 4th and 6th
The portrait of a man with his head impaled on a sword belongs to me – Coll. Michael G. Jacob. I would be grateful if you add the credit, please.
The ‘winner’ – the man with his head impaled on a sword belongs to me. Please credit it as “Coll. Michael G. Jacob” or remove the photo. Many thanks