Every once in a while, nature blesses us with scenes that seem completely out of this world — and that’s when having a camera handy really pays off.

After digging through the corners of the internet, Bored Panda found some truly extraordinary photos that look like they were taken on another planet or in another timeline.

Whether it’s clusters of fossilized creatures, macro images of soap bubbles, or the surreal salt formations in Iran — these images will make you question what’s real and what’s not.

At the same time, they might also make you appreciate what a great and interesting world we live in.

#1 Bentonite Hills In Utah

They are pretty vibrant after it rains.

#2 This Cluster Of Fossilised Creatures Look Like They Came From Another Planet

#3 Flew Halfway Around The Planet For This Photo

I flew into Córdoba and drove around between San Juan and Villa de Merlo.

When we see something that doesn’t follow familiar patterns, like an extreme close-up of soap bubbles that look like tiny galaxies or salt crystals forming sharp geometric shapes, our brain struggles to classify it.

Research shows that we then try to make sense using whatever similar information we’ve already got stored in our brains, relying more on prediction.

That’s why a frost pattern spreading across a window might start to look like a branching river system seen from space. Or aerial shots of deserts shaped by wind can resemble the surface of Mars.

#4 One Of The Most Surreal Locations In The Icelandic Highlands

It’s called Rauðibotn which translates to “red bottom” in Icelandic.

#5 Early Morning Swim. Are They Here To Stay?

No, these are not “sea spiders” or aliens. They are upside-down, dried-out Aloe Ferox leaves that the sea washed ashore.

#6 Socotra Island, Yemen

Most of the landscapes we see in this list feel unfamiliar or “alien” simply because we don’t have a real-life reference for them in our everyday experience.

Also, we’ve never actually seen real extraterrestrial environments beyond what we’ve observed through telescopes, rover images, and space missions. So, the brain fills that gap through sci-fi movies, books, games, and cultural ideas of what alien worlds should look like.

Research shows that when we try to picture unknown worlds, we usually don’t invent something completely new. Instead, we remix familiar Earth-based elements in strange combinations.

Even ideas of aliens are often built from human and animal traits we already understand.

So, when we see a real place like Iceland’s volcanic fields or Greenland’s ice sheets, our brain immediately relies on those sci-fi mental shortcuts to help describe them.

#7 Salt Rocks In Iran

#8 I Stumbled Across Some Red Sand Dunes Hidden In The Tabuk Region Of Northern Saudi Arabia

Some of these pictures also fall in the category of ethereal photography.

It is a style that feels soft, dreamy, and atmospheric, almost like it exists somewhere between reality and imagination. But at the end of the day, it’s all about timing, lighting, angles, and techniques.

This style can include surreal elements or creative editing to give scenes an otherworldly, almost magical quality.

Ethereal photography is mostly used for storytelling. These images let you drift into a space that feels familiar yet distant, like something remembered from a dream.

#9 An Otherworldly Spot In Northern Arizona As Seen From Above

#10 One Of California’s Most Surreal Landscapes, The Painted Dunes

One of the examples of ethereal photography is the painted dunes in California, which look ordinary at first. But when shot with low sunlight, the long shadows bring out deep shapes and textures. The result is a landscape that feels almost sculpted.

Another example is photographer Jan Vorster’s images of aloe vera plants in South Africa, which went viral in 2022 as many people mistook the plants for aliens emerging from the sea.

The photos were captured at sunrise and sunset to create a spooky effect, and the plants with tentacles were lined up to give an otherworldly look.

Vorster said his main aim was to raise awareness about the damage that has been done to the environment. “A lot of people were scared of these alien-looking sea monsters. It was like ‘Jaws’ — is it safe to go into the water? I thought I could use this as a metaphor for how people see these plants as aliens, but we are actually the two-legged aliens messing up their world. That was the idea.”

#11 This School Of Fish Close To Surface Looks Like Some Ugly Alien Creature

#12 Terceira Island, Portugal

#13 Macro Of A Soap Bubble Looks Like An Alien Planet

During lockdown, I ordered a macro lens and started taking photos of everything around my house. Nikon D850 w/ Nikon 105mm.

A lot of photographers believe that nature is one of the best inspirations for ethereal photography. Sunlight, storms, rain, snow, and even fog can produce stunning images.

Fog, for example, strips away detail and distance. Without clear reference points, we fill in the blanks on our own, which makes the scene feel more mysterious and open to interpretation.

Rain does something similar but through reflection — wet surfaces bounce light and color in unexpected ways, adding layers that aren’t usually visible.

“Overcast conditions are perfect for ethereal photography. Harsh sunlight can create very powerful photos, too, but they rarely look dreamy. When I take photos, I love feeling the raw power of the elements. Fog never fails to give an image an ethereal, mystical feel, and an approaching storm can help to create dramatic imagery,” writes self-portrait photographer Anna Heimkreiter.

#14 Taken On The Canadian Praries But Kinda Looks Like It’s The Moon

#15 Aerial Image Of Grand Prismatic Spring In Yellowstone National Park

#16 The Clathrus Archeri Fungus Resembles Alien Tentacles Sprouting From An Egg

These images create a feeling that there’s something bigger and more beautiful beyond everyday life. For some people, they bring a sense of calm and quiet, almost like their mind slows down for a bit.

Research shows that visuals like these can actually help lower stress and reduce anxiety, while also making you feel more connected to nature.

A lot of these photos, especially the ones with wide, misty landscapes or endless horizons, trigger a feeling of awe. This emotion can pull your focus away from daily worries and make you feel part of something larger.

Experts believe that even just looking at, or capturing, nature like this can help you reset mentally and feel a bit more grounded.

#17 Rare Fresh Water Sinkhole In Tulum Mexico With Unlimited Visibility Underwater

#18 Unbelievable Sight At Glowworms In Waitomo Caves, New Zealand

#19 Fly Geyser In The Black Rock Desert, Nevada

#20 Finland Has Some Otherworldly Vibes

This was taken in February 2016 in Levi, Finland. The northern part of the country, Lapland, is incredibly beautiful and has large fells (gentle sloping mountains/hills) that receive a lot more snowfall than the lower-lying areas, creating awesome snowy tree sculptures.

Most of us move through the world on autopilot, barely noticing what’s right in front of us or around us. But once you’ve seen how strange, detailed, and unexpected everyday things can be, it’s hard to unsee them.

So, the next time you spot strange patterns in a puddle, unusual textures on a wall, or light hitting a surface in a way that makes you pause, be sure to click a picture and share.

#21 Slightly Otherworldly View In My Attic Today

#22 My Kombucha Culture Looks Like An Alien Planet

#23 I Flew Over Greenland For The First Time With No Cloud Cover. Such A Cool Experience, I Felt Like I Was On Another Planet

#24 Burning Man Festival (That Looks Like A Solar System From Above)

#25 Trachyandra Looks Like It Comes From Another Planet

#26 My View From 30,000 Feet Looks Like I’m Flying Over An Alien Planet

#27 I Live In Antarctica, But If I Didn’t… I’d Think This Was Another Planet

#28 The Rainbow Mountains Of China With In The Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park Are A Geological Wonder Of The World

#29 The Fairy Chimneys Of Goreme

#30 Otherworldly Colours Of The Atacama – Catamarca, Argentina

Taken on a road trip through the Puna de Atacama in Northern Argentina. The colours have not been changed at all, only slightly enhanced. The “road” can be seen winding up the mountain.