It's every photographer's dream to capture a one-of-a-kind moment. For comedy photographers, one genre of these types of photos is the perfectly timed moment. The goal is to capture a moment so ridiculous and improbable that it becomes perfect. A cat mid-bounce on another cat. A slipper just a millisecond away from hitting the camera.
The "Moments Before Disaster" subreddit is a place for everyone, not just photographers, to share the images taken just at the right moment: seconds before the scene turns into chaos. Don't worry, Pandas, no real or scary disasters here. r/MomentsBeforeDisaster is all about lighthearted fun, mild annoyance, and some harmless schadenfreude.
More info: Reddit
#1 She Has No Idea
Image credits: JoeZocktGames
#2 Disastrous
Image credits: b3kk0
#3 When Mom Is Angry But You Are A Photographer😭😂
Image credits: Frosty_Ship_1746
The "Moments Before Disaster" subreddit is a relatively small community, with only 22k members. Yet the premise of the subreddit has been explored before. In a way, it's the naughty cousin of the r/PerfectTiming group. Whereas it's all about the comedic effect in the former, the latter focuses on the aesthetic and the oddly satisfying value of a picture snapped just at the right moment.
Another element that makes the pictures from "Moments Before Disaster" so enjoyable is the "calm before the chaos" bit. We see the moment right before something bad happens, and some of them are even famous. Like the one entry on this list featuring the now-infamous moment at a Coldplay concert between two Astronomer employees.
#4 Chaos Ensues
Image credits: Fernando_357
#5 Bonk
Image credits: zdube21d
#6 Poor Doggo
Image credits: maximum_94
When we see the photograph today, we know what's going to happen next: the cameraman will pan to the couple cuddling, they will recoil from each other, and will later be exposed as two already married people having an affair. It shows us the viral moment from another perspective and from another point in time, prompting us to cringe because of what's about to happen.
We find the rest of the photos on this list funny based on the same premise. When a snowball is flying toward a kid's face, we know that he will either start bawling or go into a snowball rampage against his playmate. When we see a tennis ball flying straight toward the crotch of a stunt performer, we cringe in advance at the pain he's going to feel.
#7 One Big Gold Fish
Image credits: Koyaanisquatsi_
#8 She Didn’t Know What’s Coming
Image credits: TL_the_legend
#9 Found This In A Vintage Nat Geo Photo Book
Image credits: algaespirit
There's an element of schadenfreude to these pictures as well. After all, we're laughing at these folks' misfortunes, whether that's getting hit in the nuts or a puppy about to get bitten. You might feel a bit guilty about laughing at a kid getting hit in the face with a snowball or at a dog who's about to be swallowed by a giant sea wave.
#10 Infidelity
Image credits: ExcitingCustomer5156
#11 This Is Gonna Sting
Image credits: Zykium
#12 Ohno
Image credits: Yeety_Mcyeet_face
But feelings of schadenfreude aren't all bad, especially if we're able to distinguish between what's ethical and what's mean. Schadenfreude isn't the same as maliciously wishing bad things to happen to people. The feeling of schadenfreude is short, and it's still possible for a person to laugh at someone stumbling but still care about whether they hurt themselves or not.
#13 Seems Like Someone Can't Read
Image credits: anon
#14 My Aunts Crystal Cabinet Has Been In This State For The Last 2 Years
Image credits: indigo-antler
#15 Just Another Fun Day In The Neighborhood, Anytown, USA, 1970s
Image credits: DiosMioMan2
Schadenfreude is also a normal feeling to have. In fact, 1-year-olds reportedly experience it, as they might derive momentary joy from their sibling being scolded instead of them. This is why schadenfreude is sometimes our way of restoring balance in the world. If someone hurts, insults, or disappoints us, we naturally wish that karma would get them. And if it does, we feel a moment of joy at the universe's sense of justice.
#16 Captured A Moment Before I Was Love Tackled
Image credits: brodeine-goth-syrup
#17 Turn Around Quickly!
Image credits: Antonio0300
#18 Smile And Say Chedda-Aaaaaah!
Image credits: FreyFire
However, there's a dark side to it, too. Psychologists note that those who have the Dark Triad of personality traits (narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism) tend to enjoy schadenfreude more. Depending on which trait is more prominent in a person, they feel schadenfreude in different ways. Narcissists, for example, might enjoy it more when someone is doing worse than they are at work – projecting an image that they're better than other people is important to them.
#19 Ahhhhhhhhh
Image credits: CodeNovaBtw
#20 Oof
Image credits: ThisIsAUsernameBtw
#21 Ummm... Run Away??
Image credits: Antonio0300
Those with psychopathic tendencies might find it easier to feel schadenfreude, since they don't see other people as human beings. Their lack of empathy allows them to find the humor and even pleasure in someone getting hurt more than a regular person would.
People with Machiavellian personality traits experience schadenfreude more intensely when they're in competition with someone.
#22 Speaks For Itsself
Image credits: literalld
#23 Shlorp
Image credits: anon
#24 This Guy Splashed Out On An Expensive Camera
Image credits: EndersGame_Reviewer
Interestingly, there is a gender difference in who feels more schadenfreude. According to a 2022 Pew Research Center survey, men are more likely to confess they feel happy "if the person [who is suffering] deserves it." 37% of male respondents reported feeling that way, while only 31% of female respondents said the same. Researchers theorize that women might be more empathic, or maybe men were just more honest when asked about their reactions.
#25 This Wedding Photo
Image credits: SakuranomiyaSyafeeq
#26 Milliseconds Before A Ruined Shirt
Image credits: LordeLightskin
#27 A Selfie Taken The Moment Three Cyclists Were Struck By Lightning While Sheltering Under A Tree
Image credits: arithmetic
There's nothing wrong with chuckling at some funny pictures featuring someone else's misfortunes. But too much schadenfreude might turn us into cynics, pessimists, or something worse. "Try stepping into the shoes of the clumsy character in the sitcom of life. Instead of relishing others' missteps, remember to also choose pleasures that spread shared joy," psychologist Mark Travers, Ph.D., writes for Psychology Today.
#28 What Do You Think Happened?
Image credits: Mean_Command1830
#29 Fly!!
Image credits: Antonio0300
#30 Dog
Image credits: anon
How many of these "calm before chaos" pictures did you enjoy, Pandas? Which ones do you think were the work of karma, and which ones deserve more empathy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! And if you'd like to see even more pictures taken right before disaster struck, check out our previous collections here and here!
#31 How To Start A Fire
Image credits: katsumi907
#32 Mistakes Were Made
Image credits: StormofRavens
#33 There’s No Way This Could End Badly
Image credits: Coffin_Nail
#34 Seagull Stole My Ice Cream
Image credits: ignaffee
#35 Goodbye Flake
Image credits: EpicKieranFTW
#36 Oh Boy
Image credits: ColdScissors358
#37 Starship Sn9, Milliseconds Before Crashing Into The Ground In An Enormous Fireball Of Liquid Methane And Liquid Oxygen:
Image credits: jernej_mocnik
#38 Cold Shower
Image credits: quartz174
#39 Oh Boy
Image credits: Dynamic_Humann
#40 My Mom Took This Photo Of My Sister At The Beach, Captured Something Unexpected
Image credits: Temporary_Ad1651
#41 It's That Time Of Year Again!
Image credits: FreyFire
#42 Mere Milliseconds Before Absolute Disaster. Rip
Image credits: Old-Chapter-5437
#43 Will He Attack Or Cry? That Is The Question
Image credits: Antonio0300
#44 Was Drinking A Tiramisu Cappuccino And The Lady Finger Broke Off Mid Bite
Image credits: torNATEo12
#45 Rip
Image credits: tea-vs-coffee
#46 Snacc
Image credits: kaynslave
#47 Destroy
Image credits: robinplaygames
#48 Nothing Just Cycling
Image credits: mr_infinity7
#49 No Words Needed
Image credits: ThePilotWhoCantFly
#50 I Hope They Are Alright
Image credits: xetaril
#51 That’s Gonna Leave A Mark!
Image credits: Kellybrucex
#52 Soda
Image credits: Cacaowo
#53 I Just Saved A Cat From Being Eaten By A Fox (UK)
Image credits: Ambitious-Book-7200
#54 You Can Imagine
Image credits: otrid
#55 My Girlfriend Sent Me This Image. I Said No Knowing Shes Clumsy. I Got A Message A Minute Later Saying She Dropped Her Phone In The Boiler
Image credits: Commercial-Ad-2704
#56 Older Brother Smackdown
Image credits: cotterized
