two of my favourites are the chessboard, as mentioned, and the dragon statue where its head seems to follow you -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKeuhXQj3MM
does anyone know French? in the globe illusion video, what did the guy say in the 4th second? he sounds like he just threw up a bit.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xjmlwe_vous-etes-ailleurs-ou-a-l-hotel-de-ville_creation
My question is on #8. The article says it is not a shadow. To me, it certainly looks like the boat is in extremely clear water, and we see the shadow cast on the bottom of the lake. And that the illusion is that it LOOKS like the boat is suspended midair, with the shadow being cast on the surface of the water. Either way, there IS a shadow here. So what am I seeing wrong?
You’re right and the article is incorrect.
It doesn’t look like a shadow to me, but some sort of sea creature swimming under. At any rate, the “shadow” doesn’t look to be the same shape as the boat.
ETA: Actually, on second thought, I think it is a shadow, but the sea creature is a possible explanation if the article is correct.
Here are a couple other similar images, and a higher resolution version of the one we’re talking about. It has the same overall length of the boat, and has the shadow from cabin/overhang on the boat. It also looks to be in the right place, consistent with other shadows, as far as I can tell.
When I first saw this one I immediately assumed there was a whale (or something) swimming under the boat.
The dragon with the moving head is a wonderful papercraft. I made one many years ago and it still sits on a shelf just above my monitor. I still like to amuse myself by watching its head follow me around. If you’ve never experienced this for real (as opposed to a YouTube video) you should print one out (the link from crowmanyclouds post, above) and construct it. You’ll thank me later.
I do agree.
The house in London that is a 3D illusion. It’s the creation of artist Leandro Erlich.
My question was going to be #18, but I think I figured it out. They threw me because I was looking for an optical illusion. Plus it’s not very good.
I knew there was more than one color, sift through and you’ll find all(?) four colors; red, blue, green, and gold and a coati. All based on Andrus’ Paradox Box.
CMC fnord!
This one is nice: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8281/7583044502_45799ebc43_b.jpg see if you can figure out what’s going on yourself.
Looks to me like a diorama with a hole or gash in the backdrop.
If you wanna know, here it is:
The “sky” part of the image is a reflection in water. In other words, the angle of the photo is downward towards the foxes, and that rock is jutting out of the water, instead of what looks like to be a photo taken pointing upwards towards the subject, with the sky in the background.
Well, they’re awfully cute foxes in any case. I want one.
Re: The boat that looks like it’s levitating: I think the “shadow” is some underwater formation, like a big rock covered with seaweed or something. The “shadow” knows.
There are other pieces of art called perspective sculptures.
I’m more impressed by how the angle of the camera made two foxes look like raccoons. The illusion is uncanny.
You’re looking through an aquarium (with plants rising above the water) placed in front of a window with a mountain view - notice the water color in the foreground
No. As has already been pointed out, it’s a long whitish (stucco?) wall, in the foreground, just behind the plants. The “shoreline on the far side” is the sunlight hitting the top of the wall, and the side of the wall facing the camera is in shadow, illuminated by brownish reflected light.
