This spiral illusion is an optical illusion that is characterized by the appearance of a spiral pattern made up of concentric circles.
The illusion is created by the placement of a series of curved lines that appear to be spiraling inwards, with the center of the spiral appearing to be moving.
A spiral illusion, also known as a swirling illusion or vortex illusion, is a type of optical illusion that creates the impression of a spiral or vortex shape in a two-dimensional image or pattern.
The illusion is created by using contrasting colors or patterns arranged in a circular or spiral shape. The colors or patterns are designed in such a way that they appear to be moving inwards or outwards, creating the illusion of a three-dimensional spiral or vortex.
One famous example of a spiral illusion is the “Fraser Spiral Illusion”, named after British psychologist Sir James Fraser who first described it in 1908. In this illusion, a series of black and white arcs are arranged in a spiral pattern. Despite the arcs being completely circular and not actually spiraling, the arrangement of the arcs creates the illusion of a spiral.
Spiral illusions are popular in optical art and are often used to create dizzying or disorienting effects. They are also used in scientific studies to explore the way the brain processes visual information and to investigate perception and cognition.
How does the Spiral Illusion Work?
Spiral illusions work by exploiting the way our brain processes visual information. Our visual system relies on a combination of sensory information and cognitive processing to create our perception of the world around us. Optical illusions like spiral illusions take advantage of this by presenting visual information that conflicts with our expectations or assumptions about the world, leading to a distorted or incorrect perception.
In the case of spiral illusions, the contrasting colors or patterns arranged in a spiral or vortex shape create a visual conflict between what we see and what we expect to see. The brain processes the contrasting colors or patterns in a way that creates the illusion of movement, either inwards or outwards, which gives the impression of a spiral or vortex shape.
The brain also uses other cues, such as depth perception and context, to create our perception of visual stimuli. Spiral illusions often use these cues to further enhance the illusion, such as by creating the impression of a three-dimensional object or by using other visual elements to create a sense of movement or rotation.
Overall, spiral illusions work by exploiting the complex processes and mechanisms that our brain uses to create our perception of the world, leading to a distorted or incorrect perception that can be surprising or even unsettling.
Discovery of the Spiral Illusion
The illusion is named after the psychologist James Fraser who first described this illusion in 1908.
Sir James Fraser was a British psychologist who made important contributions to the field of perception and cognitive psychology.
He was born in 1854 and died in 1941. He is best known for his work on visual perception, particularly for his description of the Fraser spiral illusion in 1908.
Fraser studied at Cambridge University and later became a professor of psychology at University College London.
He made a significant contribution to the study of visual perception, and his work on the Fraser spiral illusion helped to establish the field of cognitive psychology, which focuses on how the brain processes and interprets information.
He also made contributions to other areas of psychology such as memory and attention. He was knighted in 1935 for his services to psychology.
Illusion knitting is a style of knitting where the pattern created appears to be different from the actual knit structure.
This is achieved by carefully choosing the colors and placement of stitches to create the illusion of a more complex pattern or image.
Illusion knitting often employs a technique called slip stitching, where certain stitches are slipped instead of being knit or purled, to create a hidden design that is revealed only when the knitting is stretched or viewed from a certain angle.
This style of knitting can be used to create a wide range of images and patterns, from simple geometric shapes to more complex designs featuring animals, landscapes, and portraits.
Illusion knitting is a fun and creative way for knitters to challenge their skills and create unique and eye-catching pieces.
Illusion knitting works by using the properties of light and color to create the appearance of a more complex pattern or image.
The technique employs slip stitching, where certain stitches are slipped instead of being knit or purled, to create a hidden design that is revealed only when the knitting is stretched or viewed from a certain angle.
By carefully choosing the colors and placement of stitches, the knitter can create the illusion of a pattern or image that is different from the actual knit structure.
The final product gives the impression of a two-dimensional image floating on the surface of the knit fabric, creating a visual trick that is both surprising and appealing. Illusion knitting requires careful attention to detail and a good understanding of color theory, as well as the ability to follow a pattern and execute the slip stitch technique accurately.
Versions of Illusion Knitting
The following are other examples of Illusion Knitting
Illusions like Illusion Knitting
Illusion knitting is a visual illusion. It creates the appearance of a more complex pattern or image than what is actually represented in the knit structure.
This is achieved by carefully choosing the colors and placement of stitches to create the illusion of a hidden design that is revealed only when the knitting is stretched or viewed from a certain angle.
The final product gives the impression of a two-dimensional image floating on the surface of the knit fabric, creating a visual trick that is both surprising and appealing.
Some related illusions include the following:
Anamorphic street art is a form of street art that uses optical illusion to create a three-dimensional image when viewed from a specific angle.
Anamorphic street art is often created by distorting the image, so that when it is viewed from a specific viewpoint, the image appears to be three-dimensional and in full perspective.
It is often seen as a way of transforming urban spaces into playful, interactive environments.
Anamorphic Street Art
An autostereogram is a type of image that appears to be a flat 2D image when viewed normally, but when viewed with a special technique, it appears to be a 3D image with depth and perspective.
Autostereograms are created by repeating a pattern of repeating elements, such as random dots, in such a way that the repeating elements at different depths in the image align with each other when viewed with the special technique. This creates the illusion of a 3D image.
The image below appears as a 2 dimensional flat image, but when viewed using one of the techniques mentioned below, a 3 dimensional shape appears.
Phantograms are 3D images that appear to float in space and can be viewed without special glasses or other aids. The term “Phantogram” is derived from the Greek words “phaneros,” meaning “visible,” and “gramma,” meaning “something written or drawn.”
Phantograms are created by taking two photos of an object from slightly different angles and then printing the images on a flat surface, such as a piece of paper or card. The two images are then viewed together, and the slight differences in perspective create the illusion of depth and the appearance of a floating 3D object.
Persistence of vision is the phenomenon by which the brain continues to perceive an image even after the image is no longer present.
This occurs because the cells in the retina, called rods and cones, take a brief period of time to “reset” after being stimulated.
A color constancy illusion is a type of visual illusion in which a color appears to be different when viewed in different contexts.
For example, the same patch of color may appear lighter or darker when viewed against different backgrounds, or may appear to change color when viewed under different lighting conditions.
Color Constancy
The Checker Shadow Illusion is created by a checkerboard pattern composed of squares with different luminance values, the squares that are not directly illuminated by the light source appear darker than the illuminated squares, creating the illusion of shadows.
Checker Shadow Illusion
The simultaneous contrast illusion is a visual effect that occurs when the perception of a color is affected by the colors of the surrounding area.
The illusion creates the appearance of a change in the color of an object, even though the actual color of the object remains constant.
The center green dot is the same on both sides, but the surrounding color changes the perception
The Neon Color Spreading illusion refers to the visual phenomenon where an area of color appears to spread or “bleed” beyond its intended boundaries.
From Wikimedia Commons
The Bezold Effect: This illusion is created by placing two or more colors next to each other, and the way they appear to change when they are close to one another.
from Wikimedia Commons
The Cornsweet illusion is a classic example of a brightness illusion, which is an illusion in which two areas that are physically the same brightness appear to be different in brightness.
Cornsweet illusion
The Chubb illusion is based on the perception of brightness and can be observed when a small bright patch is surrounded by a larger dark area, the small bright patch will appear brighter than the same patch surrounded by a bright area.
White’s illusion is a visual phenomenon in which two identical gray bars are placed on a background of alternating black and white stripes.
The gray bars appear to be different shades of gray, with the one on the white stripes appearing lighter than the one on the black stripes.
In the image below, both gray bars have the exact same color.
White’s Illusion
The Watercolor Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When an object is surrounded by a colored halo, the object appears to have a different color than it actually does.
The Café Wall Illusion is a visual illusion that is created by a grid of alternating light and dark horizontal and vertical lines. The lines appear to be bent or tilted, even though they are actually straight.
Discovery of Illusion Knitting
The origin of illusion knitting is unclear and it is difficult to determine who first discovered or popularized this technique.
However, the style has been around for many years and has been adopted by knitters all over the world. Illusion knitting has become increasingly popular in recent years, with many knitters exploring new and creative ways to use this technique to create unique and eye-catching pieces.
It is likely that the popularity of illusion knitting has been driven by the rise of social media, which has made it easier for knitters to share their work and connect with others who share their interests.
As a result, many different knitters and designers have likely contributed to the development and popularity of this technique including Tunisian Crochet
Some other examples of impossible shapes are included below.
About Impossible Shapes
Impossible shapes, also known as impossible objects or undecidable figures, are two-dimensional or three-dimensional shapes that cannot exist in the real world due to their paradoxical nature. These shapes appear to be complete and solid objects, but upon closer inspection, they reveal inconsistencies and contradictions.
Some of the most famous examples of impossible shapes include the Penrose triangle, the Penrose stairs, the impossible cube, and the impossible triangle. These shapes are often used in optical illusions and art to create a sense of confusion and visual paradox.
While impossible shapes cannot exist in reality, they have become popular in the world of art and design. They challenge our perception of reality and inspire creativity by encouraging us to think outside the box and imagine the impossible.
The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The impossible trident is a three-pronged impossible shape resembling a trident.
It is usually depicted as a three-pronged fork with each prong appearing to be a continuation of the next, creating an impossible shape.
From Wikimedia Common
The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The illusion is a two-dimensional drawing that is designed to create the impression of a triangular structure, but the angles of the lines are inconsistent with the laws of Euclidean geometry, making it impossible to construct in the real world.
The Penrose Triangle Illusion
Some other Similar Illusions to the Impossible Arch
Paradox illusions are a type of optical illusion that involve images that appear to be self-contradictory or impossible. They typically involve the manipulation of visual cues such as size, shape, movement, and depth perception to create an image that appears to be impossible or defies our understanding of the physical world.
In general, these illusions work by exploiting the way the visual system processes information. The brain relies on certain cues, such as perspective, shading, and texture, to infer the 3D structure of an object. When these cues are manipulated in a certain way, the brain can be fooled into perceiving an impossible or self-contradictory image.
Some related illusions include the following:
The Rubin vase, also known as the Rubin face or the figure-ground vase, is a famous optical illusion in which the image of a vase can also be perceived as two faces in profile looking at each other.
The duck-rabbit illusion is an optical illusion that is an image that can be perceived as either a duck or a rabbit depending on how the viewer looks at it.
The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.
The My Wife and My Mother-in-Law illusion is an optical illusion with an image of a young woman’s face that can also be perceived as an older woman’s face.
The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.
From Wikimedia Commons
The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception
From Wikimedia Commons
The Monroe-Einstein illusion works by playing with the viewer’s expectations about the relationships between the features of the faces and the viewer’s sense of facial proportions.
Discovery of the Penrose Triangle Illusion
It was first created by the British mathematician and physicist Roger Penrose and his father Lionel Penrose, a psychiatrist and mathematician, in the 1950s.
Sir Roger Penrose is a renowned British mathematical physicist and Nobel laureate. He was born in 1931 and is still active today. He is known for his work in the fields of cosmology, general relativity, and quantum mechanics. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2020, jointly with Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez, for his contributions to the understanding of the properties of black holes.
Penrose’s research has focused on the fundamental nature of space and time and the structure of the universe, he proposed new ways of understanding the Big Bang, black holes, and the nature of the universe itself. He has also been interested in the connection between physics and mathematics, particularly in the area of geometry. Penrose has written several books on these topics, which have been widely read and discussed by both scientists and the general public.
Penrose is also known for his work on the concept of “cosmic censorship” which is a theory that states that the singularities that occur in black holes are always hidden from the outside observer. He also developed new mathematical techniques, such as the Penrose diagram, which are used to describe the behavior of black holes and other singularities. Penrose is considered one of the most influential theoretical physicist of the 20th century and his work has had a significant impact on our understanding of the universe.
For St. Patrick’s Day, we’ve created this list of St. Patrick’s Day Illusions for your enjoyment!
St. Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on March 17th each year. It is named after Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holiday originated in Ireland and has since become a popular celebration around the world, particularly in the United States.
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated with parades, festivals, and other events that typically feature the color green, as well as traditional Irish food and drink. In many places, it is customary to wear green clothing or accessories on the holiday. The holiday is also associated with shamrocks, as it is said that Saint Patrick used the three-leafed plant to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish people.
If you stare a this one, the lines will start to move a bit and even give the appearance that the Shamrock wiggles.
If you stare a this one, some will start to see the large shamrocks drift upwards and the smaller ones drift downwards
This one is a shamrock version of the Ouchi illusion. With this one the Shamrock will appear to flat above the background. For some, it will even move.
This one is another apparent motion effect where the shapes will begin to move after staring at the image.
St. Patrick’s Day Illusions – Stereogram
With these sterogram illusions, you can try to spot the hidden design in the pattern. If you need help spotting the shape, this article on stereograms provides some help.
St. Patrick’s Day Illusions – Stereogram (Leprechaun Hat)
St. Patrick’s Day Illusions – Stereogram (Shamrocks)
St. Patrick’s Day Illusions – Stereogram (Map of Ireland)
St. Patrick’s Day Illusions – If You Want to Know More
If you want to learn a bit more than just look at some St. Patrick’s Day Illusions, check it out:
St. Patrick’s Day has its roots in the early Christian history of Ireland. Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was a missionary who is said to have played a key role in the conversion of the Irish people to Christianity in the 5th century.
The exact details of Saint Patrick’s life and work are not well known, but according to tradition, he was born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century and was taken to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. After escaping and returning to Britain, he became a priest and later returned to Ireland as a missionary. He is said to have used the shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to the Irish people.
St. Patrick’s Day became an official feast day in the Catholic Church in the early 17th century and has been celebrated in Ireland ever since. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Irish immigrants brought the holiday to other parts of the world, particularly the United States.
Today, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by people of all backgrounds and religions around the world as a way to honor Irish culture and heritage. While the holiday has religious roots, it is also a celebration of Irish identity and pride.
St. Patrick’s Day Fun Facts – 100 Fun Facts
Here are 100 about St. Patrick’s Day Fun Facts:
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17th each year.
It is named after Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
Saint Patrick was not actually Irish; he was born in Roman Britain.
The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in New York City in 1762.
The color green is associated with St. Patrick’s Day because it is the color of Ireland.
In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday.
The original color associated with St. Patrick’s Day was blue.
Saint Patrick is said to have used the shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to the Irish people.
Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal in the United States, but it is not actually a traditional Irish dish.
The Irish flag features green, white, and orange stripes.
The harp is the national symbol of Ireland.
The leprechaun is a mythical creature in Irish folklore.
The Blarney Stone, located in County Cork, Ireland, is said to give those who kiss it the gift of eloquence.
The Cliffs of Moher, also located in County Cork, are a popular tourist destination in Ireland.
Ireland is known as the “Emerald Isle” because of its green landscape.
St. Patrick’s Day parades are held in many cities around the world, including Dublin, New York City, and Chicago.
The Chicago River is dyed green for St. Patrick’s Day.
The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin was held in 1931.
The shamrock is a type of clover that is considered a symbol of Ireland.
The longest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world takes place in New York City and lasts for over six hours.
The shortest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world takes place in Dripsey, County Cork, and travels between two pubs that are only 200 yards apart.
Saint Patrick’s Day was a dry holiday in Ireland until the 1970s, meaning that no alcohol was served on the day.
The phrase “the luck of the Irish” is actually an American phrase that originated during the California Gold Rush.
In Ireland, the traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal is bacon and cabbage.
The Celtic cross is a symbol of Irish culture and heritage.
The term “shenanigans” comes from the Irish term “sionnachuighim,” which means “I play the fox.”
The Irish are known for their love of tea; Ireland has one of the highest tea consumption rates in the world.
The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in the United States was held in Boston in 1737.
The Irish language is the official language of Ireland, although most people speak English as their primary language.
St. Patrick’s Day is a public holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
There are more Irish people living outside of Ireland than in Ireland.
Saint Patrick is buried in Down Cathedral in Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland.
Guinness, the famous Irish beer, sees a significant increase in sales on St. Patrick’s Day.
The largest St. Patrick’s Day parade outside of Ireland takes place in New York City and attracts over 2 million spectators.
The Leprechaun Museum in Dublin is the world’s only museum dedicated to leprechauns.
Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, but he is also the patron saint of Nigeria.
The largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in Ireland takes place in Dublin and attracts over 500,000 people.
St. Patrick’s Day is not just celebrated in Ireland and the United States; it is also celebrated in many other countries around the world, including Canada, Australia, and Japan.
The four-leaf clover is often associated with St. Patrick’s Day and is considered a symbol of good luck.
In some parts of Ireland, it is traditional to wear a small bunch of shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day.
The phrase “Erin go Bragh” means “Ireland forever.”
The Irish are known for their storytelling traditions and many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations feature storytelling events.
The traditional Irish instrument, the uilleann pipes, is often played at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The Irish have a long history of poetry and many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations feature poetry readings.
In some parts of Ireland, it is traditional to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a bonfire.
The phrase “Paddy’s Day” is often used as a shortened form of St. Patrick’s Day.
The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in Australia was held in Sydney in 1810.
The Irish are known for their love of singing and many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations feature singing events.
The phrase “wearing of the green” refers to the tradition of wearing green clothing on St. Patrick’s Day.
In some parts of Ireland, it is traditional to leave a bowl of food out for Saint Patrick on the night of St. Patrick’s Day.
The Irish are known for their love of dancing and many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations feature dancing events.
The traditional Irish instrument, the bodhran, is often played at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
St. Patrick’s Day is the most popular day of the year for Irish people to propose marriage.
In some parts of Ireland, it is traditional to attend mass on St. Patrick’s Day.
The traditional Irish instrument, the fiddle, is often played at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
In some parts of Ireland, it is traditional to decorate homes with green ribbons and shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day.
The phrase “kiss me, I’m Irish” is often used as a playful way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
St. Patrick’s Day is the fourth most popular drinking holiday in the United States, after New Year’s Eve, Christmas, and the Fourth of July.
The traditional Irish instrument, the harp, is often played at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The phrase “luck of the Irish” is often used to describe good luck, although it actually originated as a sarcastic phrase.
The traditional Irish instrument, the tin whistle, is often played at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The Irish are known for their love of literature and many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations feature readings from Irish authors.
The phrase “top of the morning to you” is often associated with St. Patrick’s Day, although it is not actually an Irish phrase.
In some parts of Ireland, it is traditional to attend a horse race on St. Patrick’s Day.
The traditional Irish sport of hurling is often played at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
In Chicago, the river is dyed green every year in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
St. Patrick’s Day is a public holiday in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in the United States was held in New York City in 1762.
In some parts of Ireland, it is traditional to serve a breakfast of Irish bacon and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day.
The traditional Irish instrument, the accordion, is often played at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The Irish are known for their love of horses, and many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations feature horse racing events.
The phrase “sláinte” is an Irish toast that means “good health” and is often heard at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The traditional Irish instrument, the concertina, is often played at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The phrase “a wee bit o’ the Irish” is often used to describe someone who has Irish ancestry or is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
In some parts of Ireland, it is traditional to attend a play or musical performance on St. Patrick’s Day.
The traditional Irish sport of Gaelic football is often played at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The phrase “May the road rise up to meet you” is an old Irish blessing often heard at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The traditional Irish instrument, the mandolin, is often played at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
In some parts of Ireland, it is traditional to light a candle in a window on St. Patrick’s Day as a symbol of welcome.
The phrase “the craic” is often used to describe the fun and enjoyment of a St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
The traditional Irish instrument, the banjo, is often played at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The Irish are known for their love of history and many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations feature historical reenactments.
The phrase “may the luck of the Irish be with you” is often heard at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The traditional Irish instrument, the harpsichord, is often played at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
In some parts of Ireland, it is traditional to attend a concert or music festival on St. Patrick’s Day.
The phrase “a pint of the black stuff” is often used to refer to a pint of Guinness, a popular Irish beer.
The traditional Irish instrument, the cittern, is often played at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The Irish are known for their love of nature and many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations feature outdoor activities.
The phrase “Pog mo thoin” is an Irish insult that means “kiss my ass” and is often heard at rowdy St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The traditional Irish instrument, the bodhran, is often decorated with images of shamrocks or Celtic designs.
In some parts of Ireland, it is traditional to attend a poetry reading on St. Patrick’s Day.
The phrase “craic agus ceol” means “fun and music” and is often used to describe a St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
The traditional Irish instrument, the concert harp, is often played at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The Irish are known for their love of sports and many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations feature sporting events.
The phrase “the luck of the Irish” is often used to describe unexpected good fortune.
The traditional Irish instrument, the tin whistle, is often played at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
In some parts of Ireland, it is traditional to attend a horse or dog racing event on St. Patrick’s Day.
The phrase “Erin go bragh” is an Irish expression that means “Ireland forever” and is often heard at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The traditional Irish instrument, the uilleann pipes, is often played at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated not just in Ireland and the United States, but in many other countries around the world, including Canada, Australia, Japan, and Brazil.
St. Patrick’s Day Fun Facts for Kids – 10 Fun Facts
Here are 10 St. Patrick’s Day fun facts that kids might enjoy:
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17th every year.
St. Patrick’s Day is a public holiday in Ireland, which means people get the day off from work and school.
The shamrock is a symbol of St. Patrick’s Day, and legend has it that St. Patrick used the shamrock to teach the Irish people about the Holy Trinity.
People often wear green on St. Patrick’s Day, which is why the holiday is also known as the “Wearing of the Green.”
St. Patrick’s Day parades are held all over the world, with the biggest one in New York City.
Leprechauns are a popular St. Patrick’s Day symbol, and legend has it that if you catch one, they’ll give you a pot of gold.
Irish soda bread is a popular St. Patrick’s Day treat that is made with flour, baking soda, buttermilk, and raisins.
The Chicago River is dyed green every year on St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate the holiday.
The traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal in Ireland is bacon and cabbage.
St. Patrick’s Day is a day to celebrate Irish culture and heritage, and people around the world come together to enjoy music, dance, and good company.
St Patrick’s Day Fun Facts – St. Patrick’s Day Legends
St. Patrick’s Day is steeped in many legends, and here are some of the most popular ones:
St. Patrick and the Snakes: One legend says that St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland. Although it is scientifically incorrect, it’s a popular legend.
St. Patrick and the Shamrock: Another popular legend is that St. Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish people.
The Leprechaun: The Leprechaun is a mythical Irish fairy that appears in many Irish legends. Leprechauns are said to be small and mischievous, and they are often depicted wearing a green hat and coat.
The Pot of Gold: According to legend, if you catch a Leprechaun, they will grant you three wishes or give you their pot of gold.
The Blarney Stone: The Blarney Stone is a block of limestone that is set into the wall of Blarney Castle in County Cork, Ireland. Legend has it that if you kiss the Blarney Stone, you will be granted the gift of eloquence.
St. Patrick’s Purgatory: This legend tells the story of a cave in Ireland where St. Patrick is said to have entered into purgatory and witnessed the torments of the damned.
These legends are an important part of Irish culture and add to the fun and mystique of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
St. Patrick’s Day Traditions
St. Patrick’s Day is steeped in many traditions, and here are some of the most popular ones:
Wearing Green: Wearing green is a traditional St. Patrick’s Day activity, as green is the color associated with Ireland and the holiday. Many people wear green clothing, hats, and accessories on St. Patrick’s Day.
Parades: St. Patrick’s Day parades are a popular tradition in many parts of the world, and they often include marching bands, floats, dancers, and other festive activities.
Traditional Irish Music: Traditional Irish music is a popular feature of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, and many people enjoy listening to or playing Irish folk music.
Irish Dancing: Irish dancing is another popular St. Patrick’s Day tradition, and many people enjoy watching or participating in Irish dance performances.
Corned Beef and Cabbage: Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal in the United States. In Ireland, the traditional meal is bacon and cabbage.
Drinking: Drinking is often associated with St. Patrick’s Day, and many people enjoy consuming green beer, Irish whiskey, or other festive drinks.
Decorations: Many people decorate their homes, offices, and public spaces with St. Patrick’s Day decorations, such as shamrocks, leprechauns, and green and gold decorations.
Leprechauns: Leprechauns are a popular St. Patrick’s Day symbol, and many people enjoy decorating with leprechaun figurines, or creating leprechaun traps for children to catch the mischievous fairy.
These traditions are an important part of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, and they add to the festive and joyful atmosphere of the holiday.
St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated around the world in many different ways. Here are some examples of how the holiday is celebrated in different parts of the world:
Ireland: St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and it’s celebrated with parades, music, dance, and traditional Irish food and drink.
United States: St. Patrick’s Day is a major holiday in the United States, and it’s celebrated with parades, parties, and other festive events. The largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world takes place in New York City, with over two million spectators.
Canada: St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in Canada, especially in cities with large Irish populations, like Toronto and Montreal. Parades, music, and dance are common features of the celebrations.
Australia: St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in Australia, particularly in the cities of Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. Festivities include parades, concerts, and traditional Irish food and drink.
United Kingdom: St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in the United Kingdom, particularly in Northern Ireland. Belfast has a large parade, and people enjoy traditional Irish music and dance.
Argentina: St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in Buenos Aires, where a large parade takes place, and traditional Irish music and dance are enjoyed.
Japan: St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in Tokyo, where there is a large parade and many bars and restaurants serve green beer.
These are just a few examples of how St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated around the world. The holiday has become a global celebration of Irish culture and heritage, and people from many different countries come together to enjoy the festivities.
St. Patrick’s Day Fun Facts – Who Was St. Patrick
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and he is known for bringing Christianity to Ireland. While the exact details of his life are not known, it is believed that he was born in Britain in the late fourth century and was taken to Ireland as a slave when he was a teenager. After six years in captivity, he escaped and later returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary. He is credited with converting many Irish people to Christianity and establishing churches and monasteries throughout the country.
St. Patrick is also associated with many legends and traditions, such as driving snakes out of Ireland and using the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. He is celebrated on March 17th, which is believed to be the day of his death, with parades, music, dance, and other festivities. St. Patrick’s Day has become a global celebration of Irish culture and heritage, and it is celebrated by people of all backgrounds around the world.
The Mona Lisa Illusion is an optical illusion that occurs when viewing an image of a person’s face. It is named after the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci, the Mona Lisa, which is known for its enigmatic smile.
The illusion occurs when a viewer looks directly at the eyes of a person in an image, but perceives the mouth as smiling or frowning. This happens because the viewer’s peripheral vision picks up on the subtle upward or downward turn of the lips, while the eyes remain fixed in the center of the image.
The Mona Lisa illusion is a type of perceptual ambiguity, where the brain has to choose between competing interpretations of the same image. It is a common example of how the brain makes assumptions and fills in missing information based on context and prior knowledge.
The Mona Lisa illusion works because the human visual system processes information in different ways, and different parts of the brain are responsible for interpreting different visual features.
When we look at an image, our eyes focus on a small area in the center of the image, which is called the fovea. The fovea has the highest density of photoreceptor cells, which allow us to see fine details and colors.
However, our peripheral vision, which covers the area surrounding the fovea, is less sensitive to details and colors. Instead, it is better at detecting overall shapes, movements, and contrasts.
In the case of the Mona Lisa illusion, the eyes are drawn to the eyes of the subject in the image, which is the most detailed and complex part of the face. The mouth, on the other hand, is less detailed and less well-defined in the painting.
When we look directly at the eyes, our brain processes the visual information from the fovea, which sees the mouth as a blurry and ambiguous shape. However, our peripheral vision picks up on the subtle shadows and contours around the corners of the mouth, which can be interpreted as a smile or a frown.
Since the brain is constantly trying to make sense of the visual information it receives, it makes assumptions based on context and prior knowledge. In the case of the Mona Lisa, the enigmatic expression of the subject, combined with the ambiguity of the mouth, creates a perceptual puzzle that the brain tries to solve. This results in the Mona Lisa illusion, where different viewers may perceive different emotions in the same painting.
Famous Artists who Also Use Anamorphosis in Their Art
Anamorphosis is a form of optical illusion in which an image appears distorted when viewed from a certain perspective and can only be seen in its proper form when viewed from a specific angle or using a mirror or special lens. The word “anamorphosis” comes from the Greek words “ana,” meaning “again,” and “morphe,” meaning “form.”
Anamorphosis was used extensively in the Renaissance and Baroque periods as a way of creating intriguing and often thought-provoking images. Artists would paint anamorphic images on a flat surface and then place a mirror at a specific angle in order to create the illusion of a three-dimensional image. The technique was also used to create hidden images that could only be seen from specific perspectives.
In recent years, anamorphosis has been used in a variety of modern art forms, including street art and advertising. In these contexts, anamorphic images are often used to create eye-catching and attention-grabbing displays that appear to change shape as the viewer moves around them.
Anamorphosis is a fascinating and versatile technique that demonstrates the interplay between art and science, and highlights the importance of perception and the role that context and perspective play in shaping our interpretation of the world.
Anamorphosis has been used by various artists throughout history, including some of the most famous and influential artists of their time. Here are a few notable artists who have used anamorphosis in their work:
Leonardo da Vinci: Da Vinci was one of the earliest artists to experiment with anamorphosis and is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the technique. He used anamorphosis in his sketches and drawings to represent three-dimensional objects on two-dimensional surfaces.
Hans Holbein the Younger: Holbein was a German artist who lived in the 16th century and was known for his portraits, paintings, and drawings. He used anamorphosis in his portraits to create striking and unusual effects, and many of his anamorphic paintings are still regarded as some of the finest examples of the technique.
René Magritte: Magritte was a Belgian surrealist artist who was known for his paintings, illustrations, and collages. He used anamorphosis in his paintings to create illusions and to challenge the viewer’s perception of reality.
M. C. Escher: Escher was a Dutch graphic artist who is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. He used anamorphosis in his prints, lithographs, and drawings to create impossible objects and to challenge the viewer’s perception of space and time.
These are just a few of the many artists who have used anamorphosis in their work, and there are many other artists who have also explored this fascinating technique. Overall, anamorphosis is a powerful tool for artists to create striking and unusual effects, to challenge the viewer’s perception, and to demonstrate the interplay between art and science.
Illusions like The Mona Lisa Illusion
The Mona Lisa illusion is a type of visual illusion known as a “perceptual ambiguity” or “ambiguous image” illusion. This means that the image can be interpreted in more than one way, and the brain has to choose between competing interpretations.
In the case of the Mona Lisa, the ambiguity arises because the mouth of the subject is not clearly defined, and the shadows and contours around the corners of the mouth can be interpreted as either a smile or a frown. Different viewers may perceive different emotions in the same painting, depending on their individual interpretation and prior knowledge.
Perceptual ambiguity illusions are fascinating because they demonstrate how the brain makes assumptions and fills in missing information based on context and prior knowledge. They highlight the complex processes that occur in the visual system when we perceive the world around us, and they challenge our assumptions about what is real and what is illusory.
Some similar illusions are as follows:
Trompe-l’œil is a French term that means “trick the eye.”
It refers to a style of art that uses realistic depictions of three-dimensional objects to create the illusion of depth and a life-like appearance.
Trompe-l’œil paintings and murals are often used to create the illusion of an extended space or to make a room appear larger than it actually is.
Trompe-L’œil
“The Ambassadors” is a painting by the German Renaissance artist Hans Holbein the Younger, completed in 1533. The painting depicts two ambassadors, Jean de Dinteville and Georges de Selve, who were sent by King Francis I of France to the court of Henry VIII of England.
The painting is known for its complex composition and the many visual elements that are incorporated into the design. The two ambassadors are depicted in a room that is filled with rich details, including a carpet, a table with books and instruments, a lute, and a crucifix. The floor is tiled with a detailed geometric pattern, and the walls are covered with shelves of books and other objects.
One of the most striking aspects of “The Ambassadors” is the distorted skull that is placed in the foreground of the image. This skull, which is painted in a striking trompe l’oeil style, has become one of the most famous elements of the painting and has been interpreted in a variety of ways over the years. Some have interpreted the skull as a symbol of death and the transience of life, while others have seen it as a reference to the memento mori tradition in Renaissance art.
The Ambassadors by Holbein
Anamorphosis is a technique in art and optics that involves creating an image that appears distorted or irregular when viewed from one perspective, but appears normal or regular when viewed from another perspective or with the use of a specialized tool, such as a mirror or a cylindrical lens.
Anamorphosis
The hollow face illusion is a type of optical illusion where a concave mask appears as if it is a convex object.
When a person views a hollow mask from the front, the features on the surface of the mask appear to be bulging out, even though they are actually recessed.
This illusion is created by the brain’s interpretation of the visual information it receives from the eyes. The brain uses previous experiences and knowledge to make assumptions about the shape and position of objects in a scene, and in the case of the hollow face illusion, these assumptions lead to a misinterpretation of the actual shape of the mask.
Hollow Faced Illusion From Wikimedia Commons
The Thatcher effect is a visual illusion in which it becomes difficult for the brain to perceive the deformities in an upside-down face. The effect was named after Margaret Thatcher, the former British Prime Minister, who was used as an example in early studies of the phenomenon.
When the face is upright, the brain processes its features holistically, taking into account the spatial relationship between the eyes, nose, mouth, and other facial features. However, when the face is inverted, the brain has to process the features separately, which can make it difficult to detect subtle changes in the features. In other words, the brain has difficulty recognizing that the features are upside down, and as a result, it fails to detect abnormalities.
The Thatcher effect illusion is often used by researchers to study how the brain processes faces and other visual stimuli. It is also used in psychology to study how the brain perceives and interprets visual information, including the processing of emotional expressions.
Thatcher Effect Illusion
Artwork by MC Escher. M.C. Escher is widely known for his mathematically inspired and often impossible constructions, and his works are characterized by their playfulness, intricate details, and optical illusions. Some of his most famous works include:
“Relativity” – A lithograph that depicts a world where gravity and direction are relative and interchangeable.
“Waterfall” – A woodcut print that features a seemingly impossible flow of water that cascades upward and through a gear system before falling back down into a pool.
“Sky and Water I” – A woodcut print that features an intricate pattern of birds and fish that seem to transform into each other.
“Day and Night” – A woodcut print that features a world where the boundary between day and night is fluid and interchangeable.
“Metamorphosis III” – A lithograph that features a series of interlocking shapes that seem to change and transform into one another.
“Hands Drawing Hands” – A lithograph that features a series of hands drawing hands, creating a never-ending cycle of creation.
These works, and many others by Escher, continue to captivate and inspire audiences with their intricate details, playful illusions, and mathematical elegance.
Forced perspective is a technique used in photography, architecture, and other visual arts to manipulate the perception of the size and distance of objects.
It creates the illusion of a larger or smaller object, or of one that is closer or farther away, by carefully controlling the angles, proportions, and placement of objects in the scene.
Forced Perspective
The Ponzo illusion is a type of visual illusion in which a pair of parallel lines, or a horizontal bar, appear to be of different lengths based on the presence of a converging or diverging set of lines, often resembling the converging parallel lines of a road or railway track, placed above and below them.
The Ponzo Illusion
The Ebbinghaus illusion: This illusion is similar to the Delboeuf illusion but in this case the central circle appears larger when surrounded by smaller circles and smaller when surrounded by larger circles.
The Delboeuf illusion is a perceptual illusion in which the perceived size of a circle is affected by the size of the surrounding circles.
The Occlusion illusion is a visual illusion where an object that is partially obscured by another object appears to be farther away than it actually is. This illusion is caused by the brain’s interpretation of the relative depth of the objects based on their relative size and position. This phenomenon is based on the visual cues that the brain uses to perceive depth, such as relative size, position, and overlap.
The Müller-Lyer illusion is a classic example of size-contrast illusion, in which two lines of equal length appear to be different due to the presence of arrowheads or fins at the end of the lines.
The moon illusions involves the perception of the Moon appearing larger when it is near the horizon compared to when it is high in the sky.
The Kanizsa triangle is a visual illusion that was first described by the Italian psychologist Gaetano Kanizsa in 1955. The illusion consists of a white equilateral triangle that appears to be surrounded by three Pac-Man-like shapes, which are black and have white crescents facing inwards.
Creation of The Mona Lisa Illusion
The Mona Lisa is a portrait painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci. It is also known as La Gioconda or La Joconde in French. The painting is widely considered one of the most famous and enigmatic works of art in the world.
The painting depicts a woman, believed to be Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a Florentine merchant, sitting in front of a rocky landscape with a winding road and a bridge over a river in the background. She is shown with her hands folded in her lap and looking directly out at the viewer with a faint smile on her lips. Her gaze is intense and enigmatic, and the painting has been the subject of much speculation and interpretation over the centuries.
Leonardo da Vinci began painting the Mona Lisa in 1503, and it is believed to have taken him several years to complete. The painting is an oil on poplar wood panel and measures 77 x 53 cm (30 x 21 inches).
Leonardo was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his use of sfumato, a technique of blending colors and tones to create soft, hazy edges and a sense of depth and atmosphere. He also used a technique called chiaroscuro, which uses contrasts of light and dark to create a three-dimensional effect.
The Mona Lisa was not widely known or appreciated during Leonardo’s lifetime, but it gained popularity in the 19th century and has since become one of the most famous and iconic paintings in the world. It is now housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, where it is viewed by millions of visitors each year.
Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian artist, scientist, inventor, and polymath who lived during the Renaissance period. He was born on April 15, 1452, in the town of Vinci, near Florence, Italy, and died on May 2, 1519, in Amboise, France.
Leonardo is widely considered one of the most important and influential figures in the history of art and science. He was a master of many different disciplines, including painting, sculpture, architecture, engineering, anatomy, mathematics, and astronomy.
As an artist, Leonardo is known for his meticulous attention to detail, his use of light and shadow, and his ability to capture the complexity and subtlety of human emotions. His most famous works include the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, both of which are considered masterpieces of Renaissance art.
In addition to his artistic achievements, Leonardo also made important contributions to science and technology. He conducted pioneering studies of human anatomy, designed flying machines and submarines, and made advances in the fields of optics, mechanics, and hydrodynamics.
Leonardo’s work continues to inspire and influence artists and scientists to this day, and he remains one of the most celebrated and revered figures in human history.
The Thatcher effect is a visual illusion in which it becomes difficult for the brain to perceive the deformities in an upside-down face. The effect was named after Margaret Thatcher, the former British Prime Minister, who was used as an example in early studies of the phenomenon.
When the face is upright, the brain processes its features holistically, taking into account the spatial relationship between the eyes, nose, mouth, and other facial features. However, when the face is inverted, the brain has to process the features separately, which can make it difficult to detect subtle changes in the features. In other words, the brain has difficulty recognizing that the features are upside down, and as a result, it fails to detect abnormalities.
The Thatcher effect illusion is often used by researchers to study how the brain processes faces and other visual stimuli. It is also used in psychology to study how the brain perceives and interprets visual information, including the processing of emotional expressions.
The Thatcher effect works by exploiting the way our brains process faces. When we see an upright face, our brain processes its features holistically, taking into account the spatial relationship between the eyes, nose, mouth, and other facial features. This allows us to quickly recognize and distinguish between different faces.
However, when the face is inverted, the brain has to process the features separately. This makes it more difficult for the brain to detect subtle changes in the features. The Thatcher effect takes advantage of this by presenting an upside-down face with distorted features, such as an inverted mouth or eyes. When the face is turned right-side up, the brain has difficulty detecting the distorted features and may even perceive the face as normal.
The Thatcher effect is thought to occur because our brains have evolved to process upright faces quickly and efficiently. This processing is largely unconscious, meaning we are not aware of the individual steps involved. However, when a face is presented upside down, the brain has to work harder to process the features separately, and this can lead to perceptual errors.
Overall, the Thatcher effect is an example of how our brains make assumptions and shortcuts to quickly process visual information, and how these assumptions can be exploited to create visual illusions.
Versions of the Thatcher Effect Illusion
The following is the original version of the Thatcher Effect Illusion
Thatcher September 1983
Illusions like the Thatcher Effect Illusion
The Thatcher effect is a visual illusion that affects our perception of faces. Specifically, it is a type of face recognition illusion. Face recognition illusions occur when our brain’s normal process of recognizing faces is disrupted in some way, leading to errors or distortions in our perception of faces.
In the case of the Thatcher effect, the illusion occurs because the brain has difficulty processing distorted facial features when the face is presented upside down. This can lead to the perception that the face is normal, even though certain features are distorted.
The Thatcher effect is an example of how our brains can make assumptions and shortcuts when processing visual information, which can lead to perceptual errors and illusions. Understanding how illusions like the Thatcher effect work can provide insight into how our brains process visual information, and can help us develop a deeper understanding of perception and cognition.
Some related illusions include the following:
The hollow face illusion is a type of optical illusion where a concave mask appears as if it is a convex object.
When a person views a hollow mask from the front, the features on the surface of the mask appear to be bulging out, even though they are actually recessed.
This illusion is created by the brain’s interpretation of the visual information it receives from the eyes. The brain uses previous experiences and knowledge to make assumptions about the shape and position of objects in a scene, and in the case of the hollow face illusion, these assumptions lead to a misinterpretation of the actual shape of the mask.
Multistable perception refers to the phenomenon in which an ambiguous stimulus can be perceived in multiple, equally valid ways, and one’s perception of the stimulus can switch spontaneously or be influenced by various factors. This is also known as perceptual rivalry, as the brain seems to alternate between different possible interpretations of the stimulus.
One classic example of multistable perception is the Necker Cube, which is a wireframe cube that can be perceived as facing in one of two possible orientations, even though the physical stimulus remains the same. Another example is the Rubin vase, which can be perceived as either a vase or as two faces in profile, depending on which part of the image is given more weight by the brain.
Multistable perception is often studied in the field of psychology and neuroscience, as it can provide insights into the workings of the brain’s visual processing systems and the mechanisms of attention and perception.
Multistable Perception
Penrose figures are impossible objects that were first described by the mathematician and philosopher Roger Penrose in the 1950s.
They are optical illusions that depict objects that appear to violate the laws of three-dimensional geometry. Penrose figures are typically drawn or represented as two-dimensional images, but they create the illusion of a three-dimensional object that cannot actually exist in the real world.
Some common examples of Penrose figures include the Penrose triangle, which appears to have vertices that join in impossible ways, and the Penrose stair, which appears to be a staircase that goes on forever, with the steps constantly descending and yet never reaching the bottom.
These figures challenge our perception of the world and have been used in art, architecture, and psychology to study the workings of the human mind and the limits of human perception.
Penrose Shapes
The Penrose stairs, also known as the impossible staircase or the Penrose steps, is a visual illusion in the form of an impossible object created by the mathematician and physicist Roger Penrose.
The illusion is a two-dimensional representation of a staircase that appears to ascend or descend indefinitely, yet is physically impossible to climb or descend because the steps are not connected in a logical manner.
It is often used as an example of the type of optical illusion that can occur in the human brain and is used in cognitive psychology to study perception and attention.
The Penrose Staircase Illusion
The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The Rubin vase, also known as the Rubin face or the figure-ground vase, is a famous optical illusion in which the image of a vase can also be perceived as two faces in profile looking at each other.
The duck-rabbit illusion is an optical illusion that is an image that can be perceived as either a duck or a rabbit depending on how the viewer looks at it.
The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception
The Shepard elephant illusion is an optical illusion that was created by the artist David H. Shepard. The illusion is a black-and-white line drawing of an elephant that appears to be three-dimensional and in motion, despite being a flat, static image.
The illusion is created by using a technique called “anamorphosis,” which involves distorting an image in a specific way so that when it is viewed from a certain angle or perspective, it appears to be in a different form or shape.
Discovery of The Thatcher Effect Illusion
The Thatcher effect was first described and studied by two psychologists, Peter Thompson and Robert Thornton, in 1980. They conducted a series of experiments to investigate how the brain processes faces, and discovered the effect while studying the processing of facial expressions. They named the effect after Margaret Thatcher, the former British Prime Minister, who was used as an example in their initial studies.
The Thatcher effect has since become a well-known example of a face recognition illusion and has been studied extensively by cognitive psychologists and neuroscientists. The effect has also been used in popular culture, appearing in TV shows, movies, and advertising campaigns as a way to create visual illusions and draw attention to the intricacies of the brain’s visual processing system.
The Vista Paradox refers to an optical illusion that occurs when observing the portico of the Palazzo Bentivoglio from the Cannocchiale di Bologna, which is a long telescope installed on the terrace of the Basilica di San Petronio in Bologna, Italy.
When viewed through the telescope, the portico of the Palazzo Bentivoglio appears to be closer than it actually is. This is because the telescope compresses the depth perception of the scene, making objects appear closer together than they actually are. As a result, the portico, which is actually quite distant from the telescope, appears to be just a few meters away, creating a paradoxical and confusing perception.
The Vista Paradox is an interesting example of how our perception can be easily fooled by optical illusions, and it is a popular attraction for visitors to Bologna who are interested in visual arts and perception.
Palazzo Bentivoglio from the Cannocchiale di Bologna
The Vista Paradox is an example of an optical illusion created by the compression of depth perception when viewing a scene through a telescope. When observing the portico of the Palazzo Bentivoglio through the Cannocchiale di Bologna, the telescope compresses the depth of the scene, making objects appear closer together than they actually are.
The illusion works by combining two visual cues that our brain uses to estimate distance: binocular disparity and monocular perspective. Binocular disparity is the slight difference in the position of an object between the two eyes, which allows our brain to calculate depth and distance. Monocular perspective, on the other hand, is the visual cues that are available to one eye alone, such as the size, shape, and texture of objects.
When we look through the telescope, the binocular disparity is eliminated because we are only using one eye to view the scene. This makes it more difficult for the brain to accurately estimate the distance of the objects in the scene. At the same time, the monocular perspective cues are still present, and they give the impression that the portico is much closer than it actually is.
Overall, the combination of these visual cues leads to the Vista Paradox, where the portico appears much closer than it actually is, creating a sense of confusion and perceptual distortion.
Versions of Vista Paradox
The following are a few alternative views of the Vista Paradox at Palazzo Bentivoglio from the Cannocchiale di Bologna.
The first view gives a perspective on distance when the illusion isn’t effecting the perception:
Illusions like The Vista Paradox
The Vista Paradox is a type of visual illusion known as a depth compression illusion. Depth compression illusions occur when our brain misinterprets the relative distances between objects in a scene, causing objects that are far away to appear closer than they actually are.
In the case of the Vista Paradox, the depth compression illusion is created by the use of a telescope, which compresses the depth of the scene and makes the portico of the Palazzo Bentivoglio appear much closer than it actually is. This is due to the elimination of binocular disparity, which is the slight difference in the position of an object between the two eyes, and the reliance on monocular perspective cues, which are the visual cues that are available to one eye alone, such as size, shape, and texture.
Depth compression illusions are just one type of visual illusion that can occur when our brain misinterprets the visual information that it receives. Visual illusions can be caused by a variety of factors, including the properties of light, the organization of visual information, and the cognitive processes that underlie perception.
Some related illusions include the following:
The moon illusions involves the perception of the Moon appearing larger when it is near the horizon compared to when it is high in the sky.
The illusion is an optical illusion and is caused by the way the human brain perceives size and distance.
Factors such as the presence of foreground objects, the size of the Moon in relation to other objects in the sky, and the relative distance of the Moon from the viewer can all contribute to the illusion.
Despite the fact that the Moon’s size does not actually change, it can appear to be much larger when it is near the horizon than when it is high in the sky.
The Müller-Lyer illusion is a classic example of size-contrast illusion, in which two lines of equal length appear to be different due to the presence of arrowheads or fins at the end of the lines.
The Ponzo illusion is a type of visual illusion in which a pair of parallel lines, or a horizontal bar, appear to be of different lengths based on the presence of a converging or diverging set of lines, often resembling the converging parallel lines of a road or railway track, placed above and below them.
The illusion is caused by the way the brain perceives depth and distance, as the converging lines can create the illusion of a receding space, making the upper line appear longer than the lower one, even though they are the same length.
All these illusions demonstrate that the perceived size of an object can be influenced by the context in which it is presented, and that the brain uses the size of the surrounding objects as a reference point to judge the size of the central object.
The Ebbinghaus illusion: This illusion is similar to the Delboeuf illusion but in this case the central circle appears larger when surrounded by smaller circles and smaller when surrounded by larger circles.
The Delboeuf illusion is a perceptual illusion in which the perceived size of a circle is affected by the size of the surrounding circles.
The Occlusion illusion is a visual illusion where an object that is partially obscured by another object appears to be farther away than it actually is. This illusion is caused by the brain’s interpretation of the relative depth of the objects based on their relative size and position. This phenomenon is based on the visual cues that the brain uses to perceive depth, such as relative size, position, and overlap.
The Rubin vase, also known as the Rubin face or the figure-ground vase, is a famous optical illusion in which the image of a vase can also be perceived as two faces in profile looking at each other.
The duck-rabbit illusion is an optical illusion that is an image that can be perceived as either a duck or a rabbit depending on how the viewer looks at it.
The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.
The My Wife and My Mother-in-Law illusion is an optical illusion with an image of a young woman’s face that can also be perceived as an older woman’s face.
The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.
From Wikimedia Commons
The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
Discovery of Vista Paradox
It is not entirely clear who discovered the Vista Paradox, as it is not a well-documented phenomenon in scientific literature. However, it is known that the Vista Paradox has been observed and studied by many scientists, artists, and visitors to Bologna over the years.
One of the earliest known references to the Vista Paradox comes from the Italian artist and scientist Lorenzo Sirigatti, who in the 17th century wrote about the strange and perplexing effect of the Cannocchiale di Bologna in his book “The Art of Painting in Miniature.”
Since then, many other observers have documented and studied the Vista Paradox, including the Italian physicist and mathematician Giovanni Battista Venturi in the 18th century, who wrote about the effect in his book “Memorie di Matematica e di Fisica della Società Italiana delle Scienze,” and the Italian physicist and mathematician Carlo Righini in the 19th century, who published several articles on the subject.
Today, the Vista Paradox continues to be a popular topic of discussion and study for scientists and artists interested in visual perception and optical illusions.
The Cannocchiale di Bologna, also known as the Archiginnasio telescope or the Galilean telescope, was designed by the Italian astronomer Giovanni Battista Hodierna in the 17th century.
Hodierna was born in Ragusa, Sicily in 1597 and was a contemporary of the astronomer Galileo Galilei. He was an active observer of the night sky and published several important astronomical works during his lifetime, including “Istoria e Dimostrazioni intorno alle Macchie Solari” (History and Demonstrations concerning Sunspots) in 1653.
Hodierna designed the Cannocchiale di Bologna to be used for both astronomical and terrestrial observations, and it was installed on the terrace of the Basilica di San Petronio in Bologna, Italy in 1655. The telescope consists of two lenses, one concave and one convex, which magnify distant objects and allow them to be viewed through a long tube.
Today, the Cannocchiale di Bologna is still in use and is a popular attraction for visitors to Bologna who are interested in visual arts and perception.
Mardi Gras is a festive holiday that is celebrated in many countries around the world, most notably in New Orleans, Louisiana in the United States. The name “Mardi Gras” is French for “Fat Tuesday,” and it refers to the day before the Christian season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.
Traditionally, Mardi Gras is a day of excess, with people indulging in rich foods and drinks and engaging in raucous celebrations. In some places, there are parades with colorful floats, costumes, and music. In New Orleans, for example, Mardi Gras is a major cultural event that lasts for several weeks, with parades and other festivities taking place throughout the city.
To help you celebrate we’ve created this collection of purple, gold, and green illusions. If you are interested, you can also check out our collection of 75 Mardi Gras Fun Facts.
Mardi Gras Illusions
None of these Mardi Gras illusions images are GIFs. All of the motion is an illusion.
Mardi Gras Illusions – Illusory Motion
These illusions are types of illusory motion. With Illusory motion, static images appears to be moving due to the interaction of color contrasts, shapes, and position.
If you are interested in learning more, you can check it out here in your article on illusory motion.
Mardi Gras Illusions – How does Illusory Motion work?
Illusory motion, also known as motion illusion, is the perception of movement in a static image or pattern.
This can occur when the brain is presented with a series of static images that change over time, or when certain visual patterns are arranged in a specific way.
The brain interprets these as if they are moving, even though the image or pattern itself is not actually moving.
There are several theories that try to explain the underlying mechanisms of illusory motion.
One theory is that it is a result of neural adaptation, where the visual system becomes adapted to certain stimuli and continues to respond as if they were present even after they are removed.
Another theory is that it is a result of the brain’s tendency to perceive patterns and to fill in missing information, known as Gestalt principles.
Mardi Gras Illusions – Table of Contents for More Information About Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras Illusions – A Brief History of Mardi Gras
The history of Mardi Gras is rooted in ancient pagan traditions and evolved over time into a Christian celebration. Here is a brief history of Mardi Gras:
Ancient Pagan Celebrations: Mardi Gras has its roots in ancient pagan celebrations that honored the coming of spring and fertility. These festivals often involved feasting, drinking, and revelry.
Roman Festival of Saturnalia: The Roman Festival of Saturnalia, which was celebrated in December, was a time of feasting and gift-giving. It is believed that some of the traditions from this festival, such as wearing masks and costumes and parading through the streets, were later incorporated into Mardi Gras celebrations.
Christian Influence: When Christianity spread throughout Europe, the pagan celebrations were often incorporated into the Christian calendar. Mardi Gras, which is French for “Fat Tuesday,” is celebrated on the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Christian season of Lent.
Medieval Europe: In medieval Europe, Mardi Gras was celebrated as a last hurrah before the period of fasting and abstinence that marked Lent. It was a time for indulging in rich foods and excess before the austerity of Lent.
New Orleans: Mardi Gras was brought to the United States by French explorers who settled in the region that is now Louisiana. The first Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans was held in 1699, and the tradition has continued to this day, with elaborate parades, costume balls, and other festivities.
Contemporary Celebrations: Today, Mardi Gras is celebrated in many parts of the world, with unique traditions and customs that reflect the local culture. While the celebration has evolved over time, it continues to be a time of revelry, excess, and indulgence before the period of Lenten sacrifice and reflection.
Mardi Gras – 75 Mardi Gras Fun Facts
In addition to Mardi Gras illusions, here are 75 fun facts about Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras is also known as Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, and Pancake Day.
The colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold, which represent justice, faith, and power, respectively.
The first Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans took place in 1837.
The official Mardi Gras colors were chosen in 1872 by the Krewe of Rex.
The first Mardi Gras celebration in the United States was in Mobile, Alabama in 1703.
The first Mardi Gras celebration in North America was in 1699, in what is now Mobile, Alabama.
In some countries, such as France, Mardi Gras is also known as Carnival.
Mardi Gras is celebrated on the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of the Christian season of Lent.
Lent is a period of fasting and penance that lasts for 40 days leading up to Easter.
Mardi Gras is a time for excess and indulgence before the start of the Lenten season.
The largest Mardi Gras celebration in the world takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Mardi Gras is a legal holiday in the state of Louisiana.
The term “krewe” refers to a group that organizes a Mardi Gras parade or ball.
The first Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans was organized by the Mistick Krewe of Comus in 1857.
Mardi Gras is the busiest time of year for the New Orleans Police Department.
The famous Mardi Gras bead toss originated in the 1880s.
The King and Queen of Mardi Gras are chosen by the Krewe of Rex.
Mardi Gras Indians are a group of African American revelers who dress up in elaborate costumes.
The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club is one of the oldest and most famous African American krewes in New Orleans.
Mardi Gras is celebrated in many other countries besides the United States, including France, Spain, Italy, and Germany.
In Louisiana, the official state pastry for Mardi Gras is the king cake.
King cakes are decorated with purple, green, and gold sugar and contain a small plastic baby inside.
The person who finds the baby in the king cake is traditionally responsible for bringing the next king cake to the next gathering.
The tradition of throwing beads during Mardi Gras parades began in the 1920s.
The first Mardi Gras parade in Mobile, Alabama was held in 1711.
The Krewe of Proteus is the oldest continuously active Mardi Gras krewe in New Orleans.
The Krewe of Zulu was founded in 1909 and is one of the most popular krewes in New Orleans.
The Rex organization was founded in 1872 and is one of the oldest and most prestigious krewes in New Orleans.
Mardi Gras is a popular time for tourists to visit New Orleans, with over one million visitors during the 2019 celebration.
Mardi Gras is celebrated in many other cities besides New Orleans, including Mobile, Alabama, Galveston, Texas, and Pensacola, Florida.
Mardi Gras is celebrated in many different ways around the world, with each culture putting its own spin on the holiday.
In some countries, such as Italy, Mardi Gras is known as Carnevale and is celebrated with elaborate parades, masquerade balls, and other festivities.
The city of Nice, France is known for its Carnival of Nice, which is one of the largest Mardi Gras celebrations in the world.
The Spanish city of Tarragona is known for its Carnival of Tarragona, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The German city of Cologne is known for its Rose Monday Parade, which is the largest carnival parade in Germany.
The city of Basel, Switzerland is known for its Fasnacht celebration, which is one of the oldest and largest carnival celebrations in Switzerland.
Mardi Gras is celebrated in many other parts of the world as well, including the Caribbean, South America, and even parts of Asia.
In many cultures, Mardi Gras is a time for feasting and enjoying rich foods before the start of the Lenten season.
The tradition of throwing beads during Mardi Gras parades is said to have originated in the 1920s as a way to promote tourism in New Orleans.
The tradition of throwing other trinkets during Mardi Gras parades, such as cups and toys, also became popular in the 20th century.
The first Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans featured floats, masks, and torches.
The Mistick Krewe of Comus, which organized the first Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, was inspired by the literary works of John Milton and William Shakespeare.
The King and Queen of Mardi Gras are traditionally crowned at the Rex Ball, which is held on Mardi Gras night.
The Rex organization is responsible for selecting the King and Queen of Mardi Gras each year.
The Mardi Gras King is also known as the Rex, which is Latin for “king.”
The Mardi Gras Queen is also known as the Queen of Carnival.
The Krewe of Zulu traditionally crowns its own King and Queen each year, as well as a Zulu Witch Doctor.
The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club was founded in 1909 and was one of the first African American krewes in New Orleans.
The Zulu parade is known for its unique throws, which include coconuts and hand-decorated Zulu spears.
The Mardi Gras Indians are a group of African American revelers who dress up in elaborate, hand-sewn costumes that are inspired by Native American traditions.
The Mardi Gras Indians are organized into “tribes,” each with its own chief, queen, and other officials.
The Mardi Gras Indian tradition is believed to have originated in the late 19th century as a way for African American communities to celebrate Mardi Gras in their own way.
The Mardi Gras Indian tradition was also a way for African Americans to pay homage to Native Americans, who had helped slaves escape to freedom along the Underground Railroad.
The Mardi Gras Indians are known for their colorful, intricate costumes, which can take up to a year to make.
The Mardi Gras Indians are also known for their unique music, which is a fusion of African, Native American, and jazz influences.
The Mardi Gras Indian tradition is still alive and well in New Orleans today, with dozens of tribes participating in the annual Mardi Gras festivities.
The Krewe of Proteus is known for its elaborate and artistic parade floats, which often feature mythical creatures and other fantasy themes
The Krewe of Endymion is one of the largest and most popular krewes in New Orleans, and its parade is known for featuring celebrity guests, such as musicians and actors.
The Krewe of Bacchus is another popular krewe in New Orleans, and its parade is known for featuring massive, elaborate floats.
The Krewe of Rex is one of the oldest krewes in New Orleans, and its members are known for wearing elaborate costumes and masks during their parades.
Mardi Gras colors are purple, green, and gold, with each color symbolizing a different aspect of the celebration. Purple represents justice, green represents faith, and gold represents power.
The tradition of King Cake during Mardi Gras is believed to have originated in medieval France and is now a staple of Mardi Gras celebrations in Louisiana and other parts of the United States.
King Cake is a sweet, cinnamon-flavored pastry that is shaped like a ring and is often decorated with purple, green, and gold icing or sugar.
Hidden inside each King Cake is a small plastic baby, which is said to bring good luck and is a symbol of the baby Jesus.
The person who finds the baby in their slice of King Cake is traditionally responsible for providing the next King Cake for the group.
Mardi Gras is celebrated in other parts of the world by different names, including Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day, and Fat Tuesday.
In the United Kingdom, Pancake Day is celebrated on Shrove Tuesday and involves eating pancakes as a way to use up rich foods before the start of Lent.
In Poland, the day before Ash Wednesday is celebrated as Tłusty Czwartek, which means “Fat Thursday,” and involves eating large amounts of doughnuts and other sweet treats.
The city of Mobile, Alabama claims to have the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States, dating back to 1703.
The Mardi Gras celebration in Mobile, Alabama includes parades, balls, and other festivities, and is known for its unique MoonPie throws.
MoonPies are a type of snack food that consists of two round graham cracker cookies with marshmallow filling, covered in chocolate.
The tradition of MoonPie throws during Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama is believed to have started in the 1970s and has since become a signature feature of the celebration.
The Mardi Gras celebration in Lafayette, Louisiana includes the Courir de Mardi Gras, which is a traditional Mardi Gras run that involves chasing a chicken and collecting ingredients for a communal gumbo.
The Mardi Gras celebration in St. Louis, Missouri includes a parade that features Clydesdale horses from the Anheuser-Busch brewery, which is based in St. Louis.
The Mardi Gras celebration in Galveston, Texas includes parades, masked balls, and other festivities, and is known for its elaborate costumes and intricate parade floats.
Mardi Gras Illusions – Mardi Gras Legends
There are several legends and stories associated with Mardi Gras. Here are a few:
The Legend of Comus: Comus is a mythical figure who represents chaos and revelry. According to legend, Comus appeared in New Orleans during the early 19th century and inspired the city’s first Mardi Gras parade.
The Legend of Zulu: The Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club is one of the oldest and most popular African American krewes in New Orleans. According to legend, the krewe was formed in the early 20th century by a group of African American laborers who wanted to participate in Mardi Gras festivities but were excluded from the city’s white-only krewes.
The Legend of Mardi Gras Indians: The Mardi Gras Indians are a group of African American men and women who dress up in elaborate feathered and beaded costumes and perform in Mardi Gras parades. According to legend, the tradition of Mardi Gras Indians dates back to the 19th century, when African American slaves in Louisiana were inspired by Native American culture and began creating their own elaborate costumes.
The Legend of Rex: Rex is the king of the carnival in New Orleans, and his krewe is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the city. According to legend, Rex was inspired by a visit from the Russian Grand Duke Alexis in 1872, and his krewe has been an integral part of Mardi Gras celebrations ever since.
The Legend of the Baby in the King Cake: The tradition of hiding a small plastic baby inside a King Cake is said to have originated in medieval France, but there are several legends associated with the practice. One popular legend is that the baby represents the baby Jesus, and whoever finds it in their slice of cake will have good luck for the coming year. Another legend is that the person who finds the baby is responsible for hosting the next Mardi Gras party.
Mardi Gras Illusions – Mardi Gras Traditions
There are many traditions associated with Mardi Gras, and they can vary depending on the location and culture. Here are some common Mardi Gras traditions:
Parades: Mardi Gras parades are a central part of the celebration in many locations, including New Orleans, Mobile, and Galveston. The parades feature elaborate floats, marching bands, and costumed participants who throw beads, trinkets, and other goodies to the crowds.
Costumes and Masks: Many Mardi Gras celebrations involve wearing costumes and masks. The costumes can be elaborate and often feature the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and gold. Masks are also a common feature of Mardi Gras, and they allow participants to be anonymous and join in the revelry without being recognized.
King Cake: King Cake is a traditional dessert that is associated with Mardi Gras. The cake is shaped like a ring and is decorated with the Mardi Gras colors. It is usually filled with cinnamon, nuts, and sugar, and often has a small plastic baby hidden inside. Whoever finds the baby is said to have good luck for the coming year.
Beads: Beads are a common item thrown from parade floats during Mardi Gras. In some locations, such as New Orleans, collecting as many beads as possible is considered a part of the celebration.
Masking: In New Orleans, there is a tradition of “masking,” where people wear masks and costumes and parade through the streets on Mardi Gras day.
Throws: In addition to beads, parade participants often throw other items to the crowds, such as stuffed animals, cups, and doubloons (coins with the krewe’s emblem on them).
Krewes: Krewes are organizations that put on the parades and other events during Mardi Gras. They often have elaborate themes and costumes, and are responsible for selecting the King and Queen of the carnival.
Ash Wednesday: Mardi Gras culminates on the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Christian season of Lent. Many people attend church services and receive ashes on their foreheads as a reminder of mortality and repentance.
Mardi Gras Celebrations by Country
Mardi Gras is celebrated differently in various parts of the world, with unique customs and traditions depending on the location and cultural influences. Here are a few examples:
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA: New Orleans is one of the most well-known cities for Mardi Gras celebrations. The festivities typically include parades, costume balls, and the throwing of beads and other trinkets to the crowds. In addition, there are various traditional foods and drinks associated with Mardi Gras, such as King Cake and Hurricanes.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Mardi Gras in Brazil is known as Carnival, and it is one of the biggest and most elaborate celebrations in the world. The festivities feature samba parades, elaborate costumes, and street parties that go on for days. Carnival in Rio de Janeiro attracts millions of visitors from around the world each year.
Venice, Italy: In Venice, Mardi Gras is known as Carnevale, and it is celebrated with elaborate masquerade balls and parades. The city is known for its ornate costumes and masks, and there are numerous events and performances throughout the city during the two weeks leading up to Mardi Gras.
Mobile, Alabama, USA: Mobile is one of the oldest cities in the United States, and it is known for its Mardi Gras celebrations, which date back to the early 1700s. The festivities feature numerous parades, costume balls, and other events, and the city is known for its elaborate and colorful floats.
Nice, France: Nice is known for its extravagant Mardi Gras celebrations, which include flower parades, fireworks, and giant papier-mâché figures. The parades feature elaborately decorated floats and costumed participants who throw flowers and other items to the crowds.
Quebec City, Canada: In Quebec City, Mardi Gras is known as Carnaval, and it is celebrated with various outdoor activities and events, such as ice skating, snow rafting, and ice sculptures. The festival features colorful costumes and a mascot named Bonhomme, a large snowman who presides over the festivities.
Binche, Belgium: Binche is known for its unique Mardi Gras celebrations, which feature Gilles, who are men dressed in elaborate costumes and masks. The Gilles dance through the streets, and they are known for throwing oranges to the crowds. The festivities in Binche are recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
These are just a few examples of the different ways that Mardi Gras is celebrated around the world. Each location has its own unique customs and traditions that reflect its cultural history and influences.
An infinity edge pool is a type of swimming pool where one or more of its edges appears to merge with the surrounding landscape, giving the illusion that the pool is merging into the horizon or the surrounding scenery. This is achieved by designing the pool with a vanishing edge, where water flows over one or more edges of the pool, creating a visual effect of a never-ending body of water.
Infinity edge pools are also commonly referred to as “vanishing edge,” “disappearing edge,” or “negative edge” pools, and are often found in luxury resorts, high-end homes, and other upscale settings. They are typically designed to take advantage of a stunning view, whether it’s of the ocean, a city skyline, or a mountain range.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal, infinity edge pools also provide practical benefits such as improved water circulation and reduced maintenance requirements, as well as the sense of having a private oasis that seamlessly blends into the surrounding environment.
The illusion of an infinity edge pool is created by the careful design of the pool and its surroundings. The key feature of an infinity edge pool is the “vanishing edge” which is an edge of the pool that is lower than the water level. This allows water to flow over the edge and into a catch basin or reservoir.
The catch basin then pumps the water back into the pool, creating a continuous flow of water over the vanishing edge. From a distance, this creates the illusion that the water is flowing seamlessly over the edge of the pool and into the surrounding landscape.
To enhance the illusion, infinity edge pools are often designed with the surrounding landscape in mind. For example, the pool may be located on a hillside, so that the water appears to flow directly into the valley below. Alternatively, the pool may be located near the ocean or a lake, so that the water appears to merge with the larger body of water.
The illusion is further enhanced by the use of materials such as dark tiles or black granite, which create a mirror-like surface that reflects the surrounding environment, making it appear as if the pool has no boundaries. The overall effect is a stunning visual display that creates a sense of serenity and calm, and is a popular feature of many high-end luxury homes and resorts.
Versions of Infinity Edge Pool Illusions
The following are some examples of Infinity Edge Pool Illusions:
Illusions like Infinity Edge Pool Illusions
There are several other optical illusions that are similar to the infinity edge effect created by infinity edge pools. These techniques create optical illusions that deceive the eye and create the perception of something that is not actually there, or make objects appear different from their actual size, shape or location.
Some similar illusions are as follows:
Trompe-l’œil is a French term that means “trick the eye.”
It refers to a style of art that uses realistic depictions of three-dimensional objects to create the illusion of depth and a life-like appearance.
Trompe-l’œil paintings and murals are often used to create the illusion of an extended space or to make a room appear larger than it actually is.
Trompe-L’œil
Forced perspective is a technique used in photography, architecture, and other visual arts to manipulate the perception of the size and distance of objects.
It creates the illusion of a larger or smaller object, or of one that is closer or farther away, by carefully controlling the angles, proportions, and placement of objects in the scene.
Forced Perspective
Anamorphic street art is a form of street art that uses optical illusion to create a three-dimensional image when viewed from a specific angle.
Anamorphic street art is often created by distorting the image, so that when it is viewed from a specific viewpoint, the image appears to be three-dimensional and in full perspective.
It is often seen as a way of transforming urban spaces into playful, interactive environments.
The Ponzo illusion is a type of visual illusion in which a pair of parallel lines, or a horizontal bar, appear to be of different lengths based on the presence of a converging or diverging set of lines, often resembling the converging parallel lines of a road or railway track, placed above and below them.
The Ponzo Illusion
The Ebbinghaus illusion: This illusion is similar to the Delboeuf illusion but in this case the central circle appears larger when surrounded by smaller circles and smaller when surrounded by larger circles.
The Delboeuf illusion is a perceptual illusion in which the perceived size of a circle is affected by the size of the surrounding circles.
The Occlusion illusion is a visual illusion where an object that is partially obscured by another object appears to be farther away than it actually is. This illusion is caused by the brain’s interpretation of the relative depth of the objects based on their relative size and position. This phenomenon is based on the visual cues that the brain uses to perceive depth, such as relative size, position, and overlap.
The Müller-Lyer illusion is a classic example of size-contrast illusion, in which two lines of equal length appear to be different due to the presence of arrowheads or fins at the end of the lines.
The moon illusions involves the perception of the Moon appearing larger when it is near the horizon compared to when it is high in the sky.
The Kanizsa triangle is a visual illusion that was first described by the Italian psychologist Gaetano Kanizsa in 1955. The illusion consists of a white equilateral triangle that appears to be surrounded by three Pac-Man-like shapes, which are black and have white crescents facing inwards.
All these illusions demonstrate that the perceived size of an object can be influenced by the context in which it is presented, and that the brain uses the size of the surrounding objects as a reference point to judge the size of the central object.
Discovery of Infinity Edge Pool Illusions
The concept of an infinity edge pool has been around for centuries, but it is difficult to trace the exact origin of the design. Some sources credit French architect Bernard Lassus with developing the concept of a vanishing edge pool in the 1970s, while others attribute the design to an architect in Bali who created a similar effect using traditional water features.
However, it is clear that the modern version of the infinity edge pool, as we know it today, has its roots in high-end resort design and the luxury home market. The design became popular in the 1990s and has since become a common feature in high-end homes and resorts around the world.
While it is difficult to attribute the invention of the infinity edge pool to a single individual or company, it is clear that the design has evolved over time and has become an important feature in modern architecture and landscape design
The face forward or to the side illusion is another type of optical illusion that involves a two-dimensional image, usually a face, that appears to switch between looking straight ahead and looking to the side, depending on how you view it.
This illusion is created through the use of subtle differences in the proportions and positioning of facial features on each side of the face, which can trick the brain into perceiving a shift in the direction of the gaze.
The illusion is often used in artwork, such as portraits and sculptures, to create a sense of dynamism and movement.
Profile or Portrait Illusion – Is he looking forward or to the side?
Ambiguous illusions work by presenting the viewer with an image that can be interpreted in different ways, depending on how the brain processes the visual information. These illusions take advantage of the fact that our perception of the world is not solely determined by the information that enters our eyes, but is also influenced by our prior experiences and expectations.
One common type of ambiguous illusion is the “Necker cube,” which is a two-dimensional drawing that can be interpreted as a cube that is either facing toward the viewer or away from the viewer, depending on how the image is viewed. Other examples of ambiguous illusions include the “duck-rabbit” illusion, which can be seen as either a duck or a rabbit, and the “vase-faces” illusion, which can be seen as either a vase or two faces looking at each other.
These illusions work by creating visual cues that can be interpreted in multiple ways, leading the brain to oscillate between different possible interpretations. The exact neural mechanisms underlying ambiguous illusions are still the subject of scientific study, but they are thought to involve complex interactions between different parts of the brain involved in visual processing, attention, and perceptual decision-making.
With the profile or portrait illusion, the brain organizes the visual information in a way that creates the most meaningful and coherent interpretation, which can vary depending on how the viewer looks at the image.
It works by playing with the viewer’s expectations about the relationships between the different facial features, and highlights the brain’s ability to perceive depth and 3-dimensional structure in 2-dimensional images, and how it organizes the information in a way that creates the most meaningful and coherent interpretation.
Additionally, it is also related to the concept of “perceptual set” which refers to the brain’s ability to focus on specific aspects of the image and ignore others depending on the context, and “top-down processing” where the brain uses prior knowledge to interpret the visual information coming from the eyes.
Versions of the Profile or Portrait Illusion
The following is another version of the Profile or Portrait Illusion:
Ambiguous illusions are visual stimuli that can be interpreted in more than one way. These illusions typically consist of a single image that can be perceived in multiple ways. Ambiguous illusions can be used to study the neural mechanisms of perception and how the brain resolves ambiguity.
Some related illusions include the following:
The Rubin vase, also known as the Rubin face or the figure-ground vase, is a famous optical illusion in which the image of a vase can also be perceived as two faces in profile looking at each other.
The duck-rabbit illusion is an optical illusion that is an image that can be perceived as either a duck or a rabbit depending on how the viewer looks at it.
The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.
The My Wife and My Mother-in-Law illusion is an optical illusion with an image of a young woman’s face that can also be perceived as an older woman’s face.
The “My husband and father-in-law” illusion is a variation of the “My wife and my mother-in-law” illusion, which is an optical illusion that is an image of a man’s face that can also be perceived as an older man’s face.
This illusion is also created by the way the brain organizes the visual information in the image, and how it interprets the relationships between the different features of the face.
The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.
From Wikimedia Commons
The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The impossible trident is a three-pronged impossible shape resembling a trident. It is usually depicted as a three-pronged fork with each prong appearing to be a continuation of the next, creating an impossible shape.
From Wikimedia Commons
The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception
From Wikimedia Commons
The Monroe-Einstein illusion works by playing with the viewer’s expectations about the relationships between the features of the faces and the viewer’s sense of facial proportions.
Discovery of the Profile or Portrait Illusion
No one is specifically credited with discovering the Profile or Portrait Illusion.
William Ely Hill was an artist and caricaturist. He is best known for his illustrations and cartoons that were published in magazines and newspapers in the early 20th century. He was born in London in 1887 and studied at the Lambeth School of Art. He began his career as an illustrator working for magazines such as Punch, The Tatler, and The Sketch. He then started to work as a cartoonist and illustrator for newspapers like The Bystander and The Graphic. He also illustrated books, such as “The Complete Book of Tricks and Puzzles” and “The Big Little Book of Jokes and Riddles”.
Hill became famous for his illustrations of women, which were often featured in advertisements, postcards, and magazines. His illustrations were known for their elegance and attention to detail, and for their ability to capture the spirit of the times. He was also known for his ability to convey humor and satire in his illustrations. His illustrations were featured in magazines and newspapers in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada, and his work is considered to be a good representation of illustration and cartoon style of early 20th century. He died in London in 1962.
Dr. Jack Botwinick is a well-known neuropsychologist who has made significant contributions in the field of aging and cognitive psychology.
He is a professor of psychology at the City University of New York, and has also served as a faculty member at other institutions.
He has authored several books and numerous research papers on topics such as aging and memory, cognitive aging, and neuropsychology.
He is also known for his work in developing and testing theories of cognitive aging, and for his contributions to the understanding of the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying memory and aging.
