Paradox Illusions Archives

Negative Photo Illusion

The negative photo illusion is a type of optical illusion that is created when a person views a negative image of a photo.

This illusion can cause the brain to perceive the image as if it were a positive image, even though it is inverted.

This illusion can be especially striking when the negative image is compared side-by-side with the original positive image, as the differences between the two can be quite pronounced.

The negative photo illusion can be a fun and interesting way to challenge one’s visual perception and understanding of images, and can also be used to help demonstrate the workings of the brain and the ways in which it processes visual information.

To give it a try, stare at the image below for 30 seconds and then look to a white surface. It may help to blink a few times when staring at the white surface it it doesn’t work for you the first time.

How does the Negative Photo Illusion work?
Versions of the Negative Photo Illusion
Illusions like the Negative Photo Illusion
Discovery of the Negative Photo Illusion
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How does the Negative Photo Illusion work?

The negative photo illusion works by exploiting the way our brain processes visual information. Our brains are very good at recognizing patterns and objects, even when they are presented in a slightly different form. When we look at a positive image, our brain quickly recognizes the objects and their relationships to each other, and interprets the image accordingly.

When a positive image is transformed into a negative image, the colors and brightness levels of the objects are reversed. This inversion can disrupt the way our brain recognizes the objects and their relationships, causing us to perceive the negative image as if it were a positive image.

However, despite the inversion, our brain still tries to make sense of the image by recognizing the objects and their relationships to each other, even though they appear different than they would in a positive image. As a result, our brain can perceive the negative image as if it were a positive image, even though it is inverted.

In other words, the negative photo illusion works by taking advantage of the brain’s ability to recognize patterns and objects, and its tendency to interpret images in a way that makes sense, even if the image is inverted.

Negative Photo Illusions vs. Afterimages

Negative photo illusions and positive afterimages are similar in that they both involve the perception of an image that is different from the way it actually appears. However, they are distinct types of optical illusions that are created by different mechanisms.

A positive afterimage is created when the stimulation of the photoreceptors in the eye continues even after the original stimulus is removed. This can cause the brain to perceive a ghost image that is the opposite color of the original image. For example, if you stare at a red image for a long time and then look at a white wall, you might see a green afterimage.

In contrast, a negative photo illusion is created by presenting the brain with an inverted version of an image, with the colors and brightness levels reversed. This can cause the brain to perceive the negative image as if it were a positive image, even though it is inverted.

So, while both negative photo illusions and positive afterimages involve the perception of an image that is different from the way it actually appears, they are created by different mechanisms and result in different types of optical illusions.

Versions of the Negative Photo Illusion

The following is an alternate versions of the Negative Photo Illusion and a few Afterimage examples too:

Illusions like the Negative Photo Illusion

The negative photo illusion is a type of optical illusion. Optical illusions are visual phenomena that occur when the brain perceives an image differently from the way it actually is. These illusions can be caused by a variety of factors, including the way the brain processes visual information, the way the eyes perceive light and color, and the way the brain fills in missing information.

The negative photo illusion is a specific type of optical illusion that is created when a person views a negative image of a photo. By presenting the brain with an inverted version of an image, the illusion tricks the brain into perceiving the image as if it were a positive image, even though it is inverted. This illusion is an example of how the brain’s visual processing can be influenced by the way information is presented.

Some related illusions include the following:

The afterimage illusion is a type of visual illusion in which an image continues to appear in the observer’s visual field after the original stimulus has been removed.

This can occur due to the persistence of neural activity in the visual system, and can take the form of a positive afterimage (an image that is the same color as the original stimulus) or a negative afterimage (an image that is the opposite color of the original stimulus).

Afterimage illusions can be caused by a variety of factors, including the duration and intensity of the original stimulus, and the observer’s individual visual characteristics.

Stare at the image below for 30 seconds and then look to a white surface.

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.

Edelson-Checker_shadow_illusion — 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.

Simultaneous Contrast Effect — 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 the Negative Photo Illusion

The concept of the negative photo illusion has likely been around for as long as people have been creating and viewing photographs. The idea of inverting colors and brightness levels to create a negative image of a photo has been known since the invention of photography. However, the term “negative photo illusion” and the specific understanding of how this illusion works on the brain may have been discovered and documented more recently.

It’s difficult to attribute the discovery or invention of the negative photo illusion to a specific person or group, as it is a relatively common phenomenon that is easily observable. Nevertheless, the concept of optical illusions and the study of how the brain perceives visual information has been the subject of much research and exploration in the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and vision science.

The phenomenon of afterimages, also known as persistence of vision, has been known for centuries.

The ancient Greeks and Romans were aware of the phenomenon, and it was also described by the ancient Chinese and Arab scholars.

The earliest scientific study of afterimages was done by the German scientist Hermann von Helmholtz in the 19th century.

He published a book in 1867 titled “Handbook of Physiological Optics” which gave a detailed explanation of the phenomenon, including the theory that afterimages were caused by the retina’s sensitivity to light.

This study is considered as one of the earliest and most comprehensive explanations of the afterimage effect.

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Drawing Hands by Escher

“Drawing Hands” is a famous lithograph by the Dutch artist M.C. Escher. It was created in 1948 and is considered one of Escher’s most famous works.

The image depicts two hands that seem to be drawing each other. The left hand holds a pencil and appears to be drawing the outline of the right hand, while the right hand holds a pencil and appears to be drawing the outline of the left hand. This creates a paradoxical and circular composition, as the hands seem to be both creating and being created by each other.

The image is a good example of Escher’s interest in optical illusions and impossible constructions. The hands are depicted with a high degree of realism, yet they are placed in an impossible and self-referential configuration, challenging our perception of reality. The hands also create a visual link between the act of creation and the act of perception, as if the viewer is witnessing the process of creation happening before their eyes.

“Drawing Hands” is considered one of Escher’s most iconic works and continues to captivate audiences with its paradoxical and visually engaging composition

How does Drawing Hands by Escher work?
Versions of Drawing Hands by Escher
Illusions like Drawing Hands by Escher
Discovery of Drawing Hands by Escher
References and Resources
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How does Drawing Hands by Escher work?

The illusions in M.C. Escher’s “Drawing Hands” work through the manipulation of perspective, spatial relationships, and the use of mirrored reflections. Escher carefully crafted the composition of the two hands to create the illusion that they are drawing each other in a circular and self-referential manner.

The hands are depicted in a way that appears to be anatomically correct, with a high degree of realism. The placement of the hands and the positioning of the pencils creates the illusion of depth and the impression that the hands are reaching out towards the viewer. The circular composition of the hands creates a paradoxical and impossible construction, as the hands seem to be both creating and being created by each other.

Additionally, the use of mirrored reflections reinforces the illusion of a continuous and self-referential space. The reflection of the hands in the surface beneath them creates a visual connection between the two hands, as if they are two sides of the same object.

Overall, the illusions in “Drawing Hands” work through the combination of realistic depictions of the hands, the manipulation of perspective and spatial relationships, and the use of mirrored reflections. These techniques create a visually engaging and paradoxical composition that challenges our perception of reality.

Versions of Drawing Hands by Escher

The following are some alternate versions of Drawing Hands by Escher

Illusions like Drawing Hands by Escher

“Drawing Hands” by M.C. Escher contains several types of illusions, including:

Optical Illusion: The image of the two hands appearing to draw each other creates a paradoxical and self-referential optical illusion. This illusion challenges our perception of reality by depicting a seemingly impossible construction.
Forced Perspective: Escher used forced perspective to create the illusion of depth and the impression that the hands are reaching out towards the viewer. By carefully controlling the size and placement of the hands and pencils, he created the illusion of a three-dimensional space.
Mirrored Reflection: The use of mirrored reflections reinforces the illusion of a continuous and self-referential space. The reflection of the hands in the surface beneath them creates a visual connection between the two hands, as if they are two sides of the same object.
Paradox: The image of the two hands drawing each other creates a paradoxical construction, as the hands seem to be both creating and being created by each other. This paradoxical relationship is a key component of the illusion in “Drawing Hands.”

Overall, “Drawing Hands” contains several different types of illusions that work together to create a visually engaging and paradoxical composition.

Some related illusions include the following:

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.

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.

Pensrose Staircase — 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 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.

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.

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.

Schroeders_stairs — From Wikimedia Commons

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.

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

Spinning Dancer Gif — From Wikimedia Commons

The impossible cylinder is an impossible shape resembling a cylinder similar to the Penrose triangle, impossible cube, and the impossible trident.

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.

Creation of Drawing Hands by Escher

“Drawing Hands” is a famous lithograph by the Dutch artist M.C. Escher. It was created in 1948 and is considered one of Escher’s most famous works.

Maurits Cornelis (M.C.) Escher was a Dutch graphic artist born on June 17, 1898, in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. He was widely known for his mathematically inspired and often impossible constructions, as well as his use of tessellations, or repeated patterns of shapes that fit together seamlessly like tiles.

Escher’s works are characterized by their playfulness, intricate details, and optical illusions. He created many famous prints and drawings, including “Relativity,” “Sky and Water I,” and “Day and Night,” all of which showcase his fascination with impossible constructions and the interplay between two-dimensional and three-dimensional space.

Escher’s works have had a profound influence on mathematics, art, and popular culture, and continue to be widely recognized and celebrated today. He is considered one of the greatest graphic artists of the 20th century, and his works are prized by collectors and art enthusiasts all over the world.

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.

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Metamorphosis III by Escher

“Metamorphosis III” by M.C. Escher is a woodcut print that showcases his skills in tessellation and transformation. The print features a series of shapes that seem to transform into each other, creating the illusion of a continuous cycle of transformation.

The print starts with a series of hexagons and becomes increasingly complex, with shapes that resemble birds, fish, and beetles transforming into each other. The shapes are arranged in such a way that they form a tessellation, a repeating pattern that covers the entire surface of the print.

The illusion of transformation is created through the use of similar shapes and patterns, as well as the way the shapes are arranged in relation to each other. The shapes are transformed gradually, with each shape becoming a smaller version of the shape that preceded it, creating the illusion of a never-ending cycle of transformation.

The use of color also plays a role in the illusion. The colors used in the print are muted, creating a sense of harmony and coherence, and the gradual change from one color to another reinforces the illusion of transformation.

Overall, “Metamorphosis III” is a masterful example of Escher’s skills in tessellation and transformation, showcasing his ability to create visually stunning and thought-provoking works that challenge the viewer’s perception of reality. The print is a testament to Escher’s mastery of mathematical principles and his ability to bring abstract concepts to life through his art.

How does Metamorphosis III by Escher work?
Versions of Metamorphosis III by Escher
Illusions like Metamorphosis III by Escher
Discovery of Metamorphosis III by Escher
References and Resources
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How does Metamorphosis III by Escher work?

M.C. Escher’s “Metamorphosis III” is a lithograph that features a series of transformed and interconnected architectural structures that create an optical illusion. The work is an example of impossible constructions, where the laws of perspective and gravity appear to be defied.

In this print, Escher used various techniques to create an illusion of multiple levels and impossible spaces. For example, he used a technique known as forced perspective, where he manipulated the size and placement of objects to create the illusion of depth and three-dimensionality. Additionally, he used repeated patterns and shapes to create the sense of a continuous space that transforms and interconnects in unexpected ways.

The print’s central image is a tower-like structure that appears to transform into a staircase, which then transforms into another tower, creating a never-ending cycle of transformation. This transformation is achieved through the use of interlocking shapes and a series of mirrored reflections that create the illusion of a continuous space.

Overall, the optical illusions in “Metamorphosis III” are created through the manipulation of perspective, the repetition of patterns and shapes, and the use of interlocking forms. These techniques work together to create a visually engaging and mind-bending image that challenges our perception of space and reality.

Versions of Metamorphosis III by Escher

The following are some alternate versions of Metamorphosis III by Escher

Escher,_Metamorphosis_II — Metamorphosis II by Escher

Escher,_Metamorphosis_I — Metamorphosis I by Escher

Illusions like Metamorphosis III by Escher

“Metamorphosis III” by M.C. Escher features several illusions, including:

Transformation illusion: The print features a series of shapes that seem to transform into each other, creating the illusion of a continuous cycle of transformation. The illusion of transformation is created through the use of similar shapes and patterns, as well as the way the shapes are arranged in relation to each other.
Tessellation illusion: The shapes used in the print are arranged in such a way that they form a tessellation, a repeating pattern that covers the entire surface of the print. This creates a sense of unity and coherence in the print and reinforces the illusion of transformation.
Perception illusion: The gradual change from one shape to another and the use of muted colors create a sense of harmony and coherence in the print, making it difficult for the viewer to discern the individual shapes and to tell where one transformation ends and the next begins. This challenges the viewer’s perception and forces them to look more closely at the print to understand what is happening.

Overall, “Metamorphosis III” features a combination of transformation, tessellation, and perception illusions,