Eye in the Sky

Here is another image taken with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). I found this on Artsy Science. Tracy runs this blog and creates the images. I love this photo he says the following on this creation.

I'm sure many are thinking "dammit Tracy, enough with the freakin' Velcro® already!"

So, for my next little number, I present to you a fly eye imaged with the Scanning Electron Microscope (pseudocolored for artsyness).

"Fly Eye"
Credit: Tracy E. Anderson

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Color-constancy illusion

I have seen this illusion many times and for some reason never focused on it. I must have past by this optical illusion a dozen times before finally focusing on an article and reading what it is about. It is very similar to the checkershadow illusion but involves color rather than just shades of gray.


Image Copyright Dale Purves, R. Beau Lotto and Surajit Nundy.

The "blue" tiles on top of the left cube and the "yellow" tiles on top of the right cube are actually the same shade of gray. If you use an eye dropper tool to fine the red, green, blue values of each square you will find the value is not precise across any square but they are all definitely grey with a RGB value around R142 G149 B157.

Another interesting tidbit is that the red tiles on top of the left cube are orange and the red tiles on the top of the right cube are purple.

To read more about this illusion read either of these articles: American Scientist: Why We See What We Do and Discover Magazine: Sensory Reflexes.

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Tarot Bridge to Infinity

J.M. Berger creator of Chaosdancer created a Chaos tarot deck based on fractal images. He also provides (for a price) an online tarot reading for those interested. Tarot readings can provide individuals insight or as some might say the illusion of insight. Below is the image he uses for the Priestess card.

I included this image here because it provides us with the Optical Illusion of a Bridge to Infinity. Does anyone here dare walkout on this bridge and see where it leads? If you are interested in some amazing fractal prints or the Tarot then drop in on his site and check out his creations.

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Triquetra Fractal

The below is from a New Zealand blog called "Not Quite Perfect." Dzeni is the site's proprietor, she focuses this blog on Fractals many of which she created using Chaoscope. The image below I believe is a recent creation of hers.
At the request of a reader she created a fractal based on a triquetra and this is the result she posted. This falls into the category of an illusion of science. Without the modern personal computer creating these images would be next to impossible.

Update: Dzeni says, "The image above was created using Apophysis." Thanks Dzeni!

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Astral Projection? No, Natural Projection.

Rob from What Is It? provided me a follow up to the Magnifying Glass Optical Illusion post. Rob included the below picture and this explanation.

If you put a magnifying glass a few inches from a wall that is opposite a window, you will see the outside view projected upside down on the wall. But if you put a lens on the window and cover the rest of the window with opaque material, the lens will project the outside view over the entire opposite wall, of course you must have the proper size lens for the room.

This is a picture that Rob took after conducting his lens experiment. You can see the view outside his room is projected on the wall. If you would like to do this for yourself follow the instructions on this site.

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Under The Sea

This is not an optical illusion but it is too cool to pass up. This restaurant doesn't give you the illusion of the sea with a large aquarium, they actually place you five meters below the surface, smack dab in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

The Maldives | 15 April marks the day that the first ever all-glass undersea restaurant in the world opens its doors for business at the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. Ithaa will sit five meters below the waves of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by a vibrant coral reef and encased in clear acrylic offering diners 270-degrees of panoramic underwater views.

“Our guests always comment on being blown away by the colour, clarity, and beauty of the underwater world in the Maldives, so it seemed the perfect idea to build a restaurant where diners can experience fine cuisine and take time to enjoy the views – without ever getting their feet wet.”

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Magnifying Glass Optical Illusion

Aaron from the photoblog Knurdle.com took this photo and presented it on his blog. He says the following about this picture and effect:

Neat trick you can do with a magnifying glass.
I was amazed when I was shown this and had to get a picture of it.

Seems to me that this must be similar to a film projector focusing an image on a screen. Everything imaged on the table seem to have their own light source. This effect can lead one to believe at first glance that there are two light sources in different locations, or a light box built into the table. It could take a few seconds for your brain to sort things out and give you an accurate interpretation of what your seeing.

Thanks again to Aaron of Knurdle.com for allowing me the use of this image.

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