San Francisco Quake Optical Illusion

I lived in San Francisco area from 1983-87 and have many fond memories. I learned to drive a manual shift automobile, I met my wife, and I got married. My wife and I spent many a weekend in the city enjoying what this great city had to offer. While living in the Bay area we only experienced a minor quake or two, barely a rumble.

But on October 17th 1989 a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Bay area just before the third game of the World Series at Candlestick Park. This was the worst earthquake since 1906, many buildings collapsed and many others shifted off of their foundations. This picture was taken after the quake.

How is it that this building is leaning so far over yet there is no apparent damage?

© 2002 Erwin Purucker
www.panoptikum.net
Used w/permission

This is actually Erwin's daughter, thankfully she seems to have survived the shake in one piece.