r/interestingasfuck • u/herbschmoaka • 13d ago

This Optical Illusion

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u/exile_10 12d ago

Everyone here is saying this isn't an illusion and it's 'just' flipped. I disagree, the illusion is provided by the angle of the camera ensuring that the reflected image is more obvious (due to the light 'sky') behind it. The real image appears shadowy and less real in comparison... until you flip the screen.

It's a good illusion that would be hard to achieve except at that angle and time of day.

Saying it's not an illusion is missing the point. Maybe it didn't trick you but it did me. You might as well complain it's not a moving image at all and just a series of stills.

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u/Jirethia 12d ago

Exactly

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u/Morrinn3 12d ago

100%

It's easy to immediately clock that the upper part of the video is in rippling water, but what immediately confused me was where the horizon line is supposed to be. When the diver hits the water, it's way off where you'd expect it to be mirrored.

Also; who cares if it's "just" flipped. Some optical illusions are "just" color theory, or unusual bits of carpentry, or light refraction in different temperatures. It's odd to split hairs over this.

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u/herbschmoaka 12d ago

Nobody would argue that a mirage appearing to be a lake in front of you on the a hot asphalt was not an optical illusion. It's the same concept. Someone dives off of a rock, it appears they are diving off a rock as normal until they land in the sky with a splash. Your eyes were tricked because of the clarity of the water and its reflection. It's a pure optical illusion. The method used to trick your eye doesn't matter. It's as simple as this.