Check out the above video, which uses some lighting magic to make our photographic brains hurt. After you’ve watched it, can you explain why this illusion occurs? Leave a comment below.
The “shadow” is printed on the paper. Her hands never experience that “shadow”, they are always lit evenly from above. Same goes for that piece of paper she moves. Stop the film once the piece is lying half-way across the shadow’s edge. There is no edge on the piece she moves either. Looks really nice, but the light behind the pillar is not strong enough to actually cast the shadow you think you see.
Dominicsays
If you want the proof that it’s just an illusion, clickon the link published by George, download the image, go into Photoshop, cut the “B” square and drag it onto the “A” square. You’ll see that both squares are identical.
Fog says
… gray matte semi transparent paper …
Dominic says
It’s because it’s made of a reflective material.
George Birbilis says
http://web.mit.edu/persci/people/adelson/checkershadow_illusion.html
http://web.mit.edu/persci/people/adelson/checkershadow_description.html
very nice! can also add a followup video part with the proof:
http://web.mit.edu/persci/people/adelson/checkershadow_proof.html
Dominic says
Thanks George.
It’s really just an illusion!
Patrik says
The “shadow” is printed on the paper. Her hands never experience that “shadow”, they are always lit evenly from above. Same goes for that piece of paper she moves. Stop the film once the piece is lying half-way across the shadow’s edge. There is no edge on the piece she moves either. Looks really nice, but the light behind the pillar is not strong enough to actually cast the shadow you think you see.
Dominic says
If you want the proof that it’s just an illusion, clickon the link published by George, download the image, go into Photoshop, cut the “B” square and drag it onto the “A” square. You’ll see that both squares are identical.
http://web.mit.edu/persci/people/adelson/checkershadow_illusion.html
It’s amazing how easily our eyes can be fooled!
Michael McNulty says
http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/~akitaoka/index-e.html
Adam says
It’s magic!