Put to practical use

 In general, we think trick art is just a entertainment. But trick art is put to practical use in hidden situation. The situation is almost in building. In various buildings, trick art is used to make the building more great place for spectator who visit the building.

 To begin with, in the early year when trick art was born, trick art mainly used to make the spectator feel the building is spacious or big. 

 This is "Teatro Olimpico" in Vicenza. trick art is applied to this aisle. This aisle has slope and get more and more narrow. Because of this, we feel perspective more than real.

　"Parthenon" also has trick art. In this building, to show stability, all pillars are incline to the inside, and the floor draw an arc because the center is higher than other part.

 Furthermore, the pillars have more feature. The pillars get more and more narrow as the pillar get tall. So we think Parthenon is tall than real.

 Jesuit church Vienna has Ana-morphosis. Look at the left picture. You will think the roof is domed structure. But the dome is actually picture! It is one of the Ana-morphosis. Because of it, the roof is looked higher than real.

 In Disney land, there are many illusions. At first, the road between the entrance and the Cinderella Castle. As same as Teatro Olimpico, it gets more and more narrow as it gets closer to the caste. So we feel that the castle is far away than real.

 In fact, the castle itself has illusion. The castle is looked taller than real because of the difference of the size of stone. Stone that places high point is small, and one that places low point is big.
 This technique is applied to Japanese castle and Japanese old building like Gozyunoto. In Japanese castle, the building gets more and more small as the building gets high. Because of it we feel that the castle is taller and more solemnity. Gozyunoto also has this structure. The highest floor is much smaller than lowest floor. Moreover the stability is one of the reasons that Japanese castle and Gozunoto has this structure.

 Do you know "Ryoanzi" also has illusion? Ryoanzi has devices to show it more broad.The illusion is hidden in a wall. The wall has little inclination. In left picture, the left side wall gets more and more low toward right. On the contrary, the right side wall gets more and more low toward left. In short, the back side wall is lower than other. Because of this device, it is said that we feel Ryoanzi is twice as broad as real size.
 Thus, illusion for buildings are used in around the world for long time.

 How about illusion that is put to practical use? I was surprised to know new aspect of illusion. 

Through these ten article, I can research about trick art to my hearts content. And I knew that trick art is not just a entertainment but plays various roles.

Trick picture that can be made easily from our daily life

 Have you ever seen a spirit photograph? I have never seen it.

 In the first place, I think that there are no real spirit photographs. If one takes it, it is just a sham. No. It is trick art! If a photograph could trick someone, it can be said trick art.
 Well, I introduce trick pictures that can be made easily from our daily life.

 Spirit picture also can be made from accidental element. There is many pictures that have another person's face, people who have no legs and so on. But these phenomena are caused by reflected light of window, dust in the air and "pattern recognition". Pattern recognition is instinct of human. We think three dots is eyes and mouse. This is one of pattern recognition.

 Look at above picture. You will think the girl's arm is very bushy! But it is wrong. If you look it carefully, you will notice the bushy arm is a man's leg. Spirit photograph is just like this.

This is similar type of trick picture to above picture. Don't be surprised. The center woman is not naked. The cause of this trick is a woman'a fat arm.

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 The pictures of UFO or Nessie are also trick picture. The left picture is famous picture of Nessie. There are many element that Nessie never exist. So we know this is not Nessie.











If someone take a picture of below situation, it is seen Nessie. Trick picture is so easy to take.

Next, look at this picture.

 Can you see a flying object at the upper right of this picture? Is it an UFO?

In fact, I took this picture from my room. So the UFO is just ink of a marker painted on sellotape. As another way to take UFO, taking flying disc that is like UFO. And painting UFO on a picture and take it again is common. Like this picture, you can take trick picture easily, too!

 Trick picture can be classified in few types by the situation that the picture taken.

 At first, trick pictures that use rules of perspective are common. To use rules of perspective, you can make trick about size.

If you want to try this type of trick picture, I recommend you to use a wide-angle lens. Because it can focus wide area and emphasis perspective.

　Second type is using gravitation illusion. It sounds difficult. But if there is a wall or a chair and an idea, it can be taken soon.

Third type is fusion with another thing. 

Of course, above picture is taken intentionally. But below picture is taken by chance. Thus, trick picture is hidden in our daily life.

 There are more and more types of trick pictures. So try to take your original interesting pictures.

 How about trick pictures that can be made easily from our daily life? If you make trick picture yourself, you will know more fascinating point of trick art.

Next week, I will show you practical use of trick art.

Type6: illusion about color

 Have you ever seen illusion about color?

 You will think what it means. Illusion about color, that is to say, illusion that trick human by using human's recognition about color. In this topic, you will become aware of your eyes' ambiguity. But believe yourself!

 

 Look at this picture. I will say an astonishing fact. A and B is same color! I have never believe it. But it is fact. It is illusion. We are neatly taken in. If you can't believe (I think you can't believe), look at below picture. Still, if there is someone who can't believe, use the PaintSoft to examine the fact by yourself.

 Next picture must surprise you, too.

 

 You will think there are many lozenges that are four different colors. But it is wrong. These lozenge are all same!! In fact, one lozenge have gradation of color in it. The gradation makes this illusion. You must also doubt it. But below moving image make you feel clear. This causes by the contrast of lozenge's edge. In every boundary, above parts are darker than below parts, so eyes are tricked.

 Please obey the words written in the picture. Can you see the building that is colorful? But the building is actually black and white image.
 This illusion occur because of the cone cell. If you stare at same color long time and cone cell
accustomed the color, cone cell send signal of opponent color to the brain. Opponent color means, for example, red-green and yellow-blue. This theory is proposed by Hering. Ewald Hering was a German physiologist who did much research into color vision and spatial perception. He proposed opponent color in 1892. This is hard to explain, so if you want to know detail, please check this URL. http://www.brl.ntt.co.jp/IllusionForum/v/colorAfterimage/ja/index.html
 There are many pictures about illusion. So I introduce some of them. Please enjoy!

The knack to see colorful picture is staring only one point and being careful not to move your eyes.

Next one is Munker illusion. Do you think there are four colors in yellow and blue stripe? In fact, there is only two colors. Above two rectangles are both red, and below two rectangles are both green. But you will feel right two rectangles are lighter than left. This illusion caused by phenomenon of assimilation. It means that the surrounding color influences the surrounded color. In above picture, right side rectangle' edge are surrounded by yellow more than blue. So right side are seen light. On the other hand, left side rectangle' edge are surrounded by blue more than yellow. So left side are seen dark.



Last picture is little difficult to understand. But if you understand it, you will be impressed.

 Now, you will think that there is blinking pink balls. It is right. Don't worry. But you can try another viewpoint!
 At first, be close to the picture and gaze on the center cross mark few minutes. So you will see a green ball revolving around the mark. And try to keep gazing more. Finally, you will notice that there is only green ball revolving. Can you see it?




How about illusion about color? Our brain has evolve to live. The transmission between brain and the optic nerve. But if we use the mechanism, our brain can be tricked easily. I think it is very interesting.

Next week is trick picture that can be made easily from our daily life. Don't miss it!

Type5: Paintings that moves despite those are just static images

 Have you ever seen paintings that moves despite those are just statics images?

　In this topic, long time stare will make you feel bad. Be careful.  

I'm sorry for publish too big picture. But if this picture is smaller than this one, this picture can't make illusion.

This is called "Rotating Snakes". It is made by Akiyoshi Kitaoka. He is a psychologist and a professor in Ritsumeikan University. Furthermore, he is a graduate of the department of biology in Tsukuba University.

 Can you believe your eyes? This is just a statics image. But the circles looks to be rotating. 

  Next one is "Pine cone". This looks ordinary picture. But it also have illusion. Well, please take a picture of this by your cell phone or something. And move this picture up and down or right and left. So the center pine cone moves! If you move this picture up and down, the pine cone moves right and  left. If you move this picture right and left, the pine cone moves up and down.

 This picture is very beautiful, isn't it? It is called "Warp". Stare at the center of this picture. Can you see the dots on the whirling pattern twinkling? If you think so, it is wrong. In fact, the dots are just colorful dots.

 This is called "zigzag worms". It is just a pattern of lozenge. But the first and the third from the top objects look like moving toward right, and the second and the forth look like moving toward left.

 Why these illusion happens? Akiyoshi Kitaoka gives some conclusion of the reason of illusion.

Below picture is classification of moving illusion made by Mr.Kitaoka.

observed in the peripheral vision

observed in the peripheral vision and the near-peripheral vision

observed in the peripheral vision and the near-peripheral vision

observed in the central vision and the near peripheral vision

 And why do we think that "Rotating Snakes" is rotating? So far scholars think the movement of eyes that cross the picture slowly makes the illusion of rotating.
 But Barrow neurology laboratory found that eyes' fine movement and a blink make the illusion.
 To result this conclusion, the scholars conduct the following experiment: there are eight subjects, and they push a button when they feel Rotating Snakes don't move. Then, one fact was revealed. When Rotating Snakes began to move, their eyes moved so quickly that it is hard to be recognized (it is called saccade) or blinking. On the other hand, when Rotating Snakes stop, their eyes kept stability state.

 The last picture is "Bergen illusion". This is ordinary checked pattern. But if you stare at this pattern, many black dots appear in the intersections. Interestingly, if you stare at one intersection, a black dot doesn't appear in the intersection. It is because photoreceptors that catch light restrain around stimulation. So the intersection get restraint from around passage and can be looked dark more than real. At the point you stare at, the density of photoreceptors are high. So there is little influence of restraint.


How about paintings that moves despite those are just statics images? Next week is illusion about color. Don't miss it!

Type4: Paintings that are seen pop up or fusion background

 Have you ever seen painting that are seen pop up or fusion background?

 The trick art of this topic is very mysterious, beautiful and entertaining. This is my favorite topic. And I have wanted to know the reason of illusion for long time.

 At first, watch these moving images (4:14～7:06 in first one).

　


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBNHPk-Lnkk (It can't move in this blog)


How was it? I'm very exciting! I think you are also surprising. It is just a long and narrow picture. But if you see it from specific angle, it became exactly like real thing.

The ambassadors

 This type of illusion is called Ana-morphosis. It is said that this technique was invented by Leonardo da Vinci. Look at left picture. 





 It is called "The ambassadors" painted by Hans Holbein the Younger who painted many Ana-morphosis arts. There is strange object in The ambassadors. It is the long and narrow object in the lower part of the picture. This is Ana-morphosis in the 16th century. If you see it from specific angle, the object    turns into a skull. Therefore, we will think there is a skull on a picture.
 Now, Ana-morphosis is used entertainment rather than art. But the revel of entertainment is beyond entertainment.









 Look at this picture. Is this a picture of a man who is about to dive into water? No. In fact, the waterfall and the pond is picture painted on the floor! I think you may have seen it on a TV program or something.
 The artist who painted this picture is Julian Beever. Although he uses only chalk, he painted wonderful world. Sad to say, this art disappears in few weeks. But it is priced at two million yen.

 I will introduce some his work. Enjoy the mysterious world.

If you want to see more pictures, check this URL.

(http://www.julianbeever.net/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=category&id=2:3d-illusions&Itemid=7)

 If you want to know the structure of these arts, look at the left pictures. In above moving images, you can see the long and narrow structure, too.

 Ana-morphosis, to say easily, it uses the opposite of perspective drawing. In perspective drawing, an object that is far from viewer is painted narrow and small and an object that is near to viewer is painted broad and big. But in Ana-morphosis, an object that is far from viewer is painted broad and big and an object that is near to viewer is painted narrow and small.

This is picture is same art that is above. But it is taken by different angle. If you see it from other point of view, it is just a strange art.




The process of making this art is also interesting. Below moving image is my favorite one.

In fact, Ana-morphosis is used in our daily life. For example, a traffic sign is common. Seeing from driver, Ana-morphosis can be seen ordinary picture. Billboard on tall building also use it. Higher letter is written big.








 How about Ana-morphosis? I like this topic the best. There is so many pictures about Ana-morphosis. Search yourself and get a fun and surprise!
 Thank you for seeing. Next week is paintings that moves despite those are just static images. Don't miss it!

Type3: object that change the form by the difference of the point of view

 Have you ever seen objects that change the form by the difference of the point of view (for example The pot of Rubin)?

 When I was junior high school student, I studied about this topic. In the class, three trick arts and Mt.Fuji are introduced. Below pictures are the two pictures besides the pot of Rubin.

ALL IS VANITY

Old woman and girl

 Look at "Old woman and girl". What do you think this is? Both old woman and girl are correct answer. The eye of old woman is an ear of girl. The nose of old woman is a chin of girl. The mouse of old woman is a necklace of girl. Try to see both characters.

 Next, look at "ALL IS VANITY".  If you see this picture from a distance, you only see a big skull. But if you see it from close range, you only see a woman in front of a dressing table.

Thus, in this week, I will introduce pictures that contain some characters in a paper.

 At first, you may think it is just a picture of Jesus Christ. But few seconds later, you will notice that the Jesus Christ is a part of BIG Jesus Christ! 

 Why is this family frightened? Oh, there is a big skull inside of the house... No. In fact, it is Santa Claus.

 This is called "spinning dancing girl". Above examples are easy to understand. But in this picture, I think that changing the point of view is very difficult. At first sight, it is just a spinning figure. However, if you gaze this picture, something will change.
 The answer is direction of spin. Now, the girl is spinning constant direction. But you can change the direction if you change the point of view. The conversion takes longer time than other pictures. If you can't change the direction, refer to the below picture.  

 What is this? It will be your first impression. Of course, right side is Mona Lisa. And left side is one scene of Japanese comic "Baki". These two pictures have only one common point. Can you find the answer? The hint is hiding in the picture.

 The answer is this!! Who on earth hit on this idea? I really respect the person.

 If you see above picture with narrowed eyes, Retu Kaio(烈海王)' face can be seen Mona Lisa' left eye.

 Next topic is "Hybrid images". It is trick art which was invented by MIT in 2007. It changes the main figure in two ways by the length between the picture and the viewer. A picture which has clearly outline and a dim picture make this illusion.

 Look at this picture. You may think left face is angry and right face is serious. Well, look at this picture from a distance or look at it with with narrowed eyes. Then, you will notice that left face is serious and right face is angry!














 This picture is hybrid of Albert Einstein and Marilyn Monroe.











 How about objects that change the form by the difference of the point of view? By the way, I cited Mt. Fuji as one of trick arts in this topic. It is because Mt. Fuji is beautiful if you see from far place. But the surface of Mt. Fuji is very dirty because of much trash. It is very bad illusion.