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Earlier today I posted five optical illusions by Olivier Redon, a French-American inventor. Here they are again – with demonstrations of how he created the effects.
Three of the images are inspired by the Necker cube, a two-dimensional drawing of a cube that can be understood in two ways: either with the bottom left face at the front, or the top right face at the front. Once your eyes settle on one interpretation, it is hard to see the other.
1. Ceci n’est pas une canette
Here’s an image of a can. But what are you actually looking at?
The illusion convinces you that you are looking at the outside of a complete can, when in fact you are looking an inverted internal segment of can with the top stuck on upside down. The eyes see the shape as curved outwards, when in fact it is curved inwards.
The image at the top of this article shows the two pieces you need to create the illusion: the top disc, and the side section, which are then fitted together.
2. The Oh La La Box
This is not a red box! What is Redon actually holding in his hand?
Amazingly, the cube is two pieces of cardboard…
…in an X shape!
As with the Necker cube, once you see the faces as sticking out (or in), it is very difficult to see tham as sticking in (or out).
The still images don’t do this illusion justice. The video is quite remarkable. It is hard to believe your eyes.
3. Twin dinos
This iPhone image is of two dinosaurs that are the same size. How did Redon take the image?
This illusion plays with lines of perspective. All you need to do is take pictures of the dinos at both a horizontal and a vertical angle.
4. Fragile
This is a portrait of Redon and his daughter. How was it taken?
Ta-dah!
5. The transparent cube
This looks like a cube with transparent sides. But what is it?
This one is the Necker cube again. The three squares with writing on are not the outward faces. They are the inward faces!
I hope you enjoyed these illusions. I’ll be back in two weeks.
All photographs are copyright Oliver Redon. You can check out his website olired.com here and follow him on LinkedIn.
I’ve been setting a puzzle here on alternate Mondays since 2015. I’m always on the look-out for great puzzles. If you would like to suggest one, email me.
