Uglified Optical Illusion
This is a strange optical illusion based on focusing on the cross in the middle. The usually "beautiful people" seem to become disfigured.
Jason Tangen, Sean Murphy and Matthew Thompson won second prize in the Eighth Annual Best Illusions of the Year contest sponsored by the Vision Sciences Society. This team from the University of Queensland in Australia discovered "the flashed face distortion effect".
The optical illusion , which works on non-celebs' faces, too, was discovered by accident by Jason Tangen, Sean Murphy and Matthew Thompson of the University of Queensland in Australia. Dubbed the "flashed face distortion effect," it won second prize in the eighth annual Best Illusions of the Year contest, held each year at the Vision Sciences Society meeting.
The researchers explain, "By aligning the faces at the eyes and presenting them quickly, it becomes much easier to compare them, so the differences between the faces are more extreme. If someone has a large jaw, [the effect makes it appear] almost ogre-like. If they have an especially large forehead, then it looks particularly bulbous. We're conducting several experiments right now to figure out exactly what's causing this effect."
Apparently, it works with normal faces, but there is no way I'm putting up my mug.
Jason Tangen, Sean Murphy and Matthew Thompson won second prize in the Eighth Annual Best Illusions of the Year contest sponsored by the Vision Sciences Society. This team from the University of Queensland in Australia discovered "the flashed face distortion effect".
The optical illusion , which works on non-celebs' faces, too, was discovered by accident by Jason Tangen, Sean Murphy and Matthew Thompson of the University of Queensland in Australia. Dubbed the "flashed face distortion effect," it won second prize in the eighth annual Best Illusions of the Year contest, held each year at the Vision Sciences Society meeting.
The researchers explain, "By aligning the faces at the eyes and presenting them quickly, it becomes much easier to compare them, so the differences between the faces are more extreme. If someone has a large jaw, [the effect makes it appear] almost ogre-like. If they have an especially large forehead, then it looks particularly bulbous. We're conducting several experiments right now to figure out exactly what's causing this effect."
Apparently, it works with normal faces, but there is no way I'm putting up my mug.
Comments
WOW! That is amazing! Great find gdanea, really cool.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 09/13/12 at 11:41 PM
Seriously weird!!!!
BTW, here's my mug shot.
http://www.imagesby.me/Xtras/avatar350.jpg
BTW, here's my mug shot.
http://www.imagesby.me/Xtras/avatar350.jpg
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 09/14/12 at 12:11 AM
Just thought of something, what if caricatures were used as the photos, what would the effect be then.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 09/14/12 at 08:23 AM
Great idea, Patty! (for a girl) Ask them!
Here's a/the link to the original post, at the university, with non-celebs. Same effect. Click Here
Here's a/the link to the original post, at the university, with non-celebs. Same effect. Click Here
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 09/14/12 at 08:49 AM
I sent a message off. I'll let you know if I get a reply.
Posted by KDP on 09/14/12 at 09:50 AM
Long ago I figured out that facial beauty is simply "the absence of ugliness."
Some years ago researchers found that if you combine the average facial features of a large number of people, the composite is actually beautiful. Ugly features are features that deviate from the average. Since almost nobody (nobody else, anyway - LOL) has a perfect face, everybody has something in their face that 'deviates' from the average.
When you look at the cross, your eyes (peripheral vision) are much more sensitive to changes thatn if you are looking straight at something where colors and details dominate.
The deviations (changes from the average) are enhanced, amping up the 'ugly.'
Some years ago researchers found that if you combine the average facial features of a large number of people, the composite is actually beautiful. Ugly features are features that deviate from the average. Since almost nobody (nobody else, anyway - LOL) has a perfect face, everybody has something in their face that 'deviates' from the average.
When you look at the cross, your eyes (peripheral vision) are much more sensitive to changes thatn if you are looking straight at something where colors and details dominate.
The deviations (changes from the average) are enhanced, amping up the 'ugly.'
Posted by tadchem on 09/14/12 at 02:22 PM
So Da Vinci was really on to something when he was drawing his "grotesques". He was so much into visual perceptions and peripheral vision, that he must have known something about this effect (being a genius, and all), only did not have the fast-motion photos, or any photos for that matter, at the time. This is an amazing effect, and I'm convinced he was onto something like it.
Posted by done on 09/15/12 at 12:05 AM
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Category: Magic and Illusions and Sleight of Hand