Top 25 Visual Illusions

Visual illusions can be very interesting. The way colors and patterns can trick our eyes is both fun and educational. Here are 25 visual illusions for you to view – can you describe what you see?

1. Which cross is bigger? Is one larger than the other? Or are they the same?

From Flickr, Crossmedia.files (Creative Commons)

2. Attack of the Giant Grasshopper! The photographer was trying to take a picture of a grasshopper on his car window, but the perspective caused the insect to look much bigger.

From Flickr, geraldbrazell (Creative Commons)

3. Peak or Valley? Does the top of the pillar peak up – or down?

From Flickr, Prashanth Mahagaonkar (Creative Commons)

4. Who Do You See? If you look at this picture up close, it will be Albert Einstein. If you stand back 15 feet, however, it becomes Marilyn Monroe.

From Flickr, Purple Slog (Creative Commons)

5. Canyon. In Sweden, a talented painter created this street art – could you walk over it?

From Flickr, Stefan Leijon (Creative Commons)

6. Towers in Towers. The reflective panels of these skyscrapers create a very interesting optical illusion.

From Flickr, C.P. Storm (Creative Commons)

7. Bird or Bull? This great nature picture, turned on its side, yields some unique results.

From Flickr, Jony Cunha (Creative Commons)

8. Straight or Curved? Do the parallel lines curve, or are they straight?

 

From Flickr, pizzodisevo (Creative Commons)

9. Still or Spinning? Take a look at the circles – do they seem to be still, or spinning?

From Flickr, Andreia Bohner (Creative Commons)

10. Man or Family? At first glance, this seems to clearly be a man. But look closer – is that really there?

From Flickr, The Lex Talionis (Creative Commons)

11. Bottle in a Truck! This well-painted truck certainly catches the eye!

From Flickr, The Lex Talionis (Creative Commons)

12. Reflection. The man’s portrait may look stretched, but in reflection it’s perfect.

From Flickr, Amanda Warren (Creative Commons)

13. Impossible Triangle. This set of dice makes a triangle – doesn’t it?

From Flickr, The Lex Talionis (Creative Commons)

14. Are They Straight? All of the bars on this gate should be straight – but are some bent?

From Flickr, atramos (Creative Commons)

15. Spinning or Still? This wheel is still, but appears to be spinning – can you see it?

From Flickr, PowerPatrick (Creative Commons)

16. Flat – or not? Are these floor tiles going to trip you up, or is it just an illusion?

From Flickr, Georg Scholz (Creative Commons)

17. What’s in a Word? Do you see the word ‘victory’, or ‘defeat’? In truth, they are both there.

From Flickr, Fiona Shields (Creative Commons)

18. Windows. Do the windows angle out to your right, or your left?

From Flickr, pciet (Creative Commons)

19. Floating on Air. Thanks to some great camera work, this flower seems to be floating on air.

From Flickr, Fran Tapia (Creative Commons)

20. Toward, or Away? Is the cone coming toward you, or facing away?

From Flickr, Brandon Atkinson (Creative Commons)

21. Straight Line. Each of these lines is straight – can you tell?

From Flickr, Robson# (Creative Commons)

22. Size Matters. Which inside circle is bigger? Actually, they are the same.

From Flickr, Robson# (Creative Commons)

23. Hands? How did he get his hand behind the computer image?

From Flickr, Evan (Creative Commons)

24. Nine Lives. Is this cat on top of a bookshelf, or is she falling off?

From Flickr, Stephen Duncan (Creative Commons)

25. Peripherial Drift. If you stare at this one too long, you’ll get quite dizzy!

From Flickr, Luis Argerich (Creative Commons)

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