Comments on: Ocean Ripple Optical Illusion

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 08:47:19 +0000

There is no “bottom rail” or “top rail”. It’s all just one pillar. The water is actually behind the rail. The sun is also hitting the bottom of the rail and seems as if it would also be hitting the top, but that part has been cut off from the photo (to help confuse the image). It’s the design of the rail that really throws everyone off.

By: Ciel

Ciel — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 11:28:04 +0000

Uhm to be honest did any of you look to the right and at the bottom …the pillar is chipped so it can’t be a reflection….

By: Speedy

Speedy — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 05:48:46 +0000

It took some time to notice it was in front of the water. In case you don’t see that it is in front of the water, just squint your eyes.

By: YourFrigginMom[=

YourFrigginMom[= — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:49:44 +0000

I see that this is a column immersed in water.
I came to a conclusion that it wasn’t, for the fact that it looks so simple- and also figured that i would see some rippling in the ‘reflection’. Soon enough, I cam to an astonishing realization that there was very few displacements in the reflections, or shall I say ‘wiggly lines’, that do not appear int the actual, seemingly flawlessly smooth columns.

By: nbameless

nbameless — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 23:21:42 +0000

reflections are total copies of real objects and images, including sunlight, look at the sunlight on the picture, the upper part is overshadowed, but the lower part has light

the absence of ripples is pretty obvious and it gives up the image : )
also, if it was a reflection, the rings on the columns would be doubled

By: David

David — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 23:05:54 +0000

The actual illusion is that for a brief moment when you first see it, you might see columns where the water is.

By: David

David — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 23:04:03 +0000

Notice how the columns and ripples have no interactions?

Look at the column on the right. Chip on bottom, no chip on top.

Notice the discoloration on the top of every column, but no discoloration on the bottom of the column.

I’d say if there is an illusion it is a seemingly reverse parallax.

By: Sander

Sander — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 19:44:15 +0000

There’s actually some reflection from the sun in the water on the underside of the pillarbars which can be seen in the “reflection” around the reflected pillars.Also, the whole lower section (reflection) has got a ripple-effect if you lok closely and compare them to the upper ones.

By: pop

pop — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:06:32 +0000

what dont get it its a bridge not the reflextion on the water

By: Goran

Goran — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 22:13:11 +0000

it’s one column that has a little fat ring in the middle.

By: michael

michael — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 05:51:47 +0000

i think it is how the bottom of the columns is light but the columns are very dark that’s probaly the illusion

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 04:11:37 +0000

I see a row of columns (small)that are reflected off the surface of the water, giving an illusion of bigger ones, and a bigger view of water. Nice illusion. I like these illusions, because it helps to train the eye (and brain) to see what is in our frame of reference.

By: Cherry Blossom

Cherry Blossom — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:00:33 +0000

It’s not very good i don’t think.

By: Carlos

Carlos — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 23:27:50 +0000

umm those pillars are in front of the water O_o

By: Alma

Alma — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 20:02:25 +0000

There nothing immerse into water. It’s just a wall of columns . Water is down there, very far of the columns. Nothing’s strange on this photo. Not for me, at least.