By Vurdlak on March 15, 2011, with 46 Comments
Wilson Hennessy is a still life photographer based in London. For today’s feature I decided to showcase one of his recent works done with some help of a modern technology. It is more than obvious this picture was finished using some sort of digital photo editing tools, but what is even more important (with these types of illusions) is the outcome and the puzzling effect author manages to achieve. Observing the wooden beam in below photo, one must ask himself where is the breaking point that makes the second beam vanish? I believe in this case, the transition was achieved magnificently!
(55 votes)
wow this is really confusing…
though it does look photoshopped :/
actually, it does not really need photoshop.
you only need to cut the piece of wood at a 45 degree angle and place it on the floor with a similar patent. Then at the right lighting condition and correct angle, it will look like this.
Really! I can see a cut there!
Thus is an amazing feature. It is very mind twisting, i lek it a lot.
now thats awesome
AWESOME…
That. Is. AWESOME.
This may not have been photo-shopped. Imagine that the top of the beam on the right, is masking the side of the left beam, but appears to be that side. The right beam is sharply beveled in the back, so it appears to be the end of the side of the left beam, going down.
The “shadow” is actually stain applied to the surface. It obscures the end of the side of the rt beam. The “shadows” far point would only be correctly aligned for the left beam if had been a real shadow, strengthening the illusion.
The give-away is that “shadow” appears to go in 2 90 degree different directions. So it cant be a shadow.
For me the breaking point is at the lines on the knot. I would also like to believe that this was possible without digital editing. I believe that some good artistry on the wood would be all that is needed.
Está chido!!
The “knot” on the closest piece is real; from there, part of it is the side of the second piece and part of it is where the table is stained.
I think the digital manipulation was for the shading, its obviously 2 beams side by side with one cut obliquely.
This reminds me of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where he has to walk over the invisible floor when going into the temple where the Knight is.
Nice work, i think this photo is not “photoshopped” but only two piece of wood cutted and a correct angle and correct light
Actually, I don’t think this was photoshopped. I believe the shorter beam was actually cut on the far end at an angle. I saw it that way at first (with verrrry sleepy eyes) and couldn’t under stand what the illusion was supposed to be. Once I woke up, it was harder to see the reality. If you follow the front top edge and think of it being cut at an angle…man, is it hard to see that once I’m awake!!
This goes near the top of my favorites list. Great illusion!!
it’s not edited i think :-?
the second beam is short one, there is and end in the dark area of the wood, it’s semicircle…
for the shadow, he uses 2 light… first is the soft light, so that the shadow of 2 beams is blurred, so the second beam pretends to be vanished, and then another light, that show sharp shadow for the first beam :D…
btw… good illusion :D
Okay…….weird.
I would have liked to see if its the knotted end that makes the transition work. Or if a plainer grain would still have the same effect
If they had not messed up the shadows, I would be more impressed. The shadows indicate that there should be a light source visible in the picture, rather close to the “whole” block of wood, towards the left, neither above the top edge nor below the bottom edge
This is very well done.
Any wood I’ve ever worked with is impossible.
I think it would take the fun out of certain illusions if we all knew how they were made. I agree with you on how this one was done, but I don’t know for sure, so I have to say, like you did, it’ magnificent!
Why am I still in “moderation”?
This doesn’t look all that good. Someone just made the darker board fade to invisible with Photoshop. Okay then.
photoshopped
Whether digitally enhanced or not, this is a beautifully made optical illusion that truly tricks the eye. So simple, yet so powerful.
One of the best, IMHO.
Photoshop
Amazing work of art yes, not really a illusion so to speak though. Still interesting idea…
its just a small cube
like it
The rolling ads that move the screen as you are trying to read stink.
Are you sure it’s been edited? The obvious place to stop is after the knot in the short board. It could have been simply perfect selection of two pieces of wood, where the grain of the long piece is a perfect match for the knot of the short piece.
They’ve made a small error though. The 4-5″ long 2×2″ used as an original for the metamorphin photo still casts its shadow on the wooden table
I have absoloutely no idea! This is amazing, please post the solution soon.
Its simply a peice of wood with another small peice against it. The smaller peice has a somewhat rounded top and the part the is “vanishing” it the sghadow of the other
I’d say this one is fake.
This could actually be very possible! If you use your finger to cover up the front of the vanishing beam you see that the rest of that beam looks like the shadow to the real beam! the floor could have a knot in it that closley matches the knot on the side of the real beam ;) oh and first!!
I’ve been in “moderation” for over 24 hrs., What’s up??????
That is just amazing. I like it.
I like illusions like this!
Awesome illusion!
To me it looks like a long piece of wood with a square on it ^_^
Thats awesome. But.. Is it just me.. Or can you acually see where it is cut? Very Cool Though.
its easy i just see tht its cat very slitly!!!COOL but very awesome!