e-Tarocchi Logo

Defying Gravity

These are my favorite illusions. From one angle everything looks perfectly normally until you see the balls rolling uphill. When you change the angle of the camera you see that the ramps are not as they appeared. They are actually slanting downhill instead of uphill. It's all about the perspective of course.

All of the work for the illusion is performed in a 3D program. The process to create these illusions is long and difficult. I basically create the design the way it should appear and then create a duplicate of the design that will be the actual physical copy. I manipulate the duplicate in the 3D program so that the ramps ultimately slant down but still match the original layer of the ramps that are aiming up.

Once I've created the ramps that slant down, I flatten the shapes, print them out, cut, fold and tape. The camera must be set up in the same position that the camera in the 3D program was set to. The objects that you can create with this technique are unlimited.

What happens in our brain when we view an optical illusion?

The information gathered by the eye is processed in the brain to create an idea or image that does not match with a physical measurement of the stimulus source.


Other Videos That May Interest You:


Hopi Prophecies, History and Symbols - Lawrence Namoki

Hopi Prophecies, History and Symbols - Lawrence Namoki

Lawrence Namoki could be the finest contemporary Hopi potter of his time. His signature pottery almost seems to be made of wood rather than hand dug clay. His pottery is both carved and painted with the highest detail.

View Video


Roderick Romero - Treehouse Builder

Roderick Romero - Treehouse Builder

Roderick has been featured for his fantastic skills on Treehouse Master, and is personally responsible for many of the worlds greatest treehouses. This interview took place around January 15th, 2015.

View Video


Oh, the Places You'll Go at Burning Man!

Oh, the Places You'll Go at Burning Man!

Based on Dr. Seuss's final book before his death, this is a story about life's ups and downs, told by the people of Burning Man 2011.

View Video


Amy Purdy - Living Beyond Limits

Amy Purdy - Living Beyond Limits

Amy Purdy talks about the power of imagination. She explains how our lives are not determined by what happens to us, but by the choices we make. Imagination allows us to break down borders, to move beyond our circumstances, to create and constantly progress.

View Video


Antonio Damasio: The Quest to Understand Consciousness

Antonio Damasio: The Quest to Understand Consciousness

Every morning we wake up and regain consciousness -- that is a marvelous fact -- but what exactly is it that we regain? Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio uses this simple question to give us a glimpse into how our brains create our sense of self.

View Video

 

View All Videos