Mind Illusions:
Another Way to Test Your Mind

Mind illusions can be created by many things such as trick photography, false comparisons, eye sensitivity, missing information, etc. Basically, everything is an illusion that our mind needs to decipher in order to gain an awareness of our world. In this article, however, I will focus on specific tricks our mind is playing when we are looking at something. In a way, I am going to play with your mind!

Let's see what kind of illusions we can create with simple pictures.

Note: Some of the illustrations presented here may be copyrighted. If you are the owner of one of those pictures and you want your name or website to be mentioned, or you wish your picture to be immediately removed from this website, please contact me.

Mind Illusions with Trick Photography

One way to achieve an illusion is just to choose a specific angle for your camera so that the reality appears different from it is.

On the photos below, the only trick is the fact that we may not take distance into account. Therefore, an object that is farther - or much farther - than your subject, may appear to be part of it but smaller.

The Sun is in his hands

A man jumping in her mouth

Another way to create an illusion is to manipulate pictures with a software. Using such a software - along with his wacky creativity - my friend Steve Ilott produced an interesting souvenir of Paris...

Eiffel Invasion, with Steve Ilott and his wife

On the following pictures, I combined my face with Paris Hilton's hair on the left, and with Angelina Jolie's hair on the right. Visit Hair Mixer if you want to do the same with your own face and a celebrity's hair!

Should I be like Paris or like Angelina?

Mind Illusions created by Missing Information

When we don't have enough information to understand an image, our mind makes up for what we don't know in order to compensate. The text below is an amazing way to demonstrate how this is done just while we are reading:

Of course, when we make things up, we don't always end up with the right result... If you don't know what I mean, here is an example of this type of illusion:

What you perceive may not be the truth

Also you may be led to look at things two different ways, like on the examples below:

Book or breasts?

Which side is the window facing?

Mind Illusions through Mind Associations

Instead of lacking information, the following illusions compel you to see beyond the basic elements of the picture, so you become aware of other pictures embedded in the first one.

Can you find the 13 hidden faces in this picture?

Do you see the 9 dolphins here?

Mind Illusions Creating Confusion

With those illusions, you are forced to make the wrong assumptions, just because your mind is being tricked through visual comparisons or proportions.

Is the center circle on the left bigger
than on right... or not?

If these are concentric circles,
why do you see a spiral?

Mind Illusions Playing with your Retinal Sensitivity

To get the best results out of these pictures, stare at them for at least 30 seconds. Your eyes, more than your mind, will create the illusion. After you have stared for a while, it would be a good idea to rest your eyes.

And now, look at Yorick's skull, after reading the instructions under the skull.

Impossible Mind Illusions

If your life is too boring and you want to add a bit of craziness, the following illustrations may be helpful. But be careful, because they might also drive you bananas!

I am not taking any responsibility
for the obsession this puzzle may create!

Ouch! It hurts my eyes!

An interesting exercise

If you want to separate your right brain thinking (emotions and creativity) from your left brain thinking (verbal and logical), try this exercise.

Finally, is it optical or is it an illusion?

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