Optical Illusion Photos

Gone with the flick of a finger! The forced perspective optical illusion that turns travel snaps into special effects masterpieces At first glance these mindbending photos look like they're the result of Hollywood-style special effects. A giant hand flicks an innocent beachgoer into the sea, while two children carry an entire island watched proudly by their dad. But these are simple holiday snaps, created by clever amateur photographers - using forced perspective to make people and landmarks look like tiny models. Gone with a flick: This beachgoer is flung into the sea by a giant hand San Francisco: A 'giant' tourist leans on the Golden Gate Bridge Proud papa: This dad watches on as his kids pluck an island out of the sea Artistic: A wooden model pulls clouds out of the sky The optical illusion is easy to create and has been used for decades in Hollywood to make smaller-than-life stars look bigger than they really are. But it's so simple to create anyone with a camera can produce their own perspective-shifting work of art. Techeblog.com have compiled a gallery of their favourites, including the classic that every visitor to the Tuscan city of Pisa has posed for.... the tourist holding up the famous leaning tower. Others favourites include an artist's model that appears to be pulling clouds out of the sky and a martial arts expert throwing the sun at a foe. Salt flats: This balloon appears far larger than life, thanks to the optical illusion Bite-sized: This prankster chomps down on a tiny friend Bigger than a house: A boy pushes over an entire house with his foot. In other shots, disembodied hands appear to be clutching hot air balloons, helicopters, and even using a paintbrush to touch up a life-sized town.They're shown flicking innocent bystanders into the sea, picking up giant rocks and raking vapour trials into the sky. Elsewhere giant heads appear in shot swallowing humans whole and guzzling waterfalls. Forced perspective can even be used in reverse, to make small objects appear huge - displayed in this gallery by the man standing on spectacular salt flats peering inside a giant balloon. Thirsty work: A'tiny' waterfall is no match for this giant explorer These boots are made for stomping: A man cowers under his companion's giant boot Brush stroke: A touch-up job is easy when you have a giant hand with a giant paint brush Rock'n'roll: A huge hand pulls boulders out of the sea Pisa art: Every Tuscan tourist has captured the Leaning Tower That's where they come from: A disembodied hand rakes vapour trails in the sky Watersports: This sunseeker doesn't even realise he's the subject of a 'forced perspective' classic