Perspective Illusion – The Ames Room
This is a wonderful perspective illusion, that I seem to recall being on the ‘Royal Institute Christmas Lectures’ a number of years ago. This type of construct is known as an ‘Ames Room‘.
Essentially, the ‘Ames Room’ is constructed in a distorted way, so that from a particular angle the onlooker perceives these distorted angles as if they were a regular perspective, a cubic room shape.
The rear wall is actually on a diagonal angle, yet appears to be at right angles to the side walls. This is why when to subject moves to the right hand side of the room they appear larger. In fact, the person isn’t larger, but simply close to the viewer.
The same perspective illusion is happening to the person who moves to the left. Because that person is further away, they appear smaller.
Ames Room Perspective Illusion From Above
Ames Room From Above
But for some of you, seeing one of these wonderful rooms isn’t enough. You want to build one for yourself. Well, making a human sized one may be a little costly, and possible time and space consuming. Perhaps, you could construct one for a small pet, such as a hamster? Either way, this website will guide you through the construction of the ‘Ames Room’ perspective illusion – http://perspectiveresources.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/how-to-construct-ames-room.html
Oh, and you may have seen this perspective illusion before in TV and films, without even realising it. Most famously, these principles was used heavily in the ‘Lord of The Rings’ films to make regular sized actors appear as though they were Hobbit.
Around the world there are also attractions and side shows that are based on this principle that make it look like water can run upwards, that anti gravity devices exist, and that pool/snooker balls change direction.