Sometimes our mind plays tricks on us and other times our vision fails to reveal what is truly going on. This collection of cool optical illusions will have you shaking your head and rubbing your eyes.
Decapitated swimmer
Swimmer Kathy Flicker in a pool in 1962, and the refraction makes it seem as if her head is separate from her body.
Guinness book, anyone?
No, that is not the world's tallest man. He's simply an average-size guy, standing with a little boy in a room in which the floor and a wall are slanted and thus affecting our sense of perspective.
Parking lot's full? No problem!
This is not an aerial over a parking lot. Rather, it's a 3D painting on the side of a building in Flint, Michigan.
Your eyes are playing tricks on you
This is a still photograph so why does it appear that those vibrant, hypnotizing circles are slowly churning? It's because the painting (part of a 2007 show in Germany) is an optical illusion, screwing with your perception of depth and motion.
The impossible triangle
A photo of a model made by English geneticist Lionel Primrose, part of a 1950s series of figures that not only laid the foundation for the study of illusions but also inspired some work by artist MC Escher.
Fun day at the pool. . . or not
If you said "not," you're right. It's a painting by German 3D artist Manfred Stadler, with models in swimwear adding to the illusion.
Pegasus lives!
At first sight, your depth perception may make you think this is a winged creature - but really, it's a giant crane chasing an antelope, a moment captured on film in 2010 by photographer Jagdeep Rajput.
Stealth water gun!
A woman in London snaps a photo in Trafalgar Square but her position next to a fountain makes it seem as if water is shooting out of the lens.
Watch Out!
A man takes a picture with a painting during an exhibition at the National Taiwan Science Education Center in Taipei.
At home in Waterloo Station
Street artist Kurt Wenner adds the finishing touches to a 3D work of art in London, England.
Perfect 10!
A giant video screen shows an instant replay of a vault with the image of the jumper seemingly flying over the real bar.
Two-faced kitty
In 1963, Nina Leen photographed a cat peering into a glass.
Picasso's 'Light Drawings'
By keeping his shutter open while artist Pablo Picasso "sketched" with a penlight at Madoura Pottery in 1948, LIFE's Gjon Mili was able to capture what appears to be bright physical lines in mid-air.
The trail of a helicopter
A 1949 photo by Andreas Feininger: A grounded helicopted prepares to take off into the night, its rotor blades tipped with small lights.
Tearing up the ice rink
Another Gjon Mili photo, this one predating his experiments with Picasso: In 1944, the mid-air motions of professional figure skater Carol Lynne take form thanks to little lights on her skates.
Life on the edge
In Fuzhou, China, tourists pose for photos on a large 3D picture.
Caution: sand dune!
In 1962, a passenger liner appears like a mirage in the desert. . . but is actually proceeding through the Suez Canal.
No strings involved
An act from Toast of the Town: a woman appears to balance on the edge of a chair. Really, her husband, camouflaged completely in black, is holding her up.
