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There are many interesting and incredible things on our planet. Some of these natural phenomena are explainable, but something is still a mystery of nature. In our photo review, we will talk about natural wonders that are quite explainable by science, and this is about the stunning optical illusions that nature itself has created, looking at which you sometimes want to say, do not always believe what you see.
Polar Lights
One of the most beautiful optical illusions that we can observe on our planet is definitely the aurora. This phenomenon can be observed both at the north (Aurora Borealis) and south (Aurora Australis) poles due to the interaction in the upper atmosphere of magnetic rays and the solar wind.
Parhelion - "false sun"
One of the unusually bewitching sights is when you see several celestial yarils on the horizon at once - the illusion of a “false sun”. This phenomenon occurs as a result of refraction sunlight in ice crystals floating in the atmosphere.
alpine glow
We see in the picture the reddish glow of the mountains at the moment when the sun is no longer on the horizon. This phenomenon occurs at the moment when the sun has set, and its light is reflected in the particles of the atmosphere, and it seems that the earth itself emits a reddish glow from its depths.
Mirage
Mirage - unique and unpredictable a natural phenomenon, when a person quite realistically sees certain objects in front of him, which then, as if by magic, disappear somewhere without a trace. Scientists have long been quite reasonably talked about a mirage, but not everyone manages to see a mirage with their own eyes. According to science, a mirage is an optical effect that occurs when light is reflected between layers of air that are unevenly heated and have different density. Simply put, this is a tempting play of air with light. 
Horsetail Fall
In the California National Park in the USA, on the eastern slope of Mount El Capitan, you can see an unusual phenomenon as the sun's rays are reflected in the flowing stream of the waterfall, and the water seems to light up with a hellish fiery orange flame.
Endless fields of salt marshes
Known in different parts of the world is an optical illusion of the nature of the endless fields of salt marshes. Caused by a person's erroneous perception of the depth of the horizon, since the eyes do not see any landmarks.
Thunderstorm cloud
One of the most sinister and impressive sights can be seen along the sea coasts - this big clouds with a thunderstorm. These clouds are due to mixing humid air with a cold wind and this is a kind of warning of nature that heavy precipitation, rain and hail should be expected.
Halo
Halo is an optical phenomenon in the form of a fiery luminous ring around the sun and it is created from ice crystals.
light pole
This phenomenon can be observed at the moment when the sun almost completely disappears below the horizon and all the same ice crystals in the air are to blame for the appearance of a vertical column of light.
atlantic road
The Norwegian Bridge at the beginning of its journey creates an optical illusion, as if the road leads to nowhere. But in fact, the bridge, curving, goes far beyond the horizon.
Optical illusions are not such a rare phenomenon; you can find a great many of them on the Internet. But there are such illusions that you can only see when you leave the house and find yourself in nature. How does nature create these optical illusions that are simply breathtaking? Day.Az will talk about this with a link to Mixstuff.
Deadvley Valley in Nomibia
It's like a surreal painting. Located in the Namib-Naukluft National Park, Deadvlay Valley is dotted with many long-dead trees that have not rotted due to the place's dry climate. The lifeless lands, once flooded with water from the nearby Tsaukhab River, attract photographers who are struck by the contrast between the white surface of the valley and the black sun-scorched trees. The sand dunes that line the valley turn incredible shades of orange, especially during sunrise and sunset, making the area even more picturesque.
"Underwater waterfall" in the Indian Ocean
Although underwater waterfalls do exist, this is just an illusion here, created by sand deposits that stretch along the coast of Mauritius.
Uyuni salt marsh in Bolivia
The world's largest salt marsh turns into a gigantic reflective surface when covered with a thin layer of water, either from rain or flooding from nearby lakes. Stretching for several kilometers, an absolutely flat surface seems endless. This allows photographers to create illusions by playing with image depth and perspective.
fiery waterfall
Every year, around the second week of February, the rays of the setting sun fall at a certain angle on the Horsetail Falls in national park Yosemite, illuminating the top of the falls. With favorable weather conditions Sunlit water glows bright orange and red and appears to be on fire.
The undulating mountains of Arizona
On the northern slope of Coyote Butte, Paria Canyon, there is an arc-shaped depression called "The Wave". However, in order to see this amazing spectacle, you will need to take part in the draw and obtain permission four months in advance. Only 20 people are allowed in here per day.
Broken Ghost
Also known as "Mountain Ghost", this phenomenon occurs when an observer casts a shadow on the surface of clouds or thick fog. The head of the "ghost" is often surrounded by an iridescent halo - another optical phenomenon known as gloria.
Fata Morgana
This is a complex, rapidly changing shape superior mirage. An optical illusion is created when light is refracted as it passes through a layer of air that is warmer than the layer below it. As a result of the reflection and refraction of the rays, real-life objects or figures appear on the horizon or above it in the form of several distorted images, partially overlapping each other and rapidly changing in time, which creates a bizarre picture of the Fata Morgana.
inferior mirages
Unlike Fata Morgana, inferior mirages are created when the air above the surface of the ocean or land is much warmer than the air above it. Light passing through these layers of air is bent, creating inverted distorted images of distant landscapes (such as a distant mountain range or blue sky) that appear below the object itself.
puddle on asphalt
This phenomenon is another example of an inferior mirage. Like sand in a desert, a paved road traps heat and warms the air right above it. The imaginary image of the sky creates the illusion of water on the surface. So, on a road that goes into the distance on a hot summer day, a puddle is seen.
false sun
A false sun, or parhelion, is an unusual natural phenomenon that manifests itself in the appearance of several suns in the sky. There is such unusual phenomenon due to refraction sun rays in ice crystals floating in the atmosphere.
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Single Barrel Pattern, William Morris
"Abstract", also called "non-objective art", "non-figurative", "non-representational", "geometric abstraction" or "concrete art", is a rather vague umbrella term for any object of painting or sculpture that does not depict recognizable objects or scenes. However, as we can see, there is no clear consensus on the definition, types or aesthetic value abstract art. Picasso thought that such a thing did not exist at all, while some art historians believe that all art is abstract - because, for example, no painting can count on being anything more than a rough summary of what it sees. painter. In addition, there is a sliding scale of abstraction, from semi-abstract to fully abstract. So while the theory is relatively clear—abstract art is detached from reality—the practical task of separating abstract from non-abstract works can be much more problematic.
What is the concept of abstract art?
Let's start with a very a simple example. Take a bad (non-naturalistic) drawing of something. The execution of the image leaves much to be desired, but if its colors are beautiful, the drawing can amaze us. This shows how a formal quality (color) can override a representational one (drawing).
On the other hand, a photorealistic painting of, say, a home can show excellent graphics, but the subject matter, color scheme, and overall composition can be completely boring.
The philosophical justification for assessing the value of artistic formal qualities stems from Plato's assertion that: "Straight lines and circles ... are not only beautiful ... but eternal and absolutely beautiful."
Convergence, Jackson Pollock, 1952
In essence, Plato's dictum means that non-naturalistic images (circles, squares, triangles, etc.) have absolute, unchanging beauty. Thus, a painting can only be judged for its line and color, it does not need to depict a natural object or scene. The French painter, lithographer, and art theorist Maurice Denis (1870-1943) had the same in mind when he wrote: “Remember that a painting is before it becomes a war horse or a naked woman…essentially a flat surface covered with color collected in a certain order."
Frank Stella
Types of abstract art
To keep things simple, we can divide abstract art into six main types:
- Curvilinear
- based on color or light
- Geometric
- Emotional or intuitive
- Gestural
- minimalist
Some of these types are less abstract than others, but they all involve the separation of art from reality.
Curvilinear abstract art
Honeysuckle, William Morris, 1876
This type is strongly associated with Celtic art, which uses a range of abstract motifs including knots (the eight main types), interlaced patterns, and spirals (including the triskele or triskelion). These motifs were not invented by the Celts, many other early cultures used these Celtic ornaments over the centuries. However, it's fair to say that Celtic designers breathed new life into these patterns, making them more intricate and complex. They later returned during the 19th century and were especially evident in book covers, textiles, wallpaper and calico designs like those of William Morris (1834-96) and Arthur McMurdo (1851-1942). Curvilinear abstraction is also characterized by the "infinite picture" concept, a widespread feature of Islamic art.
Abstract art based on color or light
Water Lily, Claude Monet
This type is illustrated in the work of Turner and Monet, who use color (or light) in such a way as to separate the work of art from reality as the object dissolves into a swirl of pigment. Examples are the paintings Water Lily by Claude Monet (1840-1926), Talisman (1888, Musee d'Orsay, Paris), Paul Serusier (1864-1927). Several of the expressionist paintings by Kandinsky, painted in his time with Der Blaue Reiter, are very close to abstraction. Colored abstraction reappeared in the late 1940s and 50s in the form of color painting developed by Mark Rothko (1903-70) and Barnett Newman (1905-70). In the 1950s, a parallel variety of abstract painting related to color emerged in France, known as lyrical abstraction.
Talisman, Paul Serusier
geometric abstraction
Boogie Woogie on Broadway by Piet Mondrian, 1942
This type of intellectual abstract art has been around since 1908. An early rudimentary form was Cubism, specifically Analytic Cubism, which rejected linear perspective and the illusion of spatial depth in painting to focus on its two-dimensional aspects. Geometric abstraction is also known as concrete art and objectless art. As you might expect, it is characterized by non-naturalistic imagery, usually geometric shapes such as circles, squares, triangles, rectangles, etc. In a sense, with absolutely no reference to or connection to the natural world, geometric abstractionism is the purest form of abstraction. One could say that concrete art is to abstract art what veganism is to vegetarianism. Geometric abstraction is represented by the Black Circle (1913, State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg), painted by Kazimir Malevich (1878-1935) (the founder of Suprematism); Boogie Woogie on Broadway (1942, MoMA, New York) Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) (founder of neoplasticism); and Composition VIII (The Cow) (1918, MoMA, New York) by Theo Van Dosburg (1883-1931) (founder of De Stijl and Elementarism). Other examples include Josef Albers' Appeal to the Square (1888-1976) and Op-Art by Victor Vasarely (1906-1997).
Black circle, Kazimir Malevich, 1920
Composition VIII, Theo Van Dosburg
Emotional or intuitive abstract art
This type of art covers a combination of styles, common topic which is a naturalistic tendency. This naturalism manifests itself in the forms and colors used. Unlike geometric abstraction, which is almost anti-nature, intuitive abstraction often depicts nature, but in a less representative way. Two important sources for this type of abstract art are: organic abstraction (also called biomorphic abstraction) and surrealism. Perhaps the most famous artist specializing in this art form was the Russian-born Mark Rothko (1938-70). Other examples include paintings by Kandinsky such as Composition No. 4 (1911, Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen) and Composition VII (1913, Tretyakov Gallery); Woman (1934, Private collection) Joan Miro (1893-1983) and Indefinite Divisibility (1942, Allbright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo) Yves Tanguy (1900-55).
Indefinite divisibility, Yves Tanguy
Gesticulation (gestural) abstract art
Untitled, D. Pollock, 1949
This is a form of abstract expressionism where the process of creating a painting becomes more important than usual. For example, paint is applied in an unusual way, strokes are often very loose and fast. Notable American sign painting exponents include Jackson Pollock (1912-56), inventor of Action-Painting and his wife Lee Krasner (1908-84), who inspired him to invent his own technique, the so-called "drip painting"; Willem de Kooning (1904-97), famous for his work in the Woman series; and Robert Motherwell (1912-56). In Europe, this form is represented by the Cobra group, in particular Karel Appel (1921-2006).
minimalist abstract art
Learning to draw, Ed Reinhardt, 1939
This type of abstraction was a kind of avant-garde art, devoid of all external references and associations. This is what you see - and nothing else. It often takes geometric shape. This movement is dominated by sculptors, although it also includes some great artists such as Ed Reinhardt (1913-67), Frank Stella (born 1936), whose paintings are large scale and include clusters of form and color; Sean Scully (born 1945) Irish-American artist whose rectangular shapes of color appear to mimic the monumental forms of prehistoric structures. Also Joe Baer (b. 1929), Ellsworth Kelly (1923-2015), Robert Mangold (b. 1937), Bryce Marden (b. 1938), Agnes Martin (1912-2004) and Robert Ryman (born 1930). 
Ellsworth Kelly
Frank Stella
Incredible Facts
When it seems that nature has nothing more to surprise us with, it again presents us with gifts.
The amazing illusions created by nature simply cannot go unnoticed.
They surprise us time and time again.
Here are just a small part of the colorful "pictures" created by nature.
unusual nature
Mauritius over the waterfall
This illusion, which can be observed in the Republic of Mauritius, is due to the sand formations that stretch along the coast. This gives the impression that there is a huge crack and an underwater waterfall nearby.
Uyuni Salt Flat, Bolivia
When rain falls on the flat surface of this dried-up salt lake, everything around turns into one big mirror. It is worth noting that Uyuni is located at an altitude of 3,650 meters above sea level.
Huge tree in Baja California, Mexico
At first glance, it may seem that you are looking at a withered tree that has fallen into the snow, but in fact this is a shot of the river from above. The river runs through the desert in the northernmost state of Mexico, which is located in the north of the California peninsula.
Natural phenomena
Fata Morgana
Possibly the craziest kind of mirage. This is a complex optical phenomenon in our atmosphere, which is the result of the superposition of several forms of mirages on top of each other.
Here distant objects are seen several times with different distortions. It is worth noting that fata morgana can only be observed when in the lower layers of the atmosphere, due to the large temperature difference, several layers of air of different densities are formed, which follow each other.
In this place, the reflections and refractions of the rays create the illusion that objects on the horizon are moving. Moreover, these objects are distorted and rapidly changing in time.
Brocken Ghost, Germany
A huge shadow surrounded by colored rings may seem like a moving ghost to you.
Actually, this is an illusion due to the Sun shining from behind a person who is looking down from the ridge into the fog or cloud. The shadow of a person passes through the fog and takes on various unusual shapes. The illusion of an increase in the size of the shadow can be explained by the fact that a person commensurates his shadow, which fell on a nearby fog, with distant objects that can be seen through clouds or fog.
Plus, the shadows fall on water droplets that are at different distances from a person's eyes, which disrupts their perception of depth.
Oil painting, Namibia
No, this is not a picture painted by an expressionist artist. In the foreground are dead trees and the ground, which is eclipsed by the setting sun. In the background are the red dunes of Namibia. This photo was taken by Frans Landing from national geographic. The successful position of light and colors, at first glance, gives the impression of something fake.
Wonders of nature
Fire tornado, Spain
The photo shows not a real fire tornado (which actually exists), but mining debris floating down the Rio Tinto River in Spain.
As a result of mining operations that have been going on in the region for several centuries, the river has become acidic. The bright red color of the water is due to the high content of heavy metals in it. Perhaps in this case, part of nature became a victim of human hands.
Everyone is well aware of man-made optical illusions, much less is known that nature can also create stunning optical illusions. In this review, we will focus on such "miracles", which, however, are quite explicable by science. That's for sure - "do not believe your eyes!"
1. "Ponytail"
From the side it may seem that the waterfall is “burning”. In fact, when the light hits the water of the waterfall at a right angle, it looks like the Ponytail lights up.
2. "False sun"
This illusion is known as the "false sun". A similar phenomenon occurs when ice crystals in the atmosphere create the effect of two additional suns on either side of the real sun.
3. Fata Morgana
This is a very complex type of mirage that often looks like real man-made objects. Fata Morgana occurs because air masses With different temperature distort light waves.
4. "Light pillar"
In this case, ice crystals in the air are also "guilty" of the illusion. A giant vertical beam appears above the light sources in the sky.
5. Broken Ghost
It is also called the "mountain ghost". This phenomenon occurs when a person's enlarged shadow is cast on the clouds or mist below them.
6. Atlantic Road
This bridge in Norway looks like a ramp leading to nowhere. This is actually an optical illusion as the bridge actually curves and "hides" below the horizon.
7. Illusion of the Moon
Everyone noticed that when the Moon is close to the horizon, it seems much larger. But if you look at it through the "binoculars" of clasped hands, then the moon will suddenly decrease. This is because the brain regulates the size of the moon in relation to some other object on the horizon and (wrongly) decides that the moon must actually be much larger!
8. "Green beam"
Sometimes this phenomenon occurs just before or after sunset: a green spot or ray appears on the edge of the solar disk for only a few seconds. Although this is caused by various factors, the general explanation is that light is refracted in the atmosphere and causes this effect.
9. Antiaircraft arc
The next optical phenomenon is similar to a rainbow, but the colors of such an arc are usually much purer. And it is caused, unlike the rainbow, not by raindrops, but by ice crystals.
10. Halo
Halo can often be seen around the Sun or Moon. It looks like a halo surrounding this celestial body.
11. Alpine glow
This interesting phenomenon occurs when the sun has already set below the horizon. Due to the light bouncing off the particles in the atmosphere, the mountains sometimes appear to be illuminated with a reddish glow.
12. Aurora Borealis
In the northern hemisphere, the aurora is known as Aurora Borealis, while in the southern hemisphere it is known as Aurora Australis. These phenomena are caused by magnetic rays and the solar wind interacting with the upper atmosphere.
13. Salt marshes
Salt marshes are found all over the world. They can cause unusual illusory depth perception as the person does not see any landmarks.
14. Apache Head
Apache head is a rock on the French island of Ebian that looks like an Indian head. This phenomenon is known as pareidolia - illusory images, which are based on the details of a real object.
15. Guardian of the Wasteland
This rock formation in the Canadian province of Alberta can be seen on Google Earth. From above, the mountains look like the head of a man wearing a Canadian Aboriginal headdress. Moreover, the mountains look as if the "Indian" is either wearing earrings or headphones.
16. A cloud with a thunderstorm shaft
A cloud with a thunderstorm is one of the most impressive sights. You can see such clouds along the sea coasts and they look, to put it mildly, ominously.
Fans of travel and natural attractions should pay attention to.
