Sunday, August 25, 2013

reflections can be tricky

Objects in mirror are closer than they appear

I'm sure you have read that on your vehicle's side mirror.  (if you often cut off cars while changing lanes pay attention to this reflective trick)  A curved mirror bends the image in a way that tricks our minds.

I bring this up because this illusion might be the reason my granddaughter reacted strangely when I brought her close to the Cloud Gate sculpture at Millennium park recently.  Most of Chicago calls it the bean.


Chicago looks different on the bean

You see she is much too young to read so she would not know about the ways mirrors can trick us.

I think her mind was telling her that I was trying to drop her down into a strange place.  At one point she kicked her legs straight out as if she was being dropped.  Even for adults the inside part of the bean is very strange experience.  A bit like a fun house at the fair.

Of course she is also very young and it could be that she was just hungry or in need of a nap.

I'm NOT Alice and I'm not going in there!



I linked this to Unknown Mami's SIMC meme which has photos linked from all over blogland.

Unknown Mami

16 comments:

Dawn Saros-Kirk said...

Wow, I didn't realize "the bean" was that big! That would be cool to see. I can see how your granddaughter could be a little afraid of it. That video is hilarious the way it repeats!

lisleman said...

On google/G+ they have an automatic feature that looks for a sequence of five (I think maybe 4?) pictures and then they create an animated version for you. My daughter took the pics. Oh the bean is big enough to walk under the middle part. thanks

Joanne said...

I recall an experiment years ago, Science Today I believe, in which babies were enticed to cross a glass table to reach mother on the other side. Baby cats, dogs, children, would not do it.
Smart little girl, there.

lisleman said...

Was that the one with a checker board type pattern below the glass? I remember watching a show like that. As I said it could be that she was tired. At that age it is almost impossible to know what they are thinking. thanks

longhollow said...

I would love to visit Chicago one day, and I'm going to go straight to the bean. So cool...although your granddaughter doesn't seem to agree, poor baby!

Kathy said...

My best friend lives in Chicago...the next time I visit I am going to make her take me to this bean. It would be o fun with a camera!

lisleman said...

Yes the visitors and always taking pictures. I've taken a number of them myself. I found a really cool one taken in the winter with snow melting off of it. thanks

lisleman said...

Interactive public art - the best kind. Next to it is a fountain that has huge changing faces on it and plenty of water to get wet. A must see for a Chicago visit.

At that moment her idea and mine didn't match. Earlier she enjoyed walking around it. You know kids how they change so quickly.
thanks

Traci Shannon said...

Oh, that's fabulous. I have never seen it in person but I love seeing you with her and the reaction.
Have a great week.
:-)
Traci

lisleman said...

thanks reactions from little ones are typically fun to watch

Jeanne said...

I've never seen it but seeing how a child reacts is interesting.

lisleman said...

Yes a little bit like the mirrors at a fun house. thanks

unknownmami said...

She's a cutie!

Mrs4444 said...

Poor little thing...what a cutie pie.

lisleman said...

thanks - we have many laughs together.

lisleman said...

thanks

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