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50 Times Reflections Were So Confusing, They Messed With These People’s Heads (New Pics)
What you see in the mirror is your reflection with which you’re most likely very familiar. So there’s little surprise there. But there are many other things that bounce back at you, or off of surfaces—think of light waves, sound waves, even your thoughts.
In fact, the word “reflection” derives from the Latin reflectere, made up of the prefix re-, "back," and flectere, "to bend." So in very simple terms, it’s bending something back, sometimes accurately (if it’s a smooth surface like a mirror) and sometimes very distortedly (if it’s a water pond).
So today we’re taking you on an adventure into the wondrous world of reflections, both random and elaborate, funny and breathtaking. Scroll down through the list compiled by Bored Panda below, upvote your favorite mind (or rather, light) benders and be sure to check out our previous post with more head-messing reflections here.
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#1
This Mural Was Purposely Painted Upside Down To Reflect Off Of The Water
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#2
Reflection Of Trees In A Drop Of Water
#3
Long Exposure Photograph I Captured Of Yesterday’s Spacex Launch And Its Reflection Along The Shoreline Of The Atlantic Ocean
To find out more about the wondrous world of reflections, we spoke with Steven Wooding, a physicist and a member of The Institute Of Physics, UK. Steven is also a member of the Omni Calculator Project which is an international community of scientists and researchers with a goal to make science more accessible and entertaining for everyone.
First, we wanted to know how exactly reflections work and Steven was happy to explain: “Every object you see reflects light from a light source into your eyes. Most of the time, the light is scattered in all directions, and the object has a matte look. If the object's surface is smooth enough, it will reflect light all in the same direction into your eye and form an image.”
“For example, you can't see the sky's reflection on a rough sea, but if it's calm enough, you get an image formed of the sky in the water,” the physicist added.
#4
The Reflections On These Pots Lined Up Just Right
#5
Every Morning The Sun Hits My Mom's Urn And Reflects On The Wall In This Pretty Design
#6
This Reflection Of A Lamp On My Sunglasses
When asked if humans can manipulate the reflections, Steven said that they indeed can. “Magicians can play many tricks using reflections when we don't expect them. For example, a ghost can be made to appear on stage, but actually, it's a pane of glass partially reflecting an actor in a concealed part of the stage.” Moreover, “technologies such as radar and lidar send light towards an object and collect the reflections to determine where they are, how fast they are going, and even their three-dimensional shape.”
It turns out that the smoother the surface, the better the reflection will be. “Any imperfections on the surface will be echoed in the reflected image. With surfaces like water that can move, these flaws can change over time and give pleasing effects. The color of the reflecting surface is also important and acts like applying a filter to the image.”
#7
This Reflection On My Water Bottle Looks Like The Northern Lights
#8
Capybara Looks Like It’s Wearing Clothes Due To Reflection
#9
This Spectrum Reflected Off The Dining Room Window Through A Chair Back
#10
My Blinds Reflection Looks Like Lunar Phases On My Wall
#11
The Reflection From My Window Decal Makes My Toilet Look Like A Quest Item In A Video Game
#12
Sunset Reflection Looks Like A Demonic Uprising
Monica Leigh 2 years ago
I used to live in a house where you could see our hospital way off in the distance. It looked like it was on fire when the sun was setting.
Amy Stone-Chandler 2 years ago
That would really scare me every single time I saw it. No matter how many times. Hope there is never a real fire. People wont believe it at first
shiela mae requiz 2 years ago
i can't see the sunset reflection , my mind is tricking me that the room is on fire.
Sarah Farrow 2 years ago
This is the picture that brought me to this post. I'm still not convinced this house isn't on fire!
HarriMissesScotland 2 years ago
*waves to demon* Maybe if I look friendly, I won't get sucked into his inferno.
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PsychicK 2 years ago (edited)
It's sun either rising or setting and there is a bunch of trees that might be wet - it looks overcast there- and they are reflecting the light which is reflecting the then already reflected light into their room. You can see lens flares and reflections on the glass door to the left, bottom and right. The reflection of the sun is even causing a lens flare to the immediate right; which looks like a hot pink orb. It's from the camera lens. Def not a fire. If you look at the way the shadow is being cast across the white door on the left side... The glass ledge is being reflected into it meaning the light source is coming from behind it and to the left of the photo. Hope this helps. Sorry for typos.
Mary Peace 2 years ago
Hey, Photographer, you're on fire tonight! (But sorry, I don't like the title.)
Salty Wild Hair 2 years ago
I wonder how many times the fire dept has been contacted for this address?
Skylar Jaxx 2 years ago
This was on the one where the landlord who lives across the way thought the house was on fire but it's the tv! A yule log burning and I read that on THIS SITE so get y'all story together.
Larry White 2 years ago
When I was a young adult I called the fire department on my neighbors down the street it looked like there house was on fire I felt bad because they got a ticket for illegally burning leaves in the side yard.in the city lol
Klaatu Verrata (Cough) 2 years ago
It doesn't help that something in there is casting a shadow that looks like Freddie Krueger.
J Aislynn d'Merricksson 2 years ago
It looks like a mini nuclear shrooms cloud. I'd pee my pants.
Mila Kulash 2 years ago
How is this possible? No matter how much I try to see the sunset, it just looks like fire to me 🤔🤔
GoddessOdd 2 years ago
I think I would call the fire department on this... the sunset doesn't seem to be reflecting off any other window with that much intensity.
~Th3lostHaven~ 2 years ago
pretty sure that was me but I mean if you wanna think it was the sunset thats fine :/
Virginia Green (she/her) 2 years ago
looks like someone decided to light a bonfire in their living room
#13
My Wife Looked Out Of Our Living Room Window And Saw This. TV Screen Reflection Lined Up Perfectly With Her Car
#14
The Sun Shining Through My Fish Tank Aligned Perfectly On Each Knob
#15
The Water Reflecting Off Our Old Trampoline Makes It Look Invisible
Or also it could be a portal to another dimension.
#16
Sat On A Bench Outside An Office And Noticed My Reflection In The Window Perfectly Fit In The Chair
#17
Thought This Was A Desktop Background But It’s Just A Reflection Of Our Couch
#18
Reflection Of Ceiling Lights In My Coffee
#19
The Steering Wheel Reflection Looks Like A Planet In The Sky
#20
Sun's Reflection On My Drinking Glass Creates Bart Simpson’s Skull
#21
Blursed Cat
#22
Reflection On An Iron
#23
The Reflection Of My Make-Up Bag Looks Like A Nebula
#24
Blue Sky Reflecting On Neighboring Building With Storm Behind It
#25
The Reflection Of The Beer Made The Fire On My Christmas Card Look Alive
#26
Every Time I Think That This Building Is Burning, But It Is A Reflection Of The Sunset
#27
The Reflections Of Ceiling Lights Appear To Be Alien Ships Descending On Shreveport
T. D. Bostick 2 years ago
They landed at Shreveport, took one look around, and left, never to return.
#28
The Reflection Of These Sticks Make Interesting Shapes
#29
The Reflection In The Mirror On This Hotel Check In Desk
#30
Reflection Of The Sun Hitting My Guitars’ Tuners This Morning
#31
Mirage Of Coffee Shop Window Makes It Look Like This Car Sells Pies Out Of The Boot
#32
Girlfriend Took This Awesome Photo Today While We Went Hot Air Ballooning For My Bday. Reflection Of Our Balloon Of A Creek We Flew Over
#33
Reflection Of Tunnel In Mirrored Sunglasses
Deutschland Mädchen 2 years ago
Would you say she has... Tunnel Vision..? I'll go now... but I couldn’t resist
#34
Tom’s Reflection Reflecting His Inner Wolf
#35
This Puddle Reflecting The Sun Looks Like A Portal To Space
#36
I Took A Picture Of A Monkey And The Glare Made It Look Like It Was Taking A Wicked Selfie
#37
The Reflection Of The Reeds In The Canal Spell Ok
Antoilene du Toit 2 years ago
Sitting depressed next to a stream: "Please send me a sign that everything is going to be OK"
#38
Reflection Of Bathroom Mirror Makes It Look Like We Have An Outdoor Cinema Going On
#39
The Reflection Of My TV Makes It Look Like Girl With The Pearl Earring Is In My Backyard
#40
The Gap In My Bedroom Window Became A Pinhole Camera
#41
The Reflection Of The Light On My Coffee Looks Like A Glowing Castle
#42
The Mirror Reflection In My Car After A Wash
#43
Making Cookies And The Reflection Looks Like A Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie
#44
The Sun Reflecting Off The One World Trade Center This Morning
#45
The Sun's Reflection Off My Watch Looks Like Saturn
#46
The Reflection From My TV Looks Like The Moon Is Hovering Over My Swimming Pool
#47
This Window Filters Out The Exact Wavelength Of Light That My Gloves Reflect
#48
Weird Reflection Makes Man Look Like A Ghost
#49
How My Face Is Not Reflected In This Mirror, But Is In The Mirror’s Reflection Of Itself
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What do you think ?
Bob Stuart 2 years ago
I saw an awful lot of inaccurate descriptions, often of refractions or projections.
Bob Stuart 2 years ago
I saw an awful lot of inaccurate descriptions, often of refractions or projections.
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