Picture Tricks

I recently came across a Facebook post with a picture of a guy holding up a dead rattlesnake that was quite large.

I have to admit my suspicion which prompted me to Google "giant rattlesnake." In a flash, the picture was found. The only problem was that the Facebook post referenced the guy in the picture being from Texas, while the googled page said he was from Georgia. I could go deeply into plagiarism which was so evident, but the illusion is what I wanted to concentrate on.

This shocking picture is quite similar to a somewhat famed picture of giant camelback spiders being held by the military person.

http://www.grose.us/pics/camel_spider.jpg

Here is the trick: it is called forced perspective. In both cases focal points give a known comparison as a background. In the case of the snake it is a 6'2" man, and for the spiders which are closer to scorpions in fact, it is the soldier's leg. From an artistic standpoint forced perspective takes on a surreal feel, but in these instances, the effect is more realistic to make it seem real.

If you check out the can by the guy's foot holding the snake, it looks rather small. The truth is that the snake is being held four to five feet out in front of him making the snake look much larger than it really is.

Similarly, if you focus to the right of the fighting camelback spiders, you get a better idea from the sleeve of the soldier holding them up as to how big they really are. Not to diminish either creature, the other soldiers are keeping their distance and a rattlesnake is ominous regardless of how big it is.

So, what instructional tidbit can be gleaned from these photographic illusions? I suppose I could mention the importance of visual literacy or the fact that images as well as film can be manipulated. Or I could discuss how we have to be careful with intellectual property, and all of this is important when it comes to lesson design. However, I feel compelled to point out a world view comparison. Our hope, faith, and trust is in God alone. The world sees Christ as some small figurine dangling from a chain: a forced perspective. The rock singer Madonna was once quoted saying that the crosses she wore we "sexy."

The flip side is, that the brutality of sin and the curse placed upon the real man Jesus is a truth that was far from beautiful. A tiny figurine He IS not, for the man Jesus is fully God and was not held captive in death. No, He spoke life into existence: His power is immeasurable including His love for each person regardless of his/ her wickedness. Satan would have mankind to view Christ as some figurine. Rather, he is the King of all, Devine Creator who loved us enough take our sinful punishment. He really is that big and so is His love for you.