Steve'sDigicams

Walter C · Dec 6, 2012, 12:19 AM

The Hot Springs area in Yellowstone has lots of walkways for safety and for the protection of the parks unique features. You need to be in pretty fair shape to traverse the entire area.

tclune · Dec 6, 2012, 10:09 AM

While this is a nice shot, what particularly intrigues me about it is the optical illusion that I experience, where the stairs seem to be going down-hill instead of up (especially at the base of the photo). If I look analytically at the steps, it is clear that they are going up, but the "gestalt" to my eye is that they are going down. Does anyone know what causes that here (assuming that it isn't just me)? Is it the wide angle? The shadow on the back of the stairs? The bend in the staircase? How could the effect be changed during composition?

vsch1 · Dec 6, 2012, 11:29 AM

I noticed the illusion of the stairs going down, also. I think it's because the risers are darker and in shade as opposed to the tread in bright sunlight.

When your eye follows the stairs, they certainly seem to be going skyward.

calr · Dec 6, 2012, 12:29 PM

I think Vanessa is on the right track. I think it is the lighting of the stairs that creates the illusion.

Cal

selvin · Dec 6, 2012, 1:54 PM

The illusion seems to be more pronounced if you block out the skies while viewing the photo. The presence of the skies seems to trigger the brain to tell you this must be a set of stairs going upwards.
In any event, you've got a well executed shot of the walkways.

wave01 · Dec 7, 2012, 2:53 AM

nicely taken and you would have to into training for those stairs

mtngal · Dec 7, 2012, 2:35 PM

That optical illusion really is fascinating.

I can attest to needing to be in good shape to explore the whole area - we parked at the top, walked down (no problem), then discovered that it was a whole lot harder to get back to the car. But the area is so fascinating that it wasn't really hard - there was always a reason to stop and take a picture before I got tired and the scenery just very slowly unfolded as we went up the stairs. It's not a place to rush anyway.

Walter C · Dec 8, 2012, 12:47 AM

Yes, it was hard to leave without feeling that you'd like to have more time (and batteries and memory cards)

Curmudgeon · Dec 8, 2012, 10:44 PM

Out of breath just looking at this!

saly · Dec 10, 2012, 3:08 PM

Great shot for this challenge.

Dec 6, 2012, 12:19 AM	#1
Walter C Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Huntington Beach, CA USA Posts: 8,116	The sky is the limit -- keep climbing! The Hot Springs area in Yellowstone has lots of walkways for safety and for the protection of the parks unique features. You need to be in pretty fair shape to traverse the entire area. Attached Images

Dec 10, 2012, 3:08 PM	#10
saly Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: near Los Angeles, CA USA Posts: 4,764	Great shot for this challenge. __________________ Panasonic FZ150, FZ35 and GF1; Nikonos V when underwater ~~Art is in the eye of the camera holder~~

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Dec 6, 2012, 10:09 AM	#2
tclune Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,093	While this is a nice shot, what particularly intrigues me about it is the optical illusion that I experience, where the stairs seem to be going down-hill instead of up (especially at the base of the photo). If I look analytically at the steps, it is clear that they are going up, but the "gestalt" to my eye is that they are going down. Does anyone know what causes that here (assuming that it isn't just me)? Is it the wide angle? The shadow on the back of the stairs? The bend in the staircase? How could the effect be changed during composition?

Dec 6, 2012, 11:29 AM	#3
vsch1 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,885	I noticed the illusion of the stairs going down, also. I think it's because the risers are darker and in shade as opposed to the tread in bright sunlight. When your eye follows the stairs, they certainly seem to be going skyward.

Dec 6, 2012, 12:29 PM	#4
calr Moderator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Beaverton, OR Posts: 8,466	I think Vanessa is on the right track. I think it is the lighting of the stairs that creates the illusion. Cal

Dec 6, 2012, 1:54 PM	#5
selvin Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 7,204	The illusion seems to be more pronounced if you block out the skies while viewing the photo. The presence of the skies seems to trigger the brain to tell you this must be a set of stairs going upwards. In any event, you've got a well executed shot of the walkways.

Dec 7, 2012, 2:53 AM	#6
wave01 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North West England Posts: 1,750	nicely taken and you would have to into training for those stairs

Dec 7, 2012, 2:35 PM	#7
mtngal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Frazier Park, CA Posts: 16,177	That optical illusion really is fascinating. I can attest to needing to be in good shape to explore the whole area - we parked at the top, walked down (no problem), then discovered that it was a whole lot harder to get back to the car. But the area is so fascinating that it wasn't really hard - there was always a reason to stop and take a picture before I got tired and the scenery just very slowly unfolded as we went up the stairs. It's not a place to rush anyway.

Dec 8, 2012, 12:47 AM	#8
Walter C Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Huntington Beach, CA USA Posts: 8,116	Yes, it was hard to leave without feeling that you'd like to have more time (and batteries and memory cards)

Dec 8, 2012, 10:44 PM	#9
Curmudgeon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: East Bay, San Francisco, CA Posts: 889	Out of breath just looking at this!