Why does the reflection in the mirror appear reversed?

[leveup2]

Thanks for all your post, I have the same problem and now it has been sorted!

[Steve@C4]

Originally Posted by dcclark

Yup, this is like one of those black and white drawings where, if you view the black parts as the foreground, you see one picture, and if you view the white parts as the foreground, you see another entirely different picture! You are imagining that the edge of the coin which is touching the mirror is closest to you, and the coin goes back into the photo from there. That's not the way it is -- the edge touching the mirror is in the back, and the rest of the coin is pointing towards you. Try to force yourself to see it that way, and you'll see that the face is downwards.

At any rate, you have certainly discovered a nice optical illusion!

Sorry to disagree. If the coin were oriented the way that you suggest, the ridges on the edge of the coin wouldn't be visible where it touches the reflection. This shot is correct as it first appears. Admittedly, when I first saw the image, I couldn't wrap my head around it. I would have sworn photoshop foul-play. However, just holding a coin on a mirror or piece of glass, etc, and tilting it the same way will reveal that this a true to life shot.

This is one of the beautiful things about photography. It can show us things that we would have thought otherwise to be impossible. This has been going on for a looooong time. It was even used to settle this famous bet in 1878.

[pbdweeeebie]

Originally Posted by Steve@C4

].... Admittedly, when I first saw the image, I couldn't wrap my head around it. I would have sworn photoshop foul-play.

I am happy to confirm that no Photoshop tricks wer employed.

And thanks for that fascinating history link on the development of fast shutter speed. It has made me appreciate, that bit more, the benefits we enjoy of modern technology!

[beth0b]

Try this...

Hold the coin exactly straight up and down on the mirror.. so it is completely vertical. Then start to tilt it down away from you.. slowly. And look at it from the angle you have the camera at in this shot. You will be able to watch the coin and how the reflection look.. just as you did in this shot! Try it, I swear you will understand why that reflection is showing.

[pbdweeeebie]

Thanks Beth.

As long as the coin is tilted towards the direction of view and up to 45 degrees away from the direction of view, the reflection of the face of the coin shows - as in the pic. Beyond 45 degrees the reverse side of the coin's reflection shows.

I had noted this and was just curious as to why this was so.

But like many things - why the ends of cucumbers asre sliced off - I will just live with it!