News: Real or Fake? Impossible Wooden Waterfall

Real or Fake? Impossible Wooden Waterfall

It takes a special kind of mind to look at an M.C. Escher drawing and see a blueprint. And yet, looking at this working 3D model of Escher's Waterfall, one gets the impression that YouTube's mcwolles may have done just that!

One thing's clear: like Escher's famous lithograph, the video employs some manner of trickery. But what kind? Good, old-fashioned forced perspective? CGI? Do the shadows provide a clue? Let's hear it in the comments. 

UPDATE! One viewer thinks he may have the answer:

Real or Fake? Impossible Wooden Waterfall

Want more Escher-inspired madness? Be certain to check out these mind-bending LEGO replicas!

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10 Comments

I really would LOVE to know if this is real or not... I saw it recently on Geekologie as well... and was completely blown away... although I was waiting for the camera to change angle to show you the construction of the illusion./// but to my dismay it just shows it from the one... :( If anyone has seen any build photos or ANYTHING I would love to know...

love the original drawing.

the blue liquid in this vid reminds me of a toy i have in side it there is a liquid when heated it raises to the top as if magic now the heat is not that high because it works by just the heat of the users body so if it was the same liquid then it could just raise to the top until the plat from runs out

My mind just got blown into a million little pieces. This is really well done. The shadows are the only thing bothering me.

it is impossible

The best answer seems extremely close. I wonder though whether there necessarily are 2 cuts of the video. Suppose the "delay at C as it rounds the bend" is because the end of the platform at C is capped, forming a dead end? And suppose a hidden pump and plumbing arrangement transfers the accumulated water at that point back to the raised platform at A? Then there is no need for 2 videos.

This is a great visual effect. Phenomenal job!!!!
I believe it is a single take. There in a reservoir in front of the paddlewheel. It houses the pump and an amount of liquid. The timing of the pour is the trick. Pour too slow and the pump gets it to point E too soon. Pour too fast and the liquid gets to point C before the pump gets it to point E.

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