Pictures that play tricks on your eyes

25 Optical Illusions That Prove Your Brain Sucks

Back in 2015, the nation—nay THE WORLD—came together to furiously debate the color of a dress. Is it blue and black or white and gold? You might say that it's blue and black, but only about half the internet would agree.

As it turns out, even scientists were befuddled(Opens in a new window) about why people were seeing two completely different things. Overall, though, this controversy shed some light on a fundamental truth: Your brain sucks. All our brains suck. While our brains are capable of some amazing feats, they're not nearly as infallible as we like to think.

Our brains filter a constant tsunami of stimuli and piece the important parts together to recreate what we know as reality. And they do all this in damn-near real time—which is really impressive if you think about it. But here's the thing: a big chunk of what we consider "reality" actually consists of our brains making guestimates.

We know this because researchers have devised ways to consistently fool our brains into seeing things they're not really seeing. These little reality busters are known as optical illusions.

Just think about the last movie or TV show you watched. As much as you might have been affected by the story, you weren't really watching those events taking place. Your gullible brain was presented with a rapid series of static images, which fooled it into thinking it was watching an event. This little trick is known as the pi phenomenon(Opens in a new window).

We don't think of TV as an illusion, but that's just because it's common. However, the truth of the matter is it's just Hollywood taking advantage of our easily tricked skull mush.

While our brains are complex, beautiful machines that help us maneuver fairly successfully through a big complicated world, they are far from perfect. Check out these optical illusions that prove just how much our brains really, truly suck sometimes.

NOTE: Some videos in this feature offer A LOT of stimuli and probably should not be clicked on by those known to suffer from epilepsy or similar conditions.

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The Grid Fixes Itself

This would be a perfectly nice grid, except it's all crazy and nuts on the sides. If only there was a way to fix it! There is! Sort of! If you stare at the center of the grid, the crazy peripheries begin to fix themselves. It is thought that the brain has a bias towards order and regular patterns and will actually go about "fixing" the problems on the sides. (Source(Opens in a new window))  

Imaginary Colors

Hit play above and then stare at the screen. The image will change along the way and your brain will add an interesting temporary effect. (Toggle backwards to confirm reality.) This is an example of an afterimage, where the eyes' receptors are so stimulated that they still tingle after the fact. In this case, they overcompensate with complementary colors (i.e. the solid, vivid white turns black; the orange turns blue; and the blue turns fleshy).

How Many Black Dots Can You Count?

The answer is zero. Despite what your eyes are telling you, there are no black dots. There are only white dots that appear to darken in the periphery of your vision. This is an example of a scintillating grid illusion(Opens in a new window). While scientists have various theories, there is actually no consensus on why this illusion works, other than our brains are all stupid sometimes.

What Shape Is This Roof?

Watch the above video. Not only does your mind misinterpret what it sees in the foreground, it doesn't seem to understand what's going on in the mirror image in the background. This misunderstanding takes place because 1) the brain can't accurately render depth from a single vantage point (i.e. a video) and 2) the brain likes to "see" right angles (the kind that would occur should the curve of the roof continue—it would meet a plane perpendicular to the axis of the roof). (Source(Opens in a new window))

Moving Pictures

This image is not animated. Don't believe me? Try staring at just one part of the image and you'll see it will stop moving. This is an example of a "peripheral drift illusion(Opens in a new window)." It is thought that this illusion occurs because of the slight differences in time it takes to process different luminances (how intense the light is from a particular area). This slight lag in mental processing tricks the brain into perceiving movement that isn't really there.

When a Circle Isn't a Circle

The above circle is just a series of dots rotating within a larger circle, right? What could be more obvious? Watch the video to see just how this rotating ring is something completely different, and your brain can't pick up on it.

Are These Lines Parallel?

Despite what your eyes are telling you, they are. It is thought that the café wall illusion(Opens in a new window) functions due to the high contrast in the two different "bricks." When interpreting images, our brains tend to "spread" dark zones into light zones, a function known as irradiation(Opens in a new window); this "movement" is probably what causes a false warping effect.

Motion Without Motion

Stare at this image and you'll see how the flickering circles in your periphery appear to be moving even though they are absolutely stationary (try staring at just one and you'll see). This illusion is attributed to the Cornsweet effect(Opens in a new window), which is what happens when the brain fills in information based on slight changes in gradient. (Source(Opens in a new window))

Which Line Is Bigger?

They're both exactly the same! This is an example of the Ponzo illusion(Opens in a new window). This little trick takes advantage of the human brain's use of background to judge an object's size. (Image(Opens in a new window))

Your Mind Can Play Tricks on Itself

Your brain is a powerful thing, but it can be tricked—sometimes quite easily. And here's one other weird wrinkle: it can consciously trick itself. The above is a prime example of something called pareidolia(Opens in a new window), whereas the brain perceives a familiar pattern where there is none.

In the case of the video above, the mind perceives movement where none actually existed—it's just random static. But, as you see, the mind can control the direction of the apparent movement just by thinking "left, right" or "up, down." (Source(Opens in a new window))

Bulge Effect

Here's an illusion utilizing the Dynamic Luminance-Gradient Effect(Opens in a new window), and it requires your participation. Move closer to the screen and you'll see the white shade in the middle explode in luminance.

You Don't Know Your Colors

Stare at the black cross in the middle of this graphic. Soon you'll begin to see a green dot moving around the perimeter. Eventually, all the pinkish dots disappear, leaving a lonely solo green dot traveling along the edge. But it's all a lie. There is no green dot and the pink dots never really disappear.

This is known as the lilac chaser illusion(Opens in a new window). It's a combination of several physiological phenomena including the previously mentioned "phi phenomenon" in which we perceive continuous motion between separate objects viewed rapidly in succession (used in development of early cinema).

It also includes the afterimage effect in which overstimulation of specific cones in the eye can "tire" them out while surrounding cones not affected by that particular stimulation will send the brain the complete opposite stimuli (in this case, green).

Since our brains tend to ignore blurry stimuli that are in the periphery of our vision, a phenomenon called Troxler's fading(Opens in a new window) also takes place.

Which Orange Circle Is Bigger?

Yep, your brain sucks again. The orange circles are exactly the same. This is known as the Ebbinghaus illusion(Opens in a new window). It is theorized that the two main visual contributors to this illusion are the difference in the distance between the outer ring and inner circles as well as the completeness of the ring surrounding the "smaller" circle. Here's an animation(Opens in a new window) that explains the illusion in real time.

Motion in Non-Motion

Here you find a series of slits roving across an illustration, thus allowing only small bits of information at a time. Our brain then fills in the gaps of different stages and recreates the experience of viewing fluid movement. If you're feeling dumb and disappointed in the power of the human brain, don't—as you can see, the cat in this video was also fooled.

Why Does Everything Look Like Watercolor?

It doesn't. That's more lies our brain tells us. There are no shades in this image, only lines. This is known as the watercolor illusion(Opens in a new window). This is what happens when a polygon has a border made of a bright line, bordered by a darker line of a complementary color: your brain is tricked into "filling in" the shape with the brighter color. (Image(Opens in a new window))

Size Matters

We've seen numerous examples of afterimages, whereby the brain is prompted to "see" colors that aren't there based on earlier stimuli. However, as the above video shows, the story of after images is even more complex: The brain can be tricked into seeing different colors based on the size of subsequent stimuli. (Source(Opens in a new window))

When a Spiral Isn't a Spiral

What a good-looking spiral, amirght? I guess nothing more to discuss here… unless… no, wait a minute. Run your finger along the spiral and see if you can run the length of it. Something seems off here.

This is the Fraser spiral illusion(Opens in a new window). Despite what your eyes tell you, the spiral is actually a series of concentric circles. The background pattern makes the picture so confusing that your brain just fills in information that isn't really there.

Dancing Letters

Watch the above video. Think those letters are moving? They're not. You could simply trust me or the maker of the video on this point, or you can verify yourself. Take a straight-edge like a sheet of paper and hold it over the tops of the letters—you'll see that they are perfectly stationary. The changing fill-shade fools the brain into seeing movement that is not occurring. (Source(Opens in a new window))

Colors That Aren't Colors

At first glance, you should see a semi-transparent blue circle overlaying the illustration, but you aren't really. The light blue blotch is the result of an illusion known as neon color spreading(Opens in a new window). Similar to the watercolor effect, your brain has been tricked into adding color into the bare negative spaces.

Warp of Wow

This is one of the most effective illusions I've ever come across. If you concentrate on the center and read the letters as they go along, you will find a swirling vortex of shapes and colors forming around the periphery (but no colors have been added—it's all an illusion). The effect even lasts for a powerful few seconds after you've stopped watching. Whoa.

How Many Legs Does This Elephant Have?

Stare at it for a bit. You'll figure out what's going on here. This is a form of a cognitive illusion(Opens in a new window), called the Shepard elephant(Opens in a new window), in which our assumptions about the world are challenged in a falsified image.

The Mystery of Gravity Hill

There is a phenomenon around the world(Opens in a new window) called a gravity hill, where a downhill slope in the road looks like an uphill slope. This creates the optical illusion that water runs uphill and cars can coast backwards up the hill. While many urban legends exist to explain these spots, it has more to do with how the road is oriented compared to the horizon than anything magnetic or supernatural.

Which Way Is it Pointing?

This classic wire-frame drawing is called a Necker cube(Opens in a new window). With no visual cues to determine the cube's true orientation, this optical illusion causes your brain to think the front-facing side is oriented towards the top right or the lower left.

Which Way is She Spinning?

The Spinning Dancer illusion depicts the silhouetted image of a dancer spinning in a circle, but what direction does she spin in? Some say clockwise, others say counterclockwise, and many have reported that the illusion actually changes direction. The reason is that without a proper reference point for depth, the brain is tricked by the figure's shape and orientation as it turns.

Impossibly Disorienting

One of the more famous objects is the impossible trident(Opens in a new window), which has three cylindrical prongs on one end but only two square prongs on the other. The image uses negative space to trick the viewer into thinking that each side makes sense, but the entire object remains impossible.

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30 Optical Illusions That Will Make Your Brain Hurt

From spinning circles to disappearing dots, these insane optical illusions aren't what they appear to be.

Before jumping on in we have one question on our minds: what is an optical illusion? Optical illusions are visuals that tend to be deceptive to the eye and brain. This is based on numerous factors including varying colors, patterns, lights, and more! When looking at these images what we see gets sent to our brains, and a false perception is created as the image our brain processes isn’t actually what is in front of us. Different people will often see these illusions differently which is completely normal since everyone’s brain works in different ways—talk about perspective!

Do you think you have what it takes to figure out these optical illusions? There are so many types of illusions and we’ve rounded up the best of famous illusions, color illusions, pattern illusions, illusory motion illusions, and literal illusions. Scroll on down to see 30 of these illusions in their respective categories and put your mind to the test! Once you’re done, don’t forget to check out these visual puzzles and brain teasers that will leave you stumped.

Famous illusions

Cafe wall illusion

Barsukov Vladimir/shutterstock
These lines appear to be angled up or down, but the horizontal lines are actually all parallel. Need proof? Try covering the top and bottom of one line of squares with a piece of paper. No slants to be found!

Muller-Lyer illusion

Peter Hermes Furian/shutterstock
Which horizontal line is shorter: the top or the bottom? Trick question—they’re the same size, even though your mind perceives the one with outward wings to be longer. While these optical illusions seem hard to figure out give yourself a break and check out 20 rebus puzzles that are almost impossible to solve!

Zöllner illusion

Courtesy Lenstore
Are these long diagonal lines parallel? They sure don’t look it, but they are! Removing the smaller “stitch”-like lines shows the truth about this optical illusion.

Scintillating grid illusion

©mark/shutterstock
An oldie but goodie, you may have seen the scintillating grid illusion before! Your brain thinks there’s a black dot inside each white circle—until you focus on each individual white circle. Then you realize it was never there at all. These images can be quite deceiving so put your eye to the test and see how many triangles are in this puzzle.

Spinning dancer illusion

My favorite ambiguous illusion is still the Spinning Dancer: which direction is she spinning in? pic.twitter.com/DKvQ1fVh59

— Tommy Maranges (@tommygents) May 16, 2018

This infamous silhouette of a dancer changes direction but do you know how? It’s all based on your bistable perception—when our brain sees a 2D in two different perspectives. The reason why we believe it moves is because our brains are trying to create space around the dancer!

Ponzo illusion

A Ponzo illusion is designed to trick you into believing that both yellow lines are different in length, smart art! pic. twitter.com/5aEJflcE1W

— Viking UK (@uk_vikingdirect) July 21, 2016

One of these yellow lines seems longer than the other. If you look closely, you’ll realize they’re both the exact same length. It’s based on our perception and we tend to see this image with a linear perspective which makes the top yellow line look longer than the yellow line at the bottom. Imagine driving and seeing a line up ahead. As you get closer the line appears to be larger and when we pass it, it appears smaller! If this was easy, check out 25 of the hardest riddles ever.

Elephant optical illusion

How many legs does the elephant have? At first glance, the answer maybe be obvious – but look a little closer, and this fiendish illusion reveals itself.

Today we have some fun optical illusions for you to try out! See how tricky it can be for your brain to accurately interpret the images from your eyes. We will reveal the answers in a post later! For more fun optical illusions, check out https://t. co/yPLTUVucu6 #kidsweekatCORE pic.twitter.com/kp1oysj15G

— CORE uWaterloo (@COREuWaterloo) April 24, 2018

The elephants we see have four legs but this one is throwing us a doozy. If we look closely you’ll see this elephant also only has four legs! Artist Roger Shepard left natural space blank causing confusion and making our brains think the space is supposed to be a leg. Still confused? Cover up the feet and you’ll see the four legs.

Illusory motion illusions

Spinning seeds

iulias/shutterstock

Your eyes will keep jumping to the spinning sunbursts of seeds—even though they’re all staying still. Give your eyes a break and solve 11 of the most famous riddles in history.

Rotating circles

eurovector/shutterstock

When your eyes dart to one seemingly spinning circle, the others around them appear to start rotating. Your eyes don’t know where to look!

Hypnotizing

Mark Grenier/shutterstock

Looks like the background is spinning around a circle, but both are staying completely still. Boost your brainpower even more with these brain games.

Moving right along

Guten Tag Vector/Shutterstock

It looks like the background underneath the sphere is moving downward, like a conveyer belt or a slow treadmill. But we promise this is a completely still image!

Ripple effect

Skripnichenko Tatiana/Shutterstock

Are you sure the circles in this image aren’t moving? Are you sure they’re not rippling in a wavelike motion? But really—are you positive? This happens because of a lag in the way we process looking at one aspect of the image to another causing our brain to think there is movement. Our smarts are being tested! Continue your momentum by solving 12 logic puzzles.

Spinning colors

Andrey Korshenkov/Shutterstock

Optical illusions like this will leave you dazed and confused. The colors seem to be swirling around, even though it’s a still image.

Pattern illusions

Hidden message

llliiioiiilll/shutterstock

Lose your focus a bit (seriously—try to go a little cross-eyed) and you’ll spot a secret message hidden in the black dots. Take a closer look, though, and the words will disappear from sight.

Innie or outie?

De V/shutterstock

Is the smallest point of this black and white illusion pointing in or sticking out? It’s anyone’s guess due to the contrasting lines.

All about perspective

Iva Villi/shutterstock

Can you figure out which of these windows is bigger? Not only are they the exact same size, but their tops and bottoms are also directly in line with each other. Talk about a new perspective! Keep challenging the way you view things by looking at 25 photos of everyday things taken from a side you rarely see.

Large and small

Peter Hermes Furian/shutterstock

Which blue dot is bigger: the one on the left or the one on the right? Good for you if you guessed the same size! The left just looks smaller compared to the big circles and empty space around it.

New squares

Cosid/Shutterstock

At first glance, the four diamonds in this picture pop right out. But look closer—there’s not a single line creating those shapes. The contrast between the black and white makes your brain assume they exist. Next, can you identify everyday objects by these close-up pictures?

Connected lines

Peter Hermes Furian/Shutterstock

Which of the two lines on the right side of the gray rectangle connects to the one on the left side? As you can see from the image on the right, it’s the one on the bottom (labeled in blue)—not the one on the top! When you can’t see the whole picture (literally), these optical illusions can seriously throw you for a loop.

Wacky squares

Iva Villi/Shutterstock

Some of these optical illusions make your head spin! In the optical illusion on the left, the red squares look warped and crooked, like something out of a funhouse. But on the right, when the crazy arrangement of black and white lines is faded to almost nothing, you can see that the red squares are actually as straight and square as can be. If you think you can handle it, check out 15 word puzzles that will leave you stumped.

Tilted towers

Courtesy Lenstore

Is one of these leaning towers leaning more than the other? It certainly looks like it, but no! The two images are identical; the way they’re positioned next to each other makes the one on the right look steeper.

Squiggly squares

picoStudio/Shutterstock
The lines that make up these squares are completely straight—yes, all of them, even the ones in the middle! The placement of the miniature squares-within-the-squares warps the lines and makes them look curved. If that was a piece of cake, you’ve got golden eyes. Put them to the test even more and see if you can find the hidden object in a sea of watermelons!

Bending lines

Courtesy Lenstore
These red lines might look curved outward—but they’re completely straight!

Hidden arch

Courtesy Lenstore
Under the post, are the lines of this archway meeting in the middle? They sure are! The post makes the lines look mismatched, but sure enough, they connect! Ready to keep making that brain of yours work? See if you can pass a short IQ test and put your smarts to the test.

Standing tall

Courtesy Lenstore
Which of these monsters charging through the catacombs is taller? More optical illusions that use the background to trick you! Without the backdrop, you can see that these two freaky fellows are exactly the same—including their height.

Color illusions

How many colors?

Courtesy Lenstore
Can you figure out how many colors are in this image in total? Did you guess four? Turns out it’s only three! The square in the upper right of this image looks like it contains blue and pink stripes; the one in the lower left seems to have green and orange ones. But, believe it or not, the “blue” and “green” are actually the exact same color!

RELATED: Fewer Than 1 Percent of People Can Pass This Color Test. Can You?

Gray area

Courtesy Lenstore
Which of the labeled squares is lighter in color: A or B? This one’s quite the trick: They’re actually the same color! It’s just the shadow of the green cylinder that makes them look like different colors.

Pair of pears

Courtesy Lenstore

Which of these pears is lighter in color: the one on the left or the one on the right? Neither, these two pears are exactly the same color! Grab a friend or two and see if they can figure it out and when you’re done solve some of the most challenging jigsaw puzzles you can buy.

Courtesy Lenstore

Literal Illusions

Rubin Vase

Vase or face? This is an example of a Rubin Vase, an #opticalillusion named after the Danish psychologist Edgar Rubin, who first developed the trick. Next time you visit us, come check out The Queen’s Speech- a 3D representation of this illusion! #RubinVase #EdgarRubin

Vase or face? This is an example of a Rubin Vase, an #opticalillusion named after the Danish psychologist Edgar Rubin, who first developed the trick. Next time you visit us, come check out The Queen’s Speech- a 3D representation of this illusion! #RubinVase #EdgarRubin pic. twitter.com/afET0l3YIT

— Camera Obscura & World of Illusions (@camobscura) November 10, 2018

— Camera Obscura & World of Illusions (@camobscura) November 10, 2018

Upon first glance do you see the figure of a vase or the side profile of two faces looking at one another? It all depends on the color you choose to focus on. If you look only at the black color, the image of a vase will appear prominently. Focusing on the white will show the side profile of the two individuals.

Boring Figure

pic.twitter.com/3kruzTHGcX

— neurocurry (@neurocurry) November 4, 2018

— neurocurry (@neurocurry) November 4, 2018

There’s certainly nothing boring about this optical illusion except that it’s named after its artist Edwin Boring. What do you see when you first take a good look at this image? One can either see a young woman looking away or the side profile of an elderly woman. You can see both however our brains can only focus on one at a time. If these optical illusions have your mind going in full gear, this Mensa quiz will surely continue the momentum.

Sources: 

• Optics4Kids: “Optical Illusions”
• Lenstore.co.uk: “In Perspective”
• Verywellmind: “How Do Optical Illusions Work”
• Insider: “20 classic optical illusions that stump everyone”

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How to choose a photo for a resume

Someone likes to be photographed and post their photos in the public domain, someone does not. But it is one thing when it comes to a personal page on social networks, and quite another when it comes to a resume. The hh.ru resume form includes space for a photo, but it is not required to upload it. Do I need to add a photo if you are not looking for a model job? How do recruiters feel about resumes without photos?

We hasten to reassure you: photos are not needed for a “beauty contest”. First of all, it is a way to attract attention. The human brain is designed in such a way that, among all possible visual objects, it especially highlights faces. Faces are so important to us that we tend to recognize them in any shape that is the slightest bit similar, whether it's a sketchy image, a random pattern, or even the shape of hills on Mars (think of the famous "Face on Mars" visual effect). What can we say about images of real faces? Our tendency to switch attention to faces is very actively used in visual advertising. Why not use this simple method to draw attention to your resume as well? nine0003

Recruiters skim through hundreds of resumes a day, and those that include a photo of the applicant could theoretically get more attention than those that don't.

Presence of photographs in the resume for managerial positions is a rule of good taste. If the position involves meetings with clients, holding presentations, speaking at corporate and external events, then the ability to present yourself in a resume, including by choosing the right photo, will be a plus for an applicant for such a position. nine0003

The same applies to sales managers who communicate with clients face-to-face, PR-managers and anyone else whose job involves presentation skills. What matters is not whether a person meets the standards of beauty, but whether he knows how to present himself.

This does not mean that resumes for relevant positions will not be considered at all if they do not have a photo. But a resume with a photo in such cases may seem more convincing.

Line specialists, whose functions do not require presentation skills, can easily do without a photo in a resume. nine0003

In any case, you should always adhere to the principle: it is better to have no photograph at all than to have it inappropriate. What is an inappropriate photo, we will analyze below.

The photo must be of normal quality and show your face. Mysterious and intriguing pictures in the resume do not belong, they do not fit in with a business image. Simply put, a photo with sunglasses or a hat hiding part of the face, grainy and blurry images, or, conversely, artistic options in the style of “this is my beautiful profile against the backdrop of a sunset” will not work. nine0003 A resume is a business document, which means that too informal photographs do not belong in it either. An option that is obviously not suitable for a resume can work as a “stop signal” for a recruiter, spoiling the impression of a resume as a whole. What's good for a personal social media page or family album is not always a good choice for a resume.

Ask yourself a question: would you go to an interview in such a form as in the photo? With a bare torso and a barbell, in a wedding dress and with the groom in an embrace, or in an evening dress with a glass of champagne in her hand, in pajamas and with her beloved cat in her arms, in the costume of her favorite fantasy hero? These are all real examples, by the way. If you would not dare to go to an interview in this form, then you should not use a photo in this image in your resume either. nine0003 Therefore, pictures from family and friends feasts, daring corporate parties and any celebration in obviously evening attire (neckline, rhinestones), with evening hair and bright makeup, too informal vacation photos (especially beach ones) or at home, flirtatious or just overly emotional selfies, “how I do sports” options are not suitable for a resume, no matter how much you like yourself in this photo.

Also not suitable are any pictures that show not only you, but also someone else. For example, photos with a spouse, children, any group photos. It’s better to do without a photo at all if you don’t have another option at hand. nine0003

It would seem that these are obvious recommendations. However, inappropriate photographs are quite common on resumes. What is the harm from them if the applicant is doing well with professional experience? An inappropriate photo, willy-nilly, raises doubts about whether the candidate is capable of feeling the difference between business communication and informal, whether he can fit into the corporate culture. All this is important for comfortable interaction at work.

The desire to improve one's image or to stand out from the standard photographs of other candidates can do a disservice. An overly creative image in a photo, creative processing in graphic editors with superimposed effects or extreme color correction, even from a good picture, can make the leader in the rating of unsuitable photos for a resume. nine0003 “Recently, I received another resume with an inappropriate photo. On it, the candidate is depicted with luminous eyes, and in his hand is a shining blue ball, which he seems to be holding out to the employer. This is quite peculiar and, of course, immediately alarming,” says Natalya Bogdanova.

A creative approach to photography can still be forgiven by representatives of creative professions, but even then it's better not to risk it. Experiments are best reserved for family and friendly photo albums.

Applicants for top-level positions should adhere to the most formal style in everything related to self-presentation. Photography is no exception. nine0003 “The requirements for candidates for senior and middle management positions are much stricter than for applicants for mass vacancies (contact center specialists, salespeople, and so on). If a woman is applying for a managerial position, and she has a selfie with duck lips and an open neckline in her resume, this raises questions, ”explains Natalya Bogdanova.

Demonstration of hobbies or hobbies in the photo in the resume is also not entirely appropriate. If your duties are not directly related to skiing and mountaineering, then you should not attach a picture on a ski track or in climbing equipment on a sheer cliff, no matter how impressive you look in this photo. The photo should support your professional image, or at least be neutral. This does not mean that you will certainly be rejected because of a sports photo, but at least your candidacy will raise doubts. They may or may not work out in your favor. nine0003 “Another example from my practice is a candidate for the position of office manager, a man of about 45 years old, sent in a generally good resume. Professional experience and all the information provided is more than adequate. But the photo was puzzling: the man posed on the shore of the reservoir in a handstand. From clothes on it were only swimming trunks. In such a situation, it was not easy for me to draw a conclusion: the candidate wanted to show an active life position and a healthy lifestyle in this way, or he hinted at the absence of any framework, including in the professional sphere, ”recalls Natalia Bogdanova. nine0002 When choosing a photo, it would be good to take into account what key requirements apply to a candidate for a particular position. If friendliness and the ability to establish contact with a client are important, you should not opt ​​for a picture with a frown on your face. A win-win option for any position is a photo with a calm, friendly expression.

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. A non-standard photo can attract attention and, in a good way, set you apart from the rest of the candidates. That happens. But, as a rule, when recruiting for non-standard vacancies. If you have a clearly non-business photo and employers ignore your resume, try removing the photo or changing it to another one and see the effect. nine0003

All of the above does not mean that a professional studio photo must be taken for a resume. Ask one of your friends or relatives to take pictures of you on a smartphone, just choose the right clothes and decide on the background. It is enough to dress in a formal business style, and if the desired work does not require a strict dress code, then just neutral, casual style.

Choose a room with good natural or bright artificial lighting and a neutral backdrop - a plain wall in the background is more appropriate than a multi-colored granny carpet, kitchen, dance floor or table with snacks and drinks. nine0003

Try different close-up options - where you look strictly from the front or slightly sideways, standing or sitting, with or without a half smile, in order to choose the most successful shot later. By the way, for the final choice, it would also be good to ask for "the help of the audience." When we look at our own photos, we tend to focus on individual details of our appearance that we like or dislike about ourselves. And others perceive the image as a whole and due to this they can more objectively suggest which of the photographs makes the most pleasant impression. nine0003

Of course, being carried away by the choice of a suitable photo, the main thing is not to forget the essence: even a perfect photo will not correct the impression of an indistinctly described experience. Here you will find a lot of tips on how to describe it better.

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How to look good in ID photos?

A photo session with a professional photographer can make many people dizzy. Most of us have a negative attitude towards the very idea of ​​posing for photos, because we believe that we are not photogenic. nine0055 Luckily, there are a few tricks that will ensure that every shot a photographer takes will live up to our expectations. What should I do to make look good in photo ?

In this article you will learn:

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A photo shoot done in a hurry and with the help of the first available photographer can end in an unsatisfactory result. If you are in a hurry to a meeting or want to pick up your child from school or kindergarten, and on the way you do ID photo in the first photo studio, you may not be good at these ID photos because you were in a hurry and nervous. Rush is not an ally when it comes to ID photos that will be used for several years.

Before you start preparing ID photo , take a look at the friendly atmosphere or the beautiful decor of the photo studio. It will make you relax during the photo session and your face will look calm at ID photo . Also, you can ask the photographer if it is possible to take more ID photos from which you could choose the most suitable one. Typically, a photo studio takes three ID photos , of which only one will need to be selected. Well, if you did not like all three ID photos , then ask to take a few more additional pictures.

Make-up

A photo for documents, such as an identity card or passport, is a very difficult process, as there are too many requirements for them. For example, official regulations dictate that you must look directly into the camera lens at all times. Moreover, you cannot smile, you must be photographed with your mouth closed and a neutral expression on your face. The question arises, “ How good is photo with such strict criteria?” Makeup plays a key role here. The day you will do ID photo It is worth doing a brighter make-up than the one you wear every day. To make your face look flawless, apply a suitable foundation to your skin. If you use a self tanner or skin highlighter, your face will look more radiant and relaxed. Enhance your eyes a bit with an extra layer of eyeshadow or apply eyeliner just above your upper lash line. If you did everything right, ID Photo will make you look natural and beautiful. nine0003

Light

Lighting is an important factor when photographing in a photo studio. The light flux should be directed directly to the face, without shadows. In this case, the complexion should be matte to avoid the effect of skin radiance. Just before shooting, you can use matte wipes or a matte foundation to get a good look on ID photo .

Clothes and hair

Equally important is your clothes and hair. Classics in the form of black or white clothes will not look good on photo for documents . The best colors for ID Photo are blue, gray and pastel (pistachio, peach). Hair should be collected in such a way as to reveal the entire oval of the face. The choice of hairstyle is not limited. Just remember that hair should not cover the forehead, ears, or eyes (this can make it difficult to verify identity).

Wedding, business photo shoot or resume photo

Wedding or business photo shoot is impossible without the help of a professional make-up artist who will prepare your face for photography. Afraid of a double chin at ID photo ? Straighten your body, gently lift your head, stretch your face and lower your chin a little. This procedure will make your neck longer and thinner. If you want your eyes to sparkle and "shine in your eyes", use eye drops just before shooting. If you want to make your legs a little thinner, gently cross them by pulling one leg in front of the other. This trick has long been used by models around the world.

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