Our brains constantly interpret photographs, often filling in details that are not clearly visible.
When we see two people positioned close together, we instinctively compare their heads, shoulders, and overall proportions.
We may assume they are standing beside one another unless something clearly tells us otherwise.
In this case, that assumption can produce the wrong conclusion.
Once the bench is noticed, the entire scene is reinterpreted.
What looked like evidence of a dramatic height difference becomes an ordinary photograph of one person standing next to another who is seated.
[Original photograph 3 — retain the image showing the wider setting or Diana’s seated position.]
Why Our Eyes Can Be Fooled by an Ordinary Photograph
The Balmoral image is not an isolated example of photography creating an impression that differs from physical reality.
In fact, visual distortions are extremely common.
Photographs translate a three-dimensional world into a two-dimensional image. In that process, information about depth, distance, and elevation can become difficult to interpret.
