In the words of obi wan, "Your eyes can deceive you; don't trust them."
Often times what we see (and record in pictures) is not what is. This is the reason that science (empiricism) requires measurement, not merely looking at stuff!
I encourage you to look up "barrel distortion" to understand what causes the curve in the picture above. If the curve in the picture were really the curve of a spherical earth, that earth would be far tinier than we are taught (calculate it yourself if you like)..
If you, or anyone else, are interested in the subject - very much including those with purely critical views - please join us on c/flatearthresearch to discuss and exchange views on it.
How come when I squish these photographs of a squaring tool and a ruler they don't take on a curvature?
Primarily it is because the lens is calibrated for that focal length. and that the least amount of barrel distortion is introduced by the dead center of the lens
It still introduces distortion, but it is less noticeable because of that calibration (traditionally done by photographing a grid pattern).
Does the barrel distortion disappear when photographing a straight object?
Of course not, it is present in all convex lenses regardless of the subject photographed. I encourage you to read about it.
None of those rulers are near the center of the lenses yet they don't distort.
As i said, it is mostly due to the lens being calibrated for the focal length you are using, but it is also (at least in part) because the light which enters the center of the lens perpendicularly is the least distorted (that's regardless of focal length).
Seems like you guys just wanna make up any excuse you can to say you can't see the earth curve.
It's the opposite, though I am not one of "you guys". You want to be able to see the curve, and want to believe that the distortion you see in this picture (or from an airplane) is that curvature. This bias comes from what we call education. The truth is, that the curvature is not there/perceivable at any available (to you or i anyhow) altitude (this is also calculable).
We'll I got news for you.. You don't even need a camera. You can see it with your naked eye.
This is a common and popularized misconception. The horizon (unless distorted) is always flat, level, and horizontal. You can't see any curvature (even if it were there) with your naked eye from any available altitude, even with a two by four at your disposal. If you could, the world would have to be far too small. I encourage you to calculate it if you don't believe that.
And I'm sure there's barrel distortion going on there too....
There certainly is, however the shape of the retina and processing in the brain is supposed to correct for that. Still, malformation of the eye (and/or nerves/brain which processes the signals from it) is very real and certainly possible.
However in the example you mentioned, barrel distortion couldn't be the cause. Much more likely you would be observing a swell (water isn't motionless) or distortion from the air (and/or things dissolved/commingling in that air). Try that same observation on a large lake on a calm day!
Can't trust them lying eyes.
Exactly! That's what science is all about. We measure because simply looking isn't good enough and often leads to incorrect conclusions.
In the words of obi wan, "Your eyes can deceive you; don't trust them."
Often times what we see (and record in pictures) is not what is. This is the reason that science (empiricism) requires measurement, not merely looking at stuff!
I encourage you to look up "barrel distortion" to understand what causes the curve in the picture above. If the curve in the picture were really the curve of a spherical earth, that earth would be far tinier than we are taught (calculate it yourself if you like)..
If you, or anyone else, are interested in the subject - very much including those with purely critical views - please join us on c/flatearthresearch to discuss and exchange views on it.
Primarily it is because the lens is calibrated for that focal length. and that the least amount of barrel distortion is introduced by the dead center of the lens
It still introduces distortion, but it is less noticeable because of that calibration (traditionally done by photographing a grid pattern).
Of course not, it is present in all convex lenses regardless of the subject photographed. I encourage you to read about it.
As i said, it is mostly due to the lens being calibrated for the focal length you are using, but it is also (at least in part) because the light which enters the center of the lens perpendicularly is the least distorted (that's regardless of focal length).
It's the opposite, though I am not one of "you guys". You want to be able to see the curve, and want to believe that the distortion you see in this picture (or from an airplane) is that curvature. This bias comes from what we call education. The truth is, that the curvature is not there/perceivable at any available (to you or i anyhow) altitude (this is also calculable).
This is a common and popularized misconception. The horizon (unless distorted) is always flat, level, and horizontal. You can't see any curvature (even if it were there) with your naked eye from any available altitude, even with a two by four at your disposal. If you could, the world would have to be far too small. I encourage you to calculate it if you don't believe that.
There certainly is, however the shape of the retina and processing in the brain is supposed to correct for that. Still, malformation of the eye (and/or nerves/brain which processes the signals from it) is very real and certainly possible.
However in the example you mentioned, barrel distortion couldn't be the cause. Much more likely you would be observing a swell (water isn't motionless) or distortion from the air (and/or things dissolved/commingling in that air). Try that same observation on a large lake on a calm day!
Exactly! That's what science is all about. We measure because simply looking isn't good enough and often leads to incorrect conclusions.