Geometry in motion
August 26, 2014 2:34 PM   Subscribe

Bees & Bombs is a tumblr of hypnotic GIF animations programmed by Dublin-based physics student Dave Whyte
posted by Mr. Six (19 comments total) 53 users marked this as a favorite
 
...ow
posted by showbiz_liz at 2:41 PM on August 26, 2014


Is this geometry Tuesday?

Ah that dot one is like a certain occasional nightmare.
posted by sammyo at 2:54 PM on August 26, 2014


Where did I put my LSD? It's around here somewhere...
posted by zardoz at 2:55 PM on August 26, 2014 [1 favorite]


This immediately transported me back to the age of fourteen, shuffling through every Winamp visualization of an Incubus album on bored summer nights.
posted by Turkey Glue at 3:10 PM on August 26, 2014 [3 favorites]


These are really good.

I have never taken LSD. Is this what it is like? Or is this just, like, enhance-able with good drugs?
posted by Michele in California at 3:11 PM on August 26, 2014


Or is this just, like, enhance-able with good drugs?

Let me get back to you on that, I'm at work right now
posted by showbiz_liz at 3:17 PM on August 26, 2014 [3 favorites]


Ohh, thanks. My brain is relaxed now.
posted by spitefulcrow at 3:26 PM on August 26, 2014


Whoa, dude. Have you ever like, really looked at your hand?

Wait. Sorry. Where was I? Oh yes. These are cool. Thanks.
posted by yoink at 3:44 PM on August 26, 2014


Bees & Bombs & Beasts better scurry...
posted by Wolfdog at 4:00 PM on August 26, 2014 [3 favorites]


I wasn't expecting to find these so lovely. They're very... I dunno... thoughtful.
posted by obfuscation at 4:14 PM on August 26, 2014 [1 favorite]


Excellent post, too.
posted by Wolfdog at 4:18 PM on August 26, 2014


Wow!, these are very intriguing.
posted by quazichimp at 4:33 PM on August 26, 2014


Tumblr justifies its existence simply as a repository for creative Gif-makers like this guy (previously here) and this guy (previously here) and this guy (previously here) and these guys (previously here) and these algorithms (previously here) and much more (previously here)...
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:48 PM on August 26, 2014 [11 favorites]


That is so cool. I dug around and found some source code for one of his earlier sketches (he uses the free Processing software package).
posted by circular at 5:20 PM on August 26, 2014 [3 favorites]


I have never taken LSD. Is this what it is like? Or is this just, like, enhance-able with good drugs?

I'll put it this way: I remember spending at least 15 minutes just staring at my hands, at the lines on the palm, the way they move and work and goddamn they were fascinating. Andd that was just my hands! These GIFs would likely cause an LSD user great joy and hilarity (early phase) or sober insight into the nature of reality (latter phase).
posted by zardoz at 7:45 PM on August 26, 2014 [2 favorites]


I have never taken LSD. Is this what it is like?

Kind of. But if you want to see what the visual hallucinations of LSD can be like, just do this:

1. Relax, breathing slowly and deeply, while you stare at this Bees & Bombs gif for a full 30 seconds.

2. Then turn your eyes to a page of text from a newspaper or book.

3. Voila!

That warping you see is what the visual hallucinations of LSD can sometimes be like. Your brain has compensated for the consistent rotation movement so when you look away at something stable you get a few moments of non-drug-induced rotation of your visual senses in the other direction.

It's really cool, and easy to do, and works just as well with a fast-running clear stream if you focus on the rocks at the bottom for 30 seconds as the water rushes by. When you look up at the bank, you'll find everything warping in the opposite direction of the rushing water.

If it doesn't work the first time, try again for 45 seconds, making sure to relax and breathe (don't stress about blinking, just relax and watch as long as you can).

So, yeah, if you want some of the "OUR SENSES CAN'T BE TRUSTED!" lessons of hallucinogenic drugs without the bother of an 8-hour trip, it's actually kinda easy to arrange.
posted by mediareport at 9:29 PM on August 26, 2014 [2 favorites]


I can't stop looking at this one.

Happy. Spinny. Happy. Spinny...
posted by double block and bleed at 5:19 AM on August 27, 2014


Thank you to those folks who answered my question.

I was just curious because folks were making the comparison. I have done boatloads of prescription drugs, my body doesn't work right and it thus does weird things with really ordinary chemicals (like food!), so I am not too keen on experimenting with recreational drugs. Explanations and comparisons to other mind-altering experiences I have already had is probably as good as it will get.

:-)
posted by Michele in California at 9:49 AM on August 27, 2014


Here's a list of GIF artists, many with similar themes: http://gifartists.tumblr.com/

A few of my personal favorites not mentioned above: echophon, hexeosis, wm-design
posted by aneel at 5:59 AM on August 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


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