Dazzling Time-Lapse Shows Cities Through Kaleidoscope

The humble kaleidoscope might not have much on video games, but it's still a pretty cool toy. Its primary purpose is to take an everyday image and make it a little more magical. Don't you want yours back right now? No need to go digging through your toy box — we now have a kaleidoscope for the digital age.

This time-lapse video from Michael Shainblum begins simply enough — with beautiful, recognizable cityscapes shown alongside their mirror images. Then he flips the time-lapse photography genre upside-down (literally) with dazzling kaleidoscopic effects.

Shainblum has been mirroring images for five years and spent four months working on "Mirror City," using footage from Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

See also: Get Lost in These 19 Fascinating Maps

"Many people visit these large cities every day, and all of these places have been shot and filmed, but I wanted to emulate these urban landscapes in a way that nobody has even seen before," Shainblum's Vimeo page reads.

Click the video above to see a time-lapse like no other. Do you recognize your city through the kaleidoscope's eye? Let us know in the comments below.

1. 1. Arthur Boorman's Transformation

   Arthur Boorman was a disabled, overweight Gulf War veteran for 15 years. Over and over, doctors told him he'd never walk without the support of crutches again.

   On a bit of a whim, he joined a local yoga program, and ended up achieving what almost everyone had told him was impossible.

   Watch his story for yourself.

2. 2. Nike 'Find Your Greatness' Ad

   Originally aired during the Summer Olympics, this Nike commercial -- featuring a 12-year-old boy named Nathan -- is surprisingly simplistic, but carries a big message: "Greatness is not beyond [Nathan's] reach, nor is it for any of us."

   Read more.

3. 3. Procter & Gamble 'Thank You, Mom' Ad

   This Procter & Gamble ad, also aired during this summer's Olympics, was part of its "Thank You, Mom" campaign.

   The video shows a number of different kids, all across the world, growing up to eventually compete in the Olympics -- with their mothers supporting them during the entire journey.

4. 4. U.S. Olympic Team Tribute To Muhammad Ali

   This tribute to Muhammad Ali, created by DJ Steve Porter for Team U.S.A., mixes some of the boxer's best phrases and glory proclamations with a catchy, pump-you-up-to-the-max beat.

   Read more.

5. 5. The Last

   Wong Fu Productions created this touching short film about a man, played by Glee's Harry Shum, Jr., who is asked by his girlfriend how many people he's loved before her.

   Watch it to see his heartfelt answer.

   Read more.

6. 6. Hey (St.) Jude

   In celebration of its 50th birthday, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital made a buzzing rendition of the Beatles' "Hey Jude," featuring the hospital's patients singing alongside nurses, doctors and celebrities like Betty White, Michael Jordan and Robin Williams.

   Read more.

7. 7. Ugly Yet Beautiful

   Chester Lee Ridens of Dubuque, Iowa describes himself as "ugly." Nine months ago, he began posting a series of short video clips to YouTube under the username GuyWithCrazyIdeas.

   In this particular short, above, Ridens gives what's come to be his signature expression -- chin tucked in, eyes open wide -- while James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" plays in the background.

   "Beauty is only skin deep," he told the Daily Dot, adding that the purpose of his channel is to promote that everyone treat each other with respect and dignity, appearances aside.

   Ridens' YouTube channel currently has more than 8,000 subscribers and his videos have been viewed around 3.3 million times, the Daily Dot reports.

   Read more.

8. 8. Meyers Leonard Reunites With Marine Brother After Two Years

   Meyers Leonard, a recently drafted center for the Portland Trailblazers, lost his father at an early age. From that point onward, his older brother, Bailey, took on a fatherly figure role through the hard times that ensued.

   In this video, Bailey returns from duty in Afghanistan -- unknown to Meyers -- to watch his little brother play basketball for the first time in two years (Meyers, at the time, was with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.)

   Watch it to see their touching reunion.

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9. 9. With A Piece Of Chalk

   This short film, produced by German filmmakers JuBaFilms, tells the story of a young boy overcoming a painful past -- problems at home, bullying at school -- though breakdancing. Really good breakdancing, we might add.

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10. 10. Military Dad Surprises Family at Football Game

    Sergeant First Class Scott Faile was supposed to be in Korea while his family -- wife, daughter and son -- were being honored as the "military family of the game" during a University of South Carolina football game in early October.

    His family stood on the field, surrounded by 85,000 fans, as a message from Faile was played on the stadium's jumbo screen. What they didn't expect, though, was to see him walking out onto the field minutes later.

    Read more.

Image: Vimeo, Michael Shainblum