I’m running just a little late, but here’s this week’s challenge. Did you know that March 29th is Smoke and Mirrors Day? The origin of this day, which celebrates all things magical and illusory, is suitably shrouded in mystery, but what a great theme it provides. Here are a few photographs I found that seemed to fit, all taken in the Big Apple, the city that never sleeps; the city where there’s always something fascinating to photograph.
Buildings that steam all night. Is it just me or does this remind you of a dalek? Yes, I’m a proud Dr Who fan 😉
Curved glass building makes for an interesting illusion
Part of the Empire State reflected in the wing mirror of a city cop’s motorbike
Are you ready to work your own magic and pull the wool over my eyes? If you would like to join in this week’s travel theme (everyone’s welcome!) here’s what to do:
- Create your own post and title it Travel theme: Smoke and Mirrors
- Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
- Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
- Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS.
I’m looking forward to your distracting, deceptive, illusory post!
xxx Ailsa
Where's my backpack? 
Pingback: Travel Theme: Smoke and Mirrors | Geophilia
Pingback: Travel Theme: Smoke and Mirrors | My Life Afterglow
Hi Ailsa! Here’s my entry for this week’s challenge. Thank you!
http://mylifeafterglow.wordpress.com/2013/03/31/travel-theme-smoke-and-mirrors/
Wow, this is great, the black and white makes it look even more impressive. Great photo! 🙂
Thank you Ailsa! I honestly thought I wouldn’t be able to join this week but was surprised to find that image in my archive. Great theme! 🙂
Pingback: Hot Rod Reflections | Ron Mayhew Photography
Pingback: Travel Theme: Smoke and Mirrors | Across the Bored
Longing for the heat of summer – please have a look at
Ooh, how beautiful, where was this taken? Seattle’s getting the heat of summer already, it’s been in the low to mid 60s all week. 🙂
Right across the water in Victoria! Gotten ccccoold here again, so am thinking about summer plans for the West coast….
I’m with you, bring on the summer, thinking of freeway driving with the windows rolled down and the wind in my hair. 🙂
Pingback: Travel Theme: Smoke and Mirrors | SC Surf Butler
Hi Alisa, Love your photos and thanks for the info. on Smoke and Mirror Day. Here is my entry
http://scsurfbutler.com/2013/03/31/travel-theme-smoke-and-mirrors/
Happy Easter! and safe traveling!
Ooh, how lovely, that sunset is gorgeous and I love the reflected buildings. Hope you had a happy Easter too!
One of my favorite sunsets, I finely got to use it in a challenge! Your amazing photos lead me in the right direction!! Happy traveling
Pingback: Smoking Mirrors – Ailsa’s WTT | Ouch!! My back hurts!!
Pingback: Travel theme: smoke and mirrors | Zimmerbitch: age is just a (biggish) number
No smoke, but a few mirrors. http://zimmerbitch.wordpress.com/2013/04/01/travel-theme-smoke-and-mirrors/
What a wonderful collection of mirrors, Su, that bottom one on the left is my favourite (Smoke and Mirrors 3) – its irregularity is glorious.
Pingback: Travel theme: Smoke and Mirrors | A Number of Things
I do love your toppling building reflection in the second photo! Here’s my contribution – http://newpillowbook.wordpress.com/2013/04/01/travel-theme-smoke-and-mirrors/
This is a wonderful post, especially the part about our 21st century selves possibly being an hallucination by the war-weary soldiers. Have you ever seen the film Jacob’s Ladder?
No – I don’t think I’ve even heard of it! I’ll have to investigate…
And also, Thank you! (I have a bad habit of replying to the second half of a comment and forgetting to respond to the first part.)
Oh I do that ALL the time 🙂
Pingback: Travel theme: Smoke and Mirrors | lena de almeida
Wow! This was a tough one for me. I love the illusion of fire you created with that first picture. Here are my attempts. http://josephelonlillie.com/2013/04/01/travel-theme-smoke-and-mirrors/
Haha, that made me laugh, Joseph, don’t mind your cat, I bet you’re a marvellous magician. 😉 Really fun photos, that fiery water is gorgeous. xxx
Thank you!
Pingback: Reflections from the past…Smoke and mirrors… | ilargia64
Hi Ailsa….Great theme!!!
My contribution…Magic and reality….
Hope you like it!
Oh boy, I love it, what an enchanting photo, it’s so enigmatic I could look at it for hours. Truly excellent capture, and perfect for this week’s theme! xxx
Thanks a lot Ailsa! So glad you like it!!!! The challenge was great!!!
Pingback: Travel Theme: Smoke and Mirrors | A New Day
Here’s mine. Enjoy!
I love it, Pat, especially those wavy lines snaking towards you – it looks like they’re trying to catch you! 🙂
Thanks. Now you have me spooked. 🙂
Oops 🙂
Here is my take on the Mirror part of “Smoke and Mirrors.”
Fuzzy dice rule! I love it, Ron – I went with ‘Where can I get my very own Fuzzy Dice?’ 🙂
Pingback: Weekly Travel Theme – Smoke and Mirrors | Researching San Diego
My interpretation is a bit off-kilter but I really enjoyed the challenge in this week’s theme!
Oh I absolutely love your take on the theme and thoroughly enjoyed your prose, wonderfully written! Those knitting needles are fabulous, but the one that really got me was the flower-coated violence, what a powerful piece.
Thank you so much! I am really enjoying your travel themes and have started looking forward to your Friday posts as one of the highlights of my week. They allow me to see my own adventures in a completely new light!
Great topic and photos, Ailsa! Here is my effort at showing how my life is like a mirror, reflecting Turkey: http://lonnalisawilliams.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/my-life-is-a-mirror/
Pingback: Holy Smoke | Ron Mayhew Photography
Pingback: Travel theme: Smoke and Mirrors II | northumbrian : light
Pingback: Travel theme : Smoke and mirrors | Looking at tiny stars
More “Smoke and Mirrors” with “Holy Smoke”
http://ronmayhewphotography.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/holy-smoke/
Hi Ailsa, here’s my contribution…http://suejudd.com/2013/04/02/weekly-travel-theme-smoke-and-mirrors/
Took a bit of creative thinking! Enjoyed the prompt…
Pingback: Wild Weekly Photo Challenge: Distant / Weekly Challenge: A Day in My Life / Weekly Travel Theme: Smoke and Mirrors | Travels and Trifles
Came up a bit short on mirrors (altho I think the glacial lake might count!) but plenty of smoke (fog/mist but you get the idea!) Check it out at http://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/wild-weekly-photo-challenge-distant-weekly-challenge-a-day-in-my-life-weekly-travel-theme-smoke-and-mirrors/ . Thanks for the fun challenge Ailsa!
Oh Tina, what a wonderful post, and wow, what amazing places you’ve seen. That shot of Angkor is unbelievably beautiful, and I adore that quote by Eberhardt. “A nomad I will remain for life, in love with distant and uncharted places.” 🙂
Pingback: Travel theme: Smoke and Mirrors « Sasieology
Great photos! Here’s mine http://sasieology.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/travel-theme-smoke-and-mirrors/
Pingback: Travel theme: Smoke and Mirrors | ILEANA PARTENIE
Hi Ailsa
Coloured smoke……no mirrors ..I’m afraid 😦
heres my post for this week..
Pingback: 4-2-13 – Travel Theme: Smoke And Mirrors | The Quotidian Hudson
A little late this week but here it is…
http://quotidianhudsonriver.com/2013/04/02/4-2-13-travel-theme-smoke-and-mirrors/
Pingback: TRAVEL THEME – SMOKE AND MIRRORS | Dear Bliary
Here’s my entry. 🙂
Reblogged this on e-maginariography.
Pingback: Travel Theme: Smoke and Mirrors | Photography Journal Blog
Smoke and mirrors, thanks to the snow!
Cheers!
Pingback: Travel Theme: Smoke And Mirrors | Under a poplar
Nice photos! It’s a bit late, but we had an interesting submission today that I think fits well with your challenge. It’s by a man with bipolar disorder, and represents his mania. http://brokenlightcollective.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/manic/
Pingback: Travel theme: Smoke and Mirrors | PragueByKaty
Pingback: Travel Theme : Smoke and Mirrors | Maniniyot
my entry for this week.
nice to know more about you dear..and nice blog btw…keep blogging..
Thanks for visiting my blog
Here’s my interpretation… great theme Ailsa!
Pingback: Travel Theme: Smoke And Mirror. | the unbearable lightness of being me.