Today’s puzzles are four optical illusions devised by the magician Matt Pritchard. He calls them ‘perspec-tricks’. Each image is a photograph that seems to show something impossible. The puzzle is to work out exactly how Matt created the illusion.
The magic he used is old school: none of the photographs has been digitally modified. What you see is exactly what the camera saw. All the illusions involve mirrors in some way.
1. The Soup Tin
2. The Disappearing Cub
3. Mirror, Mirror and a Wall
4. The Caped Conundrum
As well as being an Associate of the Inner Magic Circle, Matt Pritchard has a PhD in physics. Indeed, his scientific training inspires his magic. “Most of my PhD was working with lasers and optical systems, so I’ve a good ground in bouncing light around,” he says. “Even so, I’m often surprised by how reflections behave.”
Matt performs brilliant science magic shows for schools and can be found on Twitter and Instagram.
I’ll be back at 5pm UK time today with the answers.
UPDATE: Read the solutions here.
(I had no idea how he managed some of the illusions. Discovering the ‘reveals’ was a real ‘wow’ moment. Do come back at 5pm to see the reveals for yourself.)
PLEASE NO SPOILERS
I set a puzzle here every two weeks on a Monday. I’m always on the look-out for great puzzles. If you would like to suggest one, email me. If you are a magician with similar illusions, I’d love to see them too.
I’m also very excited to announce the imminent release of my new book, The Language Lover’s Puzzle Book, which contains more than 100 puzzles that celebrate the world of words and language. It features problems involving ancient, modern and invented languages, curious alphabets and writing systems, slang, A.I., and much more. David Crystal calls it: “The perfect companion for anyone who loves puzzles and languages.” Who am I to disagree! The book is out on November 5 but you can preorder at the Guardian Bookshop or here.
