SNAPS is a set of poker-sized photo cards that is made to look like sample stock photo images for use in your computer. In actuality, these photos are so creatively taken that they resemble the letters of the alphabet, the numbers from 0 to 9, and ESP symbols. At a casual glance, they are beautiful photo images. When several cards are placed together in a row on the table, they begin to spell an object, or form a serial number. The audience will begin to realise these photos are not chosen by chance. They are specially selected to reveal a certain outcome.
They come in 2 decks. One deck is known as the Focus deck and it contains 56 alphabet photos plus one crib card.
The second deck is known as the Iconic deck. It contains 53 iconic photos which depict the numbers from 0 to 9, ESP symbols, and some other special cards such as a blank card, double back, STOP sign, several cards for psychological forces, and animal cards. It also come with one crib card.
The cards are also subtly marked on their backs. The markings are of a one-way design and they also indicate whether the card comes from the Focus or Iconic deck. They also allow you to know the identity of the card. This is where the crib card comes in. The crib card is not used in performance, but it lets you know the details of the photo in each marking on the cards.
You receive the 2 decks, each in its own tuck case, specially designed to look like they contain sample stock photo images.
The cards are beautifully conceived by both David Jonathan and Dan Harlan, and designed by Phill Smith. You are also given a link to a 2 hours 41 minutes of video tutorial where both David and Dan take you through the use of these cards and with a dozen sample routines to start you off. Once you understand the principles in used, you can create your own routines.
Here are the descriptions of some of the routines:
Photo Sensory Perception – a 2-spectator routine where each spectator takes a photo for the other person, and the performer can reveal each of them.
The STOP Speller – a spectator stops dealing at random and stops at the STOP sign photo! This special card then helps her find 2 other photos that where placed in a row on the table, spell S-T-O-P!
A Picture’s Worth – a book test that can be used on a stage. Several spectators each select a photo which is used to insert into the pages of a book so that the photos protrude from all the 3 edges of the book. Another spectator is asked to eliminate all the photos except one. That photo is used to indicate a randomly selected page. She reads the first sentence on that page and it says something about an airplane. When this photo is turned over, it is a photo of an airplane. The other photos that were eliminated were arranged in a row on the table and they spell A-I-R-P-L-A-N-E.
The Animals – a effect utilising the 7 animal photos. A spectator randomly arranges the order of the animal cards and they spell to the actual selected animal of the spectator.
The Push – a spectator selects a photo and the performer makes him forget this image. A second spectator selectes another photo and the performer transfers the image of this photo to the first spectator.
Most of the effects taught are clever applications of the the principles used in card magic. In addition to the routines taught, you get to learn, if you do not already know them, the various great principles of card magic so that you can use them to create your own routines. (Rated 5/5 stars)
