# Retro Illusionary Portraiture These Photo Compositions by Carol Golemboski Exude a Mystical Air By Jana Pijak | Published 2013-05-21 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/carol-golemboski References: [lanciatrendvisions](http://www.lanciatrendvisions.com/en/article/the-magic-of-the-first-black-and-white-pictures) & [kevinlongino](http://www.kevinlongino.com) Entitled "That Old Black and White Magic", this [nostalgic image series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holy-ohio) by Carol Golemboski pays tribute to retro [illusion-themed imagery](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/illusion-box). Exuding a mystical air, this portrait series plays with perception and showcases behind-the-scenes imagery that relates to the popular art of magic tricks and spell-casting. These magic-themed portraits by Carol Golemboski are captured in black-and-white and display a [raw and grainy quality](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nonnas-cam) that is reminiscent of past era photographs after they have aged. The melancholic portrait series also highlights symbolic playing card subject matter along with floating face photography and cut mannequin fragments. These spooky elements are merged to form portraits that are infused with drawn elements. Moreover, all of these disturbing accents are both a creepy and visually intriguing translation of the art of spell casting and performance magic. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.5/10 - Popularity: 4% | Activity: 4% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Live Arts](https://www.trendhunter.com/livearts) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Nostalgic Photography:** Leverage the trend of nostalgic photography to create captivating and emotionally evocative visuals. - **Illusion-themed Imagery:** Explore the use of illusion-themed imagery to engage your audience in a mysterious and captivating way. - **Raw and Grainy Aesthetic:** Embrace the raw and grainy aesthetic in photography to add a vintage touch and evoke a sense of nostalgia. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Art and Photography:** Artists and photographers can leverage these trends to create unique and captivating pieces that resonate with viewers. - **Magician and Entertainment:** Magicians and entertainers can incorporate illusion-themed imagery and nostalgic photography to create immersive and memorable experiences for their audiences. - **Vintage and Retro Products:** Companies in the vintage and retro product industry can use the raw and grainy aesthetic trend to market their products and evoke a nostalgic appeal. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Magician-Designed Playing Cards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mystery-playing-cards.md) - [AI-Generated Poetic Photo Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emilio-alarcn.md) - [Nostalgic Hidden Image Cards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hidden-image-magical-birthday-card.md) - [Blurry Abstract Photography Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/optical-allusion.md) - [Painting-Immersive Photo Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-ground-exhibition.md) - [Artful Custom Mirror Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portraits-collection.md) - [Vintage Photo Makers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/retrova.md) - [Travel-Themed Fractured Mirrors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/baggage-claim-mirrors.md) - [Optical Illusion Mirrors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hooptical.md)