The theme of my photography collection, "Life is a Game," explores the connection between games and real life. As a future game developer, I see how games, inspired by life but breaking its rules, can teach us valuable lessons about freedom, growth, and perseverance. My work merges scenes from games and reality to show that even ordinary life can be exciting with imagination and passion. It also challenges the idea that games are harmful, emphasizing instead how they can inspire and energize us. Whether in life or games, a positive mindset makes all the difference.
First, I'd like to introduce two of my old friends to you. This is Peter Parker. Maybe he's watched too many cartoons because he’s always quoting, "With great power comes great responsibility." But he really is a kind-hearted guy, and his physical fitness is off the charts. I’ve got quite a few female friends who seem to like him a lot. And the other "spider" is Miles Morales. Like Peter, he also likes wearing masks and is incredibly athletic. I know this guy pretty well—he grew up in Brooklyn and later moved to Harlem, becoming my neighbor. He’s a few years younger than Peter, and while he doesn’t go around quoting "With great power comes great responsibility," he’s also trying to take on more responsibilities, just like Peter. I believe the memory of his late father, a police officer, gives him a lot of inner strength. By the way, it’s clear that both of these guys really love the Columbia University campus.
You know, with great power comes great responsibility. Honestly, I have some abilities too, because I’m a ninja who has trained for many years. Whenever someplace in the world is under attack by evil forces, my organization summons me to the frontlines to fight secretly. This is one of our fast transport stations in New York—Grand Central. The system works a bit like the train station in the Harry Potter movies. The world needs more heroes, and I gotta move on now.
This is the Brooklyn Bridge—I’m sure you’ve all been there. It reminds me of a Slavic friend I met in Brooklyn, Nico. He’s an incredibly reliable guy. Here in New York—sometimes called Liberty City—there’s no task that Nico can’t handle. What I admire most about him is how much he values his family. He doesn’t hesitate to punish anyone who threatens his family’s well-being.
This photo was taken at Santa Monica Beach in Los Angeles. During that time, I was delivering food in LA on a $2 million motorcycle. Food delivery in LA can be dangerous since there are a lot of gangs around. My life was pretty tight back then—probably because I’d spent all my savings on the motorcycle. But whenever I saw the beautiful sunset, I felt a surge of motivation to chase wealth and a better life. You know, we can’t let such a gorgeous sunset go to waste.
Florida is a great place, home to some of the most stunning white sand beaches in the world. As you can see, these beaches are incredibly popular. Florida isn’t just about beautiful scenery—it’s also full of fascinating people who always seem to come up with mind-boggling antics. I’ve heard that something big is going to happen in Florida in the next couple of years. I’m not sure what it is, but I’m really looking forward to it.
This is my chubby, diving friend, Dave. He’s an exceptional diver. I’m curious about where he learned his diving skills—maybe Hawaii? Recently, he started his own business, teaming up with a sushi chef to open a Japanese restaurant near a blue hole not far from Florida. Dave is in charge of diving into the blue hole to catch fish, while the sushi chef prepares the dishes. I’ve heard their business is thriving. If you ever get the chance to visit, I can ask Dave to treat you to some of their delicious sushi.
This photo has a lot of stories. In my early days as a sailor in Nassau, I had a good friend named Edward Teach. He was a captain and the most carefree person I’ve ever met in this world. He lived unbound by any rules, and his favorite thing was the black flag that represented his fleet. I once asked him why he didn’t add some bright, colorful patterns to his flag to make it more eye-catching. He replied, “We fly no Colours out here but praise the lack of them, so let the black flag signal nothing but your allegiance to men’s freedoms.”
I must admit, he was so charming when he said those words. It also made me reflect: why can’t most of us live as freely as Teach? What binds us? Is it a high score on the transcript? A degree from a famous university? A decent job offer with a high salary? Or perhaps the opinions and judgments of others? These things gradually consume our lives and energy, reducing our existence to a single, monotonous frame maybe like a piece of paper or a computer screen.
Fortunately, games have taken me to many different places, introduced me to diverse people, and allowed me to encounter fascinating souls and ideas. Life is a game, and the game has become a part of my life, showing me what a more complete life could be like. Most importantly, they’ve given me the motivation to capture more and more photographs that break the boundaries of imagination and reality.
So I believe games are my black flag. They will ride the winds and waves, carrying me to a farther future, just as they’ve brought me to where I am today. Life is a wonderful game, play it and enjoy it.
Good luck, and Have fun!
