From Game to Frame

How Superliminal Inspired My Photography

Setting a goal is the first step in making the invisible visible. This year, I aimed to capture diverse objects, subjects, and locations through photography. How’s that going? Well, let’s say I’m getting started. The first challenge is finding a concept. After some brainstorming, I found inspiration in an unexpected place—a game called Superliminal (see fig. 1).

In Superliminal, you navigate a series of mind-bending puzzles as part of a dream therapy program. Guided by the voice of Dr. Glenn Pierce, you face optical illusions and forced perspective puzzles that challenge your perception. The game’s twist ending leaves you with a profound life lesson, making it more than just a typical puzzle game.

So, what’s the connection between Superliminal and photography? In an interview, the game's creator, Albert Shih, said that forced perspective is a key mechanic. This optical illusion plays with size and distance. It makes objects appear larger, smaller, closer, or farther away than they are. Classic examples include tourists pretending to hold up the Leaning Tower of Pisa (see fig. 2-4). Another is Peter Jackson's use of forced perspective in The Lord of the Rings to make hobbits appear smaller.

I first explored forced perspective as a photography concept. But I struggled to find a clear direction. I needed a stronger link between Superliminal and my photography. That’s when the idea of scaling came into focus. In Superliminal, you resize objects with forced perspective. You can resize things like chess pieces and cheese slices. Move an object away, and it appears to grow; bring it closer, and it seems to shrink.

With this concept in mind, I searched for a location that could bring my idea to life. The Broad Museum crossed my mind with its oversized exhibits, but it felt too broad—pun intended. I shelved the idea, then dug out a past photography to-do list. One entry stood out: Randy’s Donuts in Inglewood, known for its iconic giant donut. I picture this donut as a puzzle piece in Superliminal, an object you scale up to escape a room.

Excited, I grabbed my camera and headed to Randy’s Donuts. As I took photos, I saw a steady stream of customers grabbing coffee and donuts. The lines moved quickly, despite the busy location near the freeway. I circled the building, ensuring the giant donut remained the focal point in every shot. My patience paid off. I captured car-free images of the oversized donut in all its glory (see fig. 5-7).

Before leaving, I couldn’t resist trying the coffee. As a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur, I found it decent but not remarkable. I didn't use forced perspective in my final images. But I honored Superliminal by capturing the oversized donut. I aimed to echo the game's unique view of reality.