After nine months of pining and patience, I managed to convince my grandpa to give me his luxury film camera from 1985: The Minolta Maxxum 7000. He kindly gave me the camera at the perfect time, a month before my trip to Singapore. The only problem? I wasn’t entirely sure how to use it.
Luckily, I spent days walking thousands of steps sightseeing in Singapore and searching for the perfect photo spots to test out the camera. Although known for iconic sites like the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and the Merlion, the truth is that many of Singapore’s photographic gems lie on quiet side streets and in the heart of the city’s gardens. Here are my top 6 photo spots for visitors who want to capture the heart and soul of Singapore.
Chijmes is one of those spots that immediately captured my heart. With stone-white arches and walls, spiral staircases, and flower bushes, it felt like a piece of the past and the present colliding. Its main building, the Caldwell House, was originally constructed in 1854 by two French nuns as a Catholic school for girls. Today, the Caldwell House is the second-oldest building in Singapore, and the rest of the complex has been converted into a hip scene of bars, cafes and shops. However, I spent an hour appreciating the simple, beautiful design of the area and snapping some photos.
Joo Chiat is known for its iconic and brightly-coloured shophouses along Koon Seng Road. Although these are absolutely worth a stop, I stopped on nearly every street in this neighbourhood for a photo, compelled by the bright colours and vibrant evidence of varied cultural influences.
Read the complete Top 6 Photo Spots in Singapore story on our travel site here: Top 6 Photo Spots in Singapore: A Photographer’s Guide to Capturing the City’s Soul Travel – Travel Trek and Tour
