The Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay, Haji Lane, the shophouses along Joo Chiat – these are just some of Singapore’s most famous Instagram spots. The thing is, crowds flock there all the time, so you might feel that these locations and backdrops are a little overrated for your well curated Instagram feed. Want to up your Instagram game? Hit up these little-known places around Singapore:
Get the perfect #OOTD shot at Berlayer Beacon at Labrador Nature Reserve – shot with Fujifilm X-T30
1. Berlayer Beacon
Swing by this striking seven-metre tall beacon at Labrador Nature Reserve to get your #OOTD shot. As an added bonus, you can find out more about this historical landmark from the info plaque – back in the day the beacon was used to guide ships approaching the Keppel Harbour.
How to get there: Take the train to Labrador Park MRT station; take Exit A (the only exit at the station); follow the Labrador Villa Road then Port Road until you get to Carpark B. The beacon is right at the edge of the park, near the water.
Best time to shoot: Noon – strong lighting is needed for high contrast shots
Lens to use: Fujifilm XC15-45mm
Have some fun and get creative with this colourful backdrop at the Mandai River Bridge
2. Mandai River Bridge
This colourful bridge in the Kranji area may not be the easiest to locate, but the journey here is worth it. Photos you get here will be quirky and fun, and that will draw more eyeballs to your Instagram feed.
**Tip: Go for an outfit that’s muted in colour; the last thing you want is to blend in with the bright yellow, red and blue colours of the bridge.
How to get there: Take the train to Kranji MRT station; catch the 170 bus from Opp Kranji Stn and alight at the Bef W’lands Ind Pk D St 2 bus stop; follow the direction of the traffic and walk towards Kranji Lodge 1
Best time to shoot: Early morning to avoid the flow of pedestrians using the bridge
Lens to use: Fujifilm XF18-55mm
Check out the eye-catching architecture of The Hive @ NTU
3. The Hive @ Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
Designed by English designer Thomas Heatherwick, The Hive @ NTU is one of Singapore’s most unusual structures. It’s also one of the very few buildings in the country to be awarded the Green Mark Platinum Award by the Building and Construction Authority! The Hive houses a number of student-managed social enterprises that function as multi-purpose spaces, and many have likened the building’s design concept to stacked dim sum baskets and giant beehives.
Bring that tripod if you’re heading to The Hive @ NTU
There’s minimal natural lighting within The Hive, and this is where Fujifilm’s impressive dynamic range (DR) capabilities come in handy. Using the DR control, you’ll be able to capture each scene’s details, even the finest ones in the brightest areas to the darkest spots.
How to get there: Take a train to Pioneer MRT station; catch the 179 bus from Pioneer Stn Exit A and alight at the Yunnan Gdn bus stop
Best time to shoot: Day – it’s the best time to catch the rays of light filtering down
Lens to use: Fujifilm XC15-45mm
Drop by during sunset for gorgeous gold-lit shots along Canterbury Road
4. Canterbury Road
This quiet stretch near HortPark overlooks a vast green field with lush greenery in the distance, making this a hotspot for wedding photographers. Excellent for that rustic, close-to-nature shot you’ve always wanted for your Instagram feed.
How to get there: By car; or take a taxi from Labrador Park MRT station
Best time to shoot: Sunset/evening for ideal softer lighting
Lens to use: Fujifilm XF18-55mm
Take advantage of Marina Square Maze’s sharp, angular points to create interesting shots
5. Marina Square Maze
Contrary to its name, Marina Square Maze isn’t actually a maze. Instead, it’s an emergency fire escape route. Get high up and shoot from an elevated point – the many angular points of the maze add dimension to photos.
How to get there: Make your way to Marina Square (City Hall MRT station), go to Level 2 and take the exit at the door closest to Samsonite (#02-81); walk down the pathway until you see a door marked “Stair 30-D-1” on your right
Best time to shoot: Evening, around 5pm, for softer lighting
Lens to use: Fujifilm XF18-55mm
Experiment with layers and image stitching at Tan Boon Liat Building
6. Tan Boon Liat Building
Tan Boon Liat building is a great hangout for those with an eye for design since it’s chock-full of furniture stores. Lucky for you Instagrammers, even the building itself is perfect for photography. Go a few levels above your subject to capture the warm blue-and-brown colours of the place, or play with angles for some very whimsical shots. Also, make use of Fujifilm’s highlight tone and shadow tone to control how the highlights of the picture roll off and the intensity of shadows.
How to get there: Take a train to Tiong Bahru MRT station; catch the 5 bus from Opp Tiong Bahru Stn and alight at the Aft Furama RiverFront bus stop; take the overhead bridge and walk past the Shell petrol station to the carpark/entrance of Tan Boon Liat Building
Best time to shoot: Day
Lens to use: Fujifilm XC15-45mm
Get down and shoot from a low angle at Fort Canning’s huge spiral staircase
7. The Fort Canning Spiral Staircase
This spiral staircase looks like a place you’d find in the woods of some foreign part of the world. The stairs lead to Fort Canning Park via an underground crossing, so you could easily miss it if you enter the park any other way.
**Pro tip: Get low and tilt the lens up to get everything in the frame, the Fujifilm X-T30 comes with a tilting touchscreen display so you’ll have an easier time composing your shot even with the camera placed low.
How to get there: Take a train to Dhoby Ghaut MRT station; take Exit B and cross the street over to Penang Road; turn left and follow the slope up before entering the tunnel walkway (the spiral staircase is at the end of it)
Best time to shoot: Early morning to beat the crowd; otherwise you’ll likely have to join a queue
Lens to use: Fujifilm XC15-45mm
Marina One: Welcome to the future
8. Marina One
There’s a reason the cast of HBO’s science fiction series Westworld were recently spotted filming at Marina One – this is one futuristic-looking venue. Filled with rows of bright lights, undulating curves, and multi-level terraces, this mixed-use development has all the “other-wordly feels”, so come at night to fully take it all in.
When it comes to editing your shots, don’t be afraid to crank up the saturation to bring out the brilliant colours of Marina One. With the Fujifilm X-T30, you can make edits quickly and easily using the in-camera raw editing modes of film simulations.
How to get there: Take the train to Downtown MRT station; take Exit E
Best time to shoot: Night, to really capture the building’s unique character
Lens to use: Fujifilm XC15-45mm
Capture all the intricate details of the Singapore Musical Box Museum
9. Singapore Musical Box Museum
Did you know we have our own Musical Box Museum? It houses over 40 antique musical boxes, and on top of that, there are other collectibles on display, including antique clocks and dancing ballerinas. When you’re done checking out the museum’s highlights, head to the second level to find this “textured” Insta-worthy spot.
How to get there: Take a train to Telok Ayer MRT station; take Exit A and follow the street down towards Thian Hock Keng Temple; Singapore Musical Box Museum is right next door
Best time to shoot: Anytime throughout the day – note that the museum closes at 6pm
Lens to use: Fujifilm XF18-55mm
All shots were taken with the Fujifilm X-T30. This mid-range mirrorless camera weighs just 383g, making it a compact, lightweight companion on your photo adventures in and out of Singapore. With the same sensor as its top-of-the-line predecessor, the X-T3, the X-T30 has a lightning-quick autofocus system with face and eye detection, a 10-bit 4K video output, and impressive dynamic range capabilities. Fujifilm also has a unique film simulation feature. With 15 film simulation modes, you can choose from a range of colour and gradation reproductions according to factors like your subject and the shooting scene.
