Words & Photos By Nathan Allen

Obviously, one reason is that with an f1.8 lens, I can still shoot at night or in low light. The photo below was taken at Chinatown complex after dark. This group of men is hanging on every move of an intense Chinese chess game.

I shoot RAW and do my own black and white conversions, but the RX100 has nice B&W and effect modes as well.

“Zone Focusing”

My Ricoh has a “snap focus” mode, which really helps with split second street shooting. The Sony does not, but I still found a way to set it up for zone focusing. Basically I set the aperture low, like f8…then use a fast shutter speed, like 1/500 of a second. Then, in manual focus mode, I use “focus peaking”, so I can see where (and how much) of the scene in front of me is in focus.

The shot of the man & temple above was probably focused around 1.5 meters in front of me. With those settings, most of what you see behind him will be in focus as well. Keeping the camera set up like this enabled me to take plenty of lightning quick shots here…and make sure they were all candid.

By the way, I realized that the RX100 has a nice focus ring…my Ricoh does not.

In the Chinese zodiac, 2017 is the “year of the rooster”. The photo below shows a massive lantern display, right in the middle of the busy Singapore streets. This gives you an idea of just how serious the Chinese take their traditions.

I used a relatively long exposure setting, so that I could capture the motion of the pedestrians and traffic passing by. It was taken handheld, thanks to the camera’s superb image stabilization. For more about this, you can check out my Low Light & Night Photography w/ RX100.

Below is another black and white evening shot in Chinatown complex. Don’t worry, this old man is only resting.

Singapore Crowds on Pagoda Street

Of all the locations I shot street in Singapore, I think I like my Chinatown the best. I found a never ending stream of people…and from all walks of life. The arc of the sun falls in line with Pagoda street…so there’s nice, even morning and afternoon lighting.

I walked through the shady corridor until I reached the entrance of Chinatown Food Street, another great location for afternoon shooting.

Temple Scenes – Chinatown Street Photography

The Buddha Tooth Relic temple is a striking landmark. I was quite inspired here. I love the way the afternoon sun drops lantern shadows on the walls. The later in the afternoon, the more pronounced the effect is.

After exploring the temple inside and out (a must see), I made my way back to Pagoda Street.

The shadows were growing taller and taller…a sure sign of fading light to come. I returned over the course of a few days, and decided my favorite time for Chinatown Street Photography is about 2 hours before sunset.

The low angle of the sun provides perfect lighting – with a lot of dramatic shadows. 1 hour before sunset might be a bit too late in a big city like this, because the tall buildings may already be robbing your subjects of sunlight.

(continued below, but I do hope you’ll consider following along with me…)

Before hopping on the MRT, I noticed one last opportunity for a shot. It turned out to be one of my favorites.

Pleasantly Surprised by Shooting Street w/ the RX100

Overall, taking candid shots with the RX100 certainly impressed me. I already knew the camera was versatile, but I realize it more and more every time I use it. Hope you enjoyed my Chinatown street photography series…be sure to check out the 3rd and final chapter of my adventure below.

Update for 2025: The RX100VII is out now! Those interested in this awesome little camera can find it on Amazon HERE

(I am not a partner of Sony, but if you use the Amazon links on my page, it helps me continue to create content like this. Thanks!)

I’m curious if you’ve used the Sony RX100 for street photography?

Do let me know if you have any questions.

1. Downtown (main page)
2. Chinatown
   
3. Little India

– Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

Thanks for reading, and feel free to share.

The post Singapore Street Photography: Chinatown w/ Sony RX100 III appeared first on I Dreamed Of This.

  Words & Photos By Nathan Allen

Singapore has an undeniably impressive city skyline. This is just part of it, but you can see the spiked dome of the Esplanade Theatre on the right. These Chinese tourists are taking refuge from the hot, tropical sun… I thought their pink umbrella matched the flowers on the left nicely.

Tourists come here from all over the world, and cross this bridge on the way to the famous “Merlion Statue”.

Without a doubt, the cheapest places to eat are the “hawker centres”. For three or four U.S. dollars, you can find street food from all over Asia, and even some western options as well. Here I photographed some international students having lunch @ Maxwell Food Centre.

Most of the building is blanketed by shade, but a skylight perfectly illuminated their table, and provided the opportunity for a dramatic photo. Of course, the Ricoh GR II handles contrast and black and white tones very well.

Ricoh GR II – The Perfect Candid Camera

With its genius “snap focus” mode, my Ricoh camera is lightning fast. I can shoot candid photos with ease…and this is great to truly capture the soul of the country I’m visiting. Overall, I’m after something real. Getting raw, unfiltered, moments of truth out there on city streets. Nothing plastic or posed.

In other words, we live in an age of photographic deception – and I find street photography to be a breath of fresh air.

My passion for this genre actually began when I stopped viewing people as “in the way”…and instead, challenged myself to start making them the focus of my work!

To be fair, though, Singapore is the least crowded of anywhere I’ve been in Asia. Plenty of wide open streets and sidewalks. As you can see, I like to shoot quite wide…I guess my landscape background shows. My style is a mix between the two.

More Downtown Singapore Street Photography

I love taking pictures of the diverse crowds around the iconic Merlion statue. This is ground zero for tourism in the country. It’s a lot of fun capturing the joy on everybody’s faces.

Here I snapped a quick photo of a tour group posing as I walked by. These ladies looked like so much fun. They really seemed to have a zest for life. (By the way, this photo was published in National Geographic Magazine!)

I love city shots in the late afternoon, just before the sun dips below the buildings. This sleek corridor was a great place for contrast and long shadows. The natural lighting provided a lot of dynamic interest. If you are wondering, the title image on this page was also shot here.

Here’s another shot of my favorite Korean ladies. I caught them mid conversation – with a nice cityscape backdrop…just before they disappeared into the shadows underneath Anderson Bridge.

(continued below, but I do hope you’ll consider following along with me…)

It was nice to find the contours of the bridge perfectly framing the skyline and tourists below it. As you may have guessed, downtown is one of the most versatile locations for Singapore street photography.

Talk about vibrant! The streets of nearby Chinatown are also a rewarding place to take pictures. This shot is from the entrance to “Buddha Tooth Relic Museum”.  The name is quite a mouthful, isn’t it?

FYI, you can check out this camera on Amazon HERE

(I am not a partner of Ricoh, but using these links will help me continue to produce content like this. Thanks!)

This shot was taken at Thian Hock Keng temple.

If you like these last few, be sure to check out more in part 2 of my series….you’ll see the link when you get to the end of this page.

“Native” Singaporeans have roots stretching back to many different countries. For example, most are Chinese, Malaysian and Indian. There are a fair share from Britain, Australia, and even the U.S. as well!

Exploring the streets and alleys of “Little India” really does transport you to another world. Part 3 of my Singapore Street Photography series explores this colorful neighborhood and community. It was also shot with the Ricoh GR II.

This is one my favorite pictures, and one that shows why the Lion City is such a “cultural melting pot”. Here you see the altar and pagodas of Tang Gah Beo temple…but with the contrast of a Catholic Church (St Teresa) in the distance.

In the next chapter of my Singapore street photography series, I explore the hustle and bustle of Chinatown in detail…

1. Downtown (main page)
2. Chinatown
3. Little India

– Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

Thanks for reading, and feel free to share.

* Update for 2025: The new version of this camera is out now! Check it out HERE

The post Singapore Street Photography: Soul of the City w/ Ricoh Gr II appeared first on I Dreamed Of This.

  Words & Photos By Nathan Allen

Out the Window of a Double Decker

If you are lucky enough to get a front row seat on the upper level, you will have an elevated, panoramic view as you pass by some beautiful and historic Singapore landmarks. In the photo below you’ll find colorful Rochor Centre, which is actually scheduled for demolition sometime soon.

As you can see, up here you can sit directly behind the windshield. The driver is down below, so the view is 100% unobstructed. From this vantage point it kind of feels as if you are flying above the city streets.

Also, being up so high provides a unique perspective on everyday life in the city. As you are just on a commuter bus, you can observe the comings and goings on the streets below…and do so unnoticed.

Here you’ll find St. Andrew’s Cathedral, which is the largest in Singapore, and quite a prominent landmark.

Also note the subway commuters, as this is the City Hall MRT Station. I had to be quick to capture this picture…the trees block much of the view, and the bus passes this area quickly.

Below is the same location, but view of North Bridge Road & Peninsula Plaza (on the right).

Clean, Uncongested City Streets

Along with Tokyo, Singapore has some of the cleanest streets in Asia. However, what Singapore doesn’t have is the crowds. I remember when I first visited Singapore, I asked a local when rush hour was. They just laughed.

It is prohibitively expensive to own a car in Singapore, and in my opinion, that’s a very good thing. With hardly any traffic, Singapore is very efficient, and residents enjoy some of the best quality of life in the world.

Yes, fewer cars on the road means cleaner air…but also helping out in this department are the beautiful trees that can be found all over the city. Not only do they help to clean the air, but they shade and cool the landscape as well. When it comes to heat and humidity, Singapore, being right on the equator, could use all the help it can get.

Seriously, these stately trees are one of my favorite things about Singapore. These are even small compared to some of the giants I have seen while exploring the country. I’m so glad they incorporated all this green space into such a modern, metropolitan area. I hope to write more about this soon.

(continued below, but I do hope you’ll consider following along with me…)

Photos of the Bus Ride Through Chinatown

I “hovered” right through the heart of this historic district – where tradition and modernity collide.

Above you can see the base of The Pinnacle@Duxton, a 50 storey high-rise with the largest sky gardens in the world.

Below is the “Buddha Tooth Relic Temple“, which is not only incredibly striking, but also (clearly) wins the award for best named temple.

If you were wondering, yes, this photo was taken from the bus, too (you can see the window border in the upper left hand side). Hard to believe, but there really is a LOT to be seen on this route!

Church of St. Teresa – Further Down the Road

Seriously, could this bus commute get any more scenic?? St Teresa Church sits on a small, picturesque hill just beyond Chinatown.

Labrador Park MRT / Overhead Bridge

A few kilometers later I decided to get off the bus…though I do wonder what else I would have seen if I continued! Next time, I guess. I just walked around Labrador park and enjoyed the sunset before returning back to the city center.

A DIY “Commuter Tour”

So yes, if you’re ever in Singapore on a nice day, don’t hesitate to take one of these double decker buses! Sure, the SMRT train might be faster, but as you’ve seen above, you’ll miss out on a lot of colorful scenery on the way to your destination.

Again, every photo on this page was taken from a window seat on one of these buses.

(If you were wondering, these pictures were shot with a Ricoh GRII camera. It’s basically a DSLR that fits right in the palm of your hand.  You can check it out on Amazon…or if you’re in Asia, on Lazada. Using these links will find you a great deal, but also help me out…doesn’t cost you anything extra at all)

– Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

Thanks for reading, and feel free to share!

Related Links

RX100 Street Photography in Manila, Philippines

15 Jaw-Dropping Photos of the Philippines

Social Media

Have a question or comment? I’d love to hear from you.

The post These Singapore Photos Were Shot During a 50-cent Bus Ride appeared first on I Dreamed Of This.