The City That Never Disappoints
I don’t feel that I will ever tire of shooting in Singapore, I could honestly move here and never be bored, each and every time I visit I capture new angles and new places – and with its perfect climate and cleanliness, it really is a dream city for me. For my visit this time I was simply planning to capture some angles I knew I had missed on my last visit; namely the view of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel through the Helix Bridge, the outstanding Supertree Grove, the view from the roof of the famous Theatres by the Bay and final some shots across the actual bay itself towards the Financial District.
“Ditch the image of Singapore as a dull, sterile Utopia – scratch the surface and you’ll discover a strange brew of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Western cultures, a rich social stew that’s anything but boring. Sure, the graffiti-free trains run on time, traffic jams are nonexistent and everyone looks clean-cut and wholesome, but who needs pollution, poverty and chaos?” Lonely Planet
Linking Marina Bay to Marina Centre, the Helix Bridge is the world’s first curved bridge. This 280-metre pedestrian linkway features the world’s first ‘double-helix’ structure; an engineering feat assembled with great precision. Its curved design is created by two opposing spiral steel members, held together by a series of connecting struts, which symbolise life and continuity, renewal, everlasting abundance and growth, it also resembles the structure of DNA. Whether you are shooting during the day, at sunset or at night, the Helix Bridge really adds that special something to your shots – if you are planning on shooting at night and will be using a tripod, be warned that the bridge does wobble as people walk over it, so try to wait for a lull in the crowds…
The Supertree Grove contains 12 uniquely designed vertical gardens, ranging from 25 to 50 metres in height, all have large canopies that provide shade during the day and come alive with an exhilarating display of light and sound at night. The grove was an absolute pleasure to shoot, as it always is, and I finally feel I have captured this area in enough detail to keep me happy – that is until they add a new feature!
It seems this little spot is relatively unknown to the tourists as I always seem to have this amazing rooftop space to myself! The views are jaw-dropping and the breeze can be very welcome, tripods are allowed and the lack of other people make this spot one of my favourite places to shoot – so if you ever find yourself in Singapore, make sure you head to the top of the famous Durian fruit, also known as the Theatres by the Bay.
Dawn (or sunset in some places) and reflections go hand in hand in my world, and so that was exactly my plan for a certain vantage point across the bay towards the ever changing Financial District.