village, singapore, Kampong, lorong, Bangkok, cityscape, photography

Last Village in Singapore: Photographing Kampong Lorong Buangkok

In this episode, I explore Singapore’s last village: Kampong Lorong Buangkok. Along the way, I talk to tourists and locals to find out why people are flocking to this cluster of old houses. Then, I head up into a high rise to photograph Singapore’s striking architectural anomaly.

The village was founded in 1956 when Mr. Shuen Teow Koon, a traditional Chinese medicine seller, bought the property. It was built along a canal on former swampland that would often flood.

As a result, the village also became known as Selak Kain, which means to hike up your sarong or skirt in Malay. That’s what people did when they had to wade through water to get home. Today, there are just 10 Chinese and 8 Malay families living in the village.

Singapore’s Ultimate ‘Old & New’ Photo Spot

In my travel photography video, I take a picture of the old and new architecture of Singapore. One way to make cityscapes photos more dynamic is to focus on themes such as ‘the old vs new’. Highlighting the contrast between the past and future often makes for an engaging story.

Tourists explore Kampong Lorong Buangkok in Singapore, shortly after sunset. In the background are the HDB apartment blocks of the Fernvale neighborhood in Sengkang New Town. Photo by Pete DeMarco. (1/10 sec., f/4, ISO 3200, 35mm, Sony A7iii)

Cityscape Night Photography Tips

I took this photo just at the start of blue hour. The soft ambient light and brighter orange street light add depth and mood to the shot. If you’re looking to take better night photos, here are my answers to 7 Urban Night Photography Questions.

Finally, I shot this at 3200 ISO. I know some photographers are afraid to shoot at higher ISOs. Here’s my tip for shooting at a high ISO.

Do you think Kampong Lorong Buangkok should be preserved? Let me know in the comments below.


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