'No Commercial Photography', several areas in Singapore that I've wanted to take photographs with a view to selling the photographs, have this sign. You can pay for a license to take photographs, but I've opted, along with many photographers to research, 'free', places and focus on those. Here are just a few.

#1: Little India: Little India is an area that I keep returning to with my camera, particularly early morning when the shops are getting ready to open and the light is perfect and it's not too crowded.

#2: Pulau Ubin is a small island between Singapore and Malaysia, accessed by Changi Point Ferry. It's a very good place to photograph birds, butterflies and if you get up early you can see wild boar, troops of monkeys and last time I visited I just snatched a photograph of a pied horn bill. Hiring a bike and cycling around the island is a good way to get away from the crowds at the weekends. The double exposure photo below is of bamboo canes and palm tree on Pulau Ubin.

Pulau UbinDouble exposure of palm trees and bamboo canes. #3: East Coast Park (also home of my Saturday morning Parkrun) is home to the beautiful, Amber Beacon (below). East Coast park is a very popular spot for wedding photographers and the skate park makes an interesting location for family, wedding and even maternity photos! 

The Amber beacon, East Coast park

East Coast Park is also a good spot if you need sunset and sunrise photographs. This shot (below) was taken from Bedok jetty at East Coast park. Bedok jetty juts out into the ocean for quite away, it usually has a long row of hopeful fishermen and women trying their luck. The jetty is a good place to get a look at all the ships in the Straits and to spot paddle borders heading out to sea!!

The Straits.Paddle border heading out to sea.
#4: Marina East is an area of parkland with a cycle/running path to the Marine Barrage. The Singapore Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay, both have charges for commercial images, so I was very excited to find a lotus pond at Marina East...my dark botanical photography can continue!! 🍃🌿

#5: Shophouses. There are pockets of shophouses in many areas of Singapore, the two areas I return to most frequently for Shophouse photographs are Geylang and Little India. This one is is Geylang.

Singapore Shophouse

#6: Dakota Crescent housing estate. Now empty and falling into dereliction, this site is regularly used by photographers and is an interesting part of Singaporean social history.

Dakota Crescent.Iron balcony gates.

Thanks for reading and leave a message if you know of a good place to take, 'free' photographs in Singapore.

Ruth 😊