SG Nomad Photographer

Tag: Street Captures

  • Evolving the Palette: The Art of Vegan Izakaya Styling and Shooting New Culinary Canvas

    Picture yourself under the glowing lanterns of Tokyo, where the rhythmic hum of conversation fills a vegan restaurant’s cozy bar at dinner. Traditionally, izakaya in Japan have centered around the traditional Japanese meal of small meat and seafood dishes—a plate of fried chicken, skewered meats, or warming miso soup arriving one after another to share…

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    Ethan Chua
    This narrow, bustling Japanese alleyway is captured at night, filled with glowing paper lanterns, vibrant neon signs, and rows of parked bicycles.

  • Hawker Center Photography Tips: Camera Settings for Balancing Low Light and Movement

    There’s nothing quite like the buzz of a Singaporean hawker center. From the rhythmic chopping coming from a stall to the vibrant display of signature dishes, these spaces are a feast for the senses—and an irresistible draw for any food photographer. Capturing mouth-watering food images in these bustling environments isn’t easy, though. The mixed lighting,…

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    Ethan Chua
    This image captures a brightly lit storefront, likely a hawker stall, advertising "Kampong Carrot Cake" with the Chinese name displayed prominently.

  • Photographs of Singapore: Last Traditional Craftsmen’s Challenges and Rewards

    The air in the workshop hung heavy with the scent of aged wood and lacquer. Dust motes danced in the single beam of light slicing through the dim interior, illuminating the face of an elderly man bent over a piece of teak. His hands, gnarled and stained from a lifetime of work, moved with a…

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    Ethan Chua
    Close-up of an elderly craftsperson hand-carving an ornate wooden panel in a Singapore workshop, wood shavings catching the light.

  • The Art of Street Photography: Ethics and Approach in Singapore’s Busy Districts

    Street photography is a unique art form where the city becomes both canvas and gallery. For many street photographers, the thrill lies in capturing urban landscapes, candid moments, and street portraits that reveal real life unfolding in Singapore’s bustling districts. Yet every street photograph also raises important questions about street photography ethics—how do we create…

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    Ethan Chua
    Sunset street scene in Singapore’s bustling district with pedestrians crossing a vibrant shophouse-lined road, capturing ethical street photography in dynamic urban light.

  • Vanishing Trades: Visual Documentation of Singapore Traditional Crafts and Craftspeople

    As a photographer in Singapore, my journey has taken me through urban skylines and bustling markets, but nothing has drawn me in quite like the intricate world of Singapore traditional crafts. These art forms, rooted in our local culture, are slowly fading—victims of modernity and shifting priorities. Each time I raise my camera, I am…

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    Ethan Chua
    Elderly artisan weaving a rattan basket by hand in a small, cluttered workshop, showcasing a traditional Singapore craft for the article “Vanishing Trades: Visual Documentation of Singapore Traditional Crafts and Craftspeople.”

  • Haji Lane Photography: The Photographer’s Guide to Best Times and Angles

    If you’re looking for a shooting location in Singapore that truly buzzes with life, creativity, and color, Haji Lane stands out as a crowd favourite for both locals and tourists. As a professional photographer and longtime Singapore resident, I’ve spent hours weaving through its narrow streets, discovering new street art, vibrant murals, and the kind…

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    Ethan Chua
    Golden hour at Haji Lane, Singapore—vibrant alleyway drenched in warm light, with wet pavement reflecting colorful street art and murals. A striking portrait of a woman with headscarf and earrings anchors the right wall, while café tables and passersby animate the left. Ideal angle captures depth, texture, and cultural energy, perfect for travel and street photography guides.

  • Singapore Street Photography: Dawn at Chinatown Complex Market – The Story Behind My Award-Winning Market Series

    My alarm rings at 4:00 AM—long before most people are awake. But for a Singapore street photography enthusiast like myself, this time is perfect for exploring the living heart of the city. The streets of Chinatown remain draped in quiet, but within the iconic Chinatown Complex Market, stalls flicker to life and the real Singapore…

    Written by

    Ethan Chua
    Early morning at Singapore’s Chinatown Complex Market, where elderly shoppers select fresh vegetables under dim corridor lights, while fish and leafy greens glisten on ice across the aisle. A vintage Fujifilm camera hangs in the foreground, framing the bustling wet market against colorful shophouses and red lanterns outside, capturing the atmospheric dawn that defines this award‑winning street photography series.