Want your Instagram photos to stand out amongst the rest?

Then, forget Clarke Quay or Orchard Road! Here are 10 underrated/ulu places to take your Instagram-worthy photo to the next level.

1. Instagram Tree

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Dubbed "The Instagram tree" by some, this stand-alone tree looks straight out of a Hollywood movie. Romantic, hopeful or desolate, this tree has it all - depending on the filter you choose.

Directions: Take the LRT from Punggol MRT and alight at Damai station to Punggol Waterway Park. The tree is located along the waterway.

 

2. Lalang field

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Also in Punggol Waterway Park, you will be able to find a field of lalangs that is the favourite for many wedding photographers who take mandatory shots of couples holding hands and running through the tall field.

The best time to go is definitely during the evening as the setting sun will help to provide you with natural orange-tinged lighting that will shroud your photos with warmth and nostalgia.

Directions: 

3. Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall

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Built in the 19th century, the building was reopened last year after renovations. With its pristine white walls and pillars, and sleek architecture, this place will definitely become a new haven for minimalist photographers. So make sure you head down before it becomes mainstream.

 

4. Little India

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As it is a heritage site, it remains largely unchanged over the years; however, when I visited Little India last month, I was pleasantly surprised as many of the buildings have been given a fresh and extremely bright coat of paint that has breathed new life into Little India.

It is definitely worth a trip if you want to take interesting photos of the juxtaposition of old-fashioned buildings painted with contemporary colours.

5. Changi Airport

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More than just shots of passport, planes and the Singapore Girls in their figure-hugging kebayas, Changi has many other photo opportunities to offer such as the the Sunflower Garden in Terminal 2 or Cactus Garden in Terminal 1.

If you do decide to trawl Changi for your next Instagram photo shoot, make sure to wear your most comfortable shoes as you will have to do a lot of walking as the place is huge.

 

6. Dakota Crescent

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Nestled within newer and imposing apartments is the 17 rental flats of Dakota Crescent. A trip to the largely abandoned HDBs (occupancy is estimated to be 60 per cent) will transport you back to the 60s as the estate remains largely unchanged since it was built in 1958.

Make sure you visit the estate soon as HDB announced last year that all residents are to vacate before the end of 2016.

7. Tiong Bahru Estate

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Little India may have brightly-coloured buildings but the estates in Tiong Bahru is littered with intricate wall art.

In total, local photographer and visual artist Ernest Goh painted five wall murals. Take a day out and try to hunt them down. The best thing is that if you get hungry, there are no lack of hipster cafes around where you will be able to take a pictures of detailed café art that you will definitely get you many likes from your caffeine-dependent peers.

 

8. Kampung Buangkok

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Surprise, surprise! Kampungs still exist in our highly urbanised city. If you do not want to have to travel all the way to Pulau Ubin to visit the houses your grandparents used to live in, you can head over to Buangkok (not Bangkok) where the last surviving village that still leaves their doors open.

Do make sure you ask for permission before snapping pictures of houses or the residents.

Directions: Take bus 70 or 103 and get off at Church of St. Vincent de Paul.

Then, cross the road and follow the stairs down to the canal and follow the unpaved road behind the jogging trail. You’ll know when you’re there when you see the hand-written Kampong Buangkok sign.

9. Japanese Cemetery Park

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Also located along Yio Chu Kang road is the largest Japanese cemetery in Southeast Asia that was built in 1891. Uncharacteristic of many other cemeteries here, the cemetery Park is very well-maintained. If not for the tombstones, it can easily pass off as a quaint park.

So, don’t be afraid to go down to explore and snap pictures of the Japanese-styled tombstones as well as buildings like the prayer hall that is unique to the Japanese Cemetery Park.

Directions: Take buses 43, 70, 70M or 116 from Serangoon MRT Station and alight at Blk 133. Then, cross the road and walk towards Limbok Terrace.

 

10. Lazarus Island

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Dirty is the first word that comes out of anyone’s mouth when they are asked to describe the beaches in Singapore. However, with it’s translucent water and powdery sand, Lazarus Island is anything but.

As it is not littered with people, this is a great place to take photos as you will not have to worry about random people photobombing your shots.

If you have time, you can also visit the adjacent islands – St. John Island and Kusu Island – that is linked to Lazarus.

Directions: The three islands is just a 20-minute ride away from Marina South Pier. A two-way ticket for costs $18 for each adult and $12 for each child.

Top photo from calvinavigator