Esther van Vechgel is a Dutch expat and private yoga teacher. Her sister and father are
professional photographers, so it’s no surprise that she has a unique outlook on our multifaceted city. Avoiding the main streets and choosing to explore the alleyways, Esther has produced a collection of photo mash-ups, depicting the nooks and crannies of Singapore.

Click the arrow to see more of her works.

H&D: You describe your photographs as “quiet”. What does that mean?

Esther: As a yoga teacher, I try to instil the same feel and stillness of the poses, in my photos. The layered images are my signature, but it is also the atmosphere they create that people like, and can relate to. Singapore is a busy city, but it can be quiet as well.

H&D: What side of Singapore do you try
to show?

Esther: The small things. The average person or place you pass by every day without a thought. These people, buildings, and even walls, have a story – I’m just showing you a little glimpse of it.

H&D: How do you put your work together?

Esther: I prefer scruffy details and faded colours so, to avoid taking away these imperfections from my photos, I hardly edit them. The challenging part is combining two photos, because they need to fit well naturally.

H&D: You’ve been here almost eight years.
What do you love about Singapore?

Esther: The diversity, both in food and culture. Hearing five different languages in one hour is a luxury to me. My kids love it, too — they even ask for chicken rice when they are under the weather. That’s definitely not Dutch!

www.esthervanvechgel.com.