Back Yard to Bucket List: Lilian Koh
We have a fantastic photographer this week. She doesn’t need AI or Photoshop; she just uses immense patience and skill to hunt for very tiny subjects. Join Lilian, a Singaporean photographer who turns “boring” patches of sand into art, as she dishes on her favourite critter hunts and the one local dive she actually doesn’t do. But I think we can all agree that her bucket list dive sits at the top of most of ours as well. I’ll let her explain all.
Saeed
Hi! I’m Lilian, an underwater photographer from Singapore. I don’t actually dive much locally; most of my diving (and creating) happens abroad, especially in Indonesia and the Philippines. I’m drawn to the small stuff, the critters that most people swim past without noticing. That’s where I find the most inspiration. My style is all about using what’s already there — no AI, no Photoshop — just the camera, the ocean, and a little imagination.
For me, photography is not just about documenting what I see, but creating something personal from it. Every dive is a blank canvas.
Here are those three dives from local to bucket list. I hope you like my selection.
Local Dive – Pulau Hantu (Sort of)
Okay, let’s be honest — I don’t dive at Pulau Hantu, Singapore.
As a Singapore-based diver, I get asked a lot if I shoot there. I know it’s where many locals go, and I’ve seen people find great stuff at this well-known site. But for me, diving is more than just getting underwater. I need to feel inspired — I need the right kind of scene, light, and critters to bring out my creative side.
So while Pulau Hantu might be a local favourite, I prefer to travel out for dives that really spark my imagination. It’s not about ticking dives off a list — it’s about what the place gives me to work with.
Favourite Dive – Wherever the Critters Are
I don’t really have one favourite dive site. What I do have is a favourite kind of dive: slow, quiet, and full of critters.
Black sand, calm conditions, and a whole lot of strange little creatures — that’s my happy place. I can stay in one small patch for over an hour, just watching and waiting for that moment when something special happens. A baby cuttlefish changing colour. A tiny goby peeking out. A nudibranch crawling across soft coral like it owns the place.
Those are the moments that make me feel alive creatively. I love playing with light, shadows, and negative space — turning a little animal into a full piece of art. I’ve had dives where I come up with only one or two photos, but they’re the kind that make me smile for days.
For me, any dive that gives me space to create — that’s my favourite.
Bucket List Dive – Galápagos
Now this one is a total dream.
The Galápagos is a world away from my usual macro playgrounds, but I’d love to experience it. Big animals, strong currents, wild energy. Schooling hammerheads, sea lions, marine iguanas — it’s such a different style of diving and photography.
I imagine myself switching to wide-angle (for once!), trying to capture the movement and interaction between these amazing creatures. It’ll be a challenge for sure — the cold water, the timing, the environment — but that’s part of the thrill.
It’s not just about the wildlife either. It’s about telling a bigger story, seeing the ocean on a different scale. I hope one day I’ll get to go and create something completely new for myself there.
At the end of the day, I dive to create. It doesn’t matter if it’s with a frogfish or a hammerhead — as long as I’m inspired, that’s what matters. Every photo is a piece of me. And every dive gives me a new way to tell a story without saying a word.
You can find more of my work on:
Instagram: liliankoh
Facebook: liliankohphotography
Well, there you go, another critter-mad photographer like myself. Although I do love just being around black sand and finding super cool animals to photograph in a new, unique way, just like Lilian. Do make sure you check out her photography, and I promise you, you will be inspired to get out there yourself.
Don’t forget, if you want to be featured, just send us a message.
Saeed
