Pasig: Rainforest Park Macro
Butterfly zipping nectar on a Lantana
Before I start on the series of my recent travels, I’d like to get this one out of the way first. I am fairly new to the world of Macro Photography. And I think this kind of photography is a world of its own. Seeing those minuscule details just blow up on your pictures is both exciting and fascinating. So armed with a 35mm Macro Zuiko Digital for my E500, I did some experiments on shooting a lot of flora, which is quite a popular subject in Macro Photography. So I hope you enjoy the images here which are all RAW processed and un-cropped.
Flower pollen detail
On a free and gloomy election day last October, I decided to drop by again on Pasig Rainforest Park which is just around the neighborhood to try on Macro Photography there since I’ve only tried my lens on food shots before. So a short jeepney ride and a tricycle ride I was there.
Another pollen detail
At the gates, when they inspected my bags and found my camera, the guard quickly asked where I was going inside. I said I would just be taking some snaps. Turns out that they prohibit the use of “Big” cameras there and had to ask permission before hand. Really now, before I was able to freely take some shots around here but now I have to ask for a permit?
Focusing on these tiny flowers
I asked to be led to the caretaker/supervisor of the whole park which is a Dr. De Guzman. Not so old fellow which we soon found near the zoo area. I talked to him asking permission to take some pictures and was curious why it was prohibited now since before I was free to take pictures here of anything. He explained that somehow, other “Pro” photographers took some pictures here before and used it for their commercial ads and without them knowing. Even videos of on some commercials were shot here without them knowing. This infuriated the Mayor since the park is already free those people should have gotten permission from them first. The companies who released those ads gained thousand while the park wasn’t even given compensation for that. So now they are strict when they see people bearing professional looking equipments.
Flower strands
I guess they have valid reasons for that then. The Park is free for all and I can say, very well maintained. It looks the same, even better since the first time I went here a couple of years ago. Guards are very strict and would outright call your attention if you break some rules like having no shirt while in the premises or using a hut which you didn’t pay for. I guess I have to give credit to these people for maintaining the park and doing a great job at it.
The tinsy buds where those strands came from
But back to my dilemma. He told me I have to send a letter of request first which I can’t afford to do at that time so I had to do a little convincing this time around. I told him I wouldn’t use any of the materials I’ll get here and am only shooting for practice. He doesn’t seem to be convinced at first seeing my arsenal of tripod and camera at my disposal. I told him I’m working in an IT company and lives in Pasig. Good thing I had a copy of my NBI clearance at my bag and prove that I do live in Pasig. So many questions but in the end, I got what I wanted, he gave me permission to shoot finally! Yahoo!
Hibiscus Pollen
I went to the Butterfly Garden first since it’s the one closing a lot earlier and was able to take a few snaps. There were only a few butterflies left since it’s already afternoon. Most of them died already. Still I think I was able to get some nice decent shots.
Another set of tiny flowers
Then, I want to the flower garden and took some flora shots. Most of the flowers here I have no idea what their names are. But I took those teeny weeny bit of flowers I could see extending the capability of my Macro lens. With the gloomy skies, it’s a bit hard to focus so I’m at manual at times.
More buds on a plant
Anyways, it was a nice experiment on flora and I think I have to learn on capturing more details on my shots. There weren’t many bugs around which was sad. Sooner, fortunately I was just about wrapped up with my shoot and was about to go home, the rain finally fell over the park. Hey it’s raining over Rainforest Park. Ok sori that was a corny joke. Hehe.
Tags: exposure, Macro, Park, Pasig, Photography, Rainforest
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Tuesday, November 6th, 2007 at 12:28 pm 
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November 6th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
i love this set ferdz! i sowanted to do macros kaya lang wala akong dlsr. huhuhu! the butterfly shot is fantastic! how did you manage to get so close?
November 6th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
macro is one thing i also like to do, pero katulad din ni iRonnie, wala pa rin akong dslr (at huhuhuhu din), macro shots are totally different and amazing and fascinating
November 6th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
I love macro photography but can’t afford a macro lens right now. All the pictures you’ve taken are beautiful! Especially the first one!
November 6th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
wow!! sana balang araw makakuha din ako ng ganyang mga shots!
gustong gusto ko ang flower sa fist pic. sa province namin tawag jan ay “baho - baho” sa pag kaalala ko.. madaming kulay ang petals sa isang bundle.. ^_^
cute!
November 6th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
waaah! ayos to ah… wala pa kong macro lens… ganda ng mga shots… nakabili na nga pala ko ng 55-200… hehehehe…
November 6th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
i’ve passed by the rainforest park a lot of times, but haven’t really considered going in. thanks for sharing these pics. idadagdag ko sa must-pasyal places para sa kiddie cousins ko =) love the pollen details btw.
November 6th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
macrophotos are indeed a world of their own. i love how it brings out the tiny details of the things we take for granted. i’m a microbiologist and i really love the nano world. great captures.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
ang landscapist, may itinatagong galing sa macro. love the set bai! ganda especially ng bokeh sa wings nung butterfly sa first image. eto pala yung nakwento mo about the rainforest park. pity that because of the carelessness of others, nadadamay pati yung mga innocent visitors. anyway, will await your next post. have a good day kaibigan!
November 6th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Macro is love!
Great shots, as always Ferdz. But then again, kelan ka nga ba nag take ng pangit na picture?
November 6th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
great pictures! how does one go to this park? would love to see those flora and take amateur pictures…
thanks!
November 6th, 2007 at 11:30 pm
hi ferdz! wow very very nice pictures! and nice gadgets too
well buti na lang medyo na-convince sa NBI mo hehe..
love all those shots.. keep them coming
November 6th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
Wow Ferdz, ang ganda talaga nang mga series na pictures mo.
I love, love, love flowers. I just don’t always capture them right. Even with 10MP, it always seems out of focus if too close…but then I really don’t know much about taking pictures except to point and shoot.
November 7th, 2007 at 8:05 am
Wow, that is amazing!!
November 7th, 2007 at 8:37 am
takot naman ako jan sa butterfly anlaki! hehe. nice shots. =)
November 7th, 2007 at 9:56 am
ang lupet naman ng convincing powers mo kuya. hehehe. at least, pinagbigyan ka nila diba?
very nice shots.
November 7th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
iba na talaga ang well-equipped no? love the paroparo…a common species. i have an upcoming butterfly watching post where i’ll post my butterfly shots.
kasalanan naman pala ng mga pro yung di paghingi ng permit e nadadamay tuloy tayong mga hobbyist. pero ikaw pro ka na!
November 7th, 2007 at 10:46 pm
i know this will sound pretty redundant because it is what i always say here, but i have no other words, so i’ll say it anyway: as usual, ang gaganda!
November 8th, 2007 at 1:17 am
hello fredz,
what an amzing shots here.I love doing macro shots too,but yours are better though
November 8th, 2007 at 5:09 am
your landscapes are terrific; this set is outstanding as well. what can you not do, mr ferdz. looking forward to the postings of your new travels.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:32 am
my favorite is the 6th picture…ang ganda Ferdz
Good thing you were able to enter and take pictures.
November 8th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
i love the first pictureeeeee… i loveee butterflies.. and the flower is pink! how nice..
great shots really! its good to try something new… right? 
at least you were able to get the permission to shoot.. hehe.
im back for awhile.. to give updates.. i missed your blog. hehe
November 8th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
whoaaaa… i love macro photography also… but dont have macro equipment right now… sigh…. i’m just using my 18-55mm lens kit…
ayos dre, nakakaadik daw ang macro photography hehehe…
si ricky refuerzo pala got a new domain from u ah… next year lipat ako huh!… kita tau sa feb thanks
November 9th, 2007 at 10:58 am
A nice series overall. I use Tamron 90mm for my macro shots. The downside of it is that it just takes time and patience to do macro. That’s why I haven’t been shooting some in a while.
November 9th, 2007 at 11:15 am
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November 10th, 2007 at 10:26 am
I love the first photo! Really awesome!
I’ve always wanted to do Macro Photography but too bad I’ve no excess cash to get the lens; so tempted to do macro shots!
But love the shots, really.
November 10th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Minsan, nadadaanan ko ang lugar na yan. I was thinking of visiting there but didn’t have the chance.
Nowadays, “big” camera are always frowned upon by security guards because of their commercial afilliation. Kaya meron akong phonecam to double my SLR just in case…
Ganda ng mga macro shots mo dito. Nagka-interest din ako sa macro photography pero hindi muna ako nag-focus doon kasi wala pa akong extension tube.
Good luck…
April 15th, 2008 at 10:14 am
lovely photos. i love taking macro shots too!