Pasig: Rainforest Park Macro

(Update April 16, 2014: Check out the updated post on RAVE of Pasig here)

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

(Update April 16, 2014: Check out the updated post on RAVE of Pasig here)