Macro at Mount Faber
– Text by Melody Tan & Editor AL
20th September 2026, Singapore – Mount Faber has been one of my familiar locations for macro photography over the years, but most of my visits have been during the late afternoons or at night. This time, I decided to make a morning trip to hunt for and photograph some of the little creatures hidden among the vegetation.
Unfortunately, the weather and air conditions were far from ideal. The haze had been getting progressively worse, and at the time of writing, it was particularly bad. Despite the thick vegetation along the trail, the air felt heavy and the high humidity made the morning even more uncomfortable.
I began my ascent via Marang Trail, a popular route for people heading up Mount Faber. Despite the haze, there were still plenty of people out enjoying their morning walks and getting some exercise.
For this outing, I brought along my usual macro photography setup: the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, paired with the M.Zuiko 60mm Macro lens and Olympus Twin Flash. Thankfully, the setup was relatively light and manageable, which made it easier to carry while climbing.
However, the climb itself was another story!
The combination of the uphill trail, thick humidity and hazy conditions made the ascent much more exhausting than I had anticipated. I found myself struggling to catch my breath and perspiring heavily along the way. By the time I finally reached the peak, I was drenched in sweat and feeling thoroughly fatigued.
It was certainly a reminder that macro photography outings are not always just about cameras, lenses and finding interesting subjects. Sometimes, getting to the location can be a workout in itself!
Despite the challenging conditions, I still managed to spot and photograph a few little creatures along the way. That was, after all, the main purpose of the trip.
Mount Faber’s vegetation provides plenty of places for insects and other tiny creatures to hide, and a careful search can sometimes reveal interesting subjects that most visitors would simply walk past.
Unfortunately, given how exhausted I was after the climb, I decided not to spend too much time exploring and made my way back down shortly after. There was little point in pushing myself further when the conditions were already so uncomfortable.
Looking back, the morning outing was certainly more physically demanding than I had expected. While the lightweight Olympus setup helped, the heat, humidity and haze made the experience a real test of endurance.
Perhaps on my next visit, I should consider hiring a support crew to carry a portable fan, bottles of drinks and all the other necessities while I concentrate on photographing the little ones!
Just kidding!
Jokes aside, this outing reminded me that while the excitement of macro photography can keep us going, our health and safety should always come first. With the haze and uncomfortable weather conditions, sometimes the best decision is to call it a day.
There will always be another opportunity to return to Mount Faber and continue the hunt for those elusive little creatures — hopefully on a cooler, clearer morning!
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Contributing Editor – Melody Tan
Loves quiet walks along beaches, has a mind of her own and decides everything in life in either black or white with nothing in between. Her priority these days revolves around her 2 lovely kids & teaching them music or photography. A lover of yoga and an avid traveler, Melody aims to visit at least 30 countries before she reach 40 years old – from what we know, she had completed 35 as of 2025.
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About Chief Editor AL Lee
Chief Editor & Founder of Ourshutterjourney.com Worldwide and Principal Trainer at Ourshutterjourney Photography Academy. AL is a commercial photographer as well as an educator who believes in the art of digital memories. Previous ambassador of several photography brands, AL is well versed in many camera systems. Someone once told us AL’s man cave looks more like a camera store than a bedroom.
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