Golden-ish Hour, Great Shots, and Greater Company: A First-Timer’s UPAAS Photo Walk Experience

Golden-ish Hour, Great Shots, and Greater Company: A First-Timer’s UPAAS Photo Walk Experience

by Mycah Angela Figueroa

A snapshot of smiles, new friends, and a hint of the golden hour glow—our UPAAS Trailblazers group ready to capture the day’s magic!

31 May 2025–I didn’t know exactly how the evening would unfold, but wow, it all clicked into place! From the first round of smiles at Chinese Garden MRT to the final shots at Jurong Lake Gardens, the session had all the right ingredients: great company, creative energy, and just enough golden light to chase.

Getting Started

Having just learned about the Golden Hour Walk from Wendy’s LinkedIn invite, my curiosity quickly gave way to excitement during the introductions. Soon enough, fellow first-timers, longtime UPAAS regulars, and friends were all mingling and laughing together  with ease. Even Kopi, Elle’s adorable and endlessly energetic maltese-poodle, brought joy to the group with every step.

A short stroll brought us into the scenic heart of Jurong Lake Gardens, where nature, architecture, and soft evening light set the stage for our photo walk.

Photography Tips in Action

John, fellow UP alum and photography hobbyist, came prepared—with a portable speaker on hand and a fantastic lineup of simple yet powerful tips to elevate our shots even when using our mobile phones. A few gems that stuck with me:

  • Use the rule of thirds to balance and guide your composition
  • Change up angles to shift the mood and bring fresh perspective
  • Ask your subject to look away to create a sense of story
  • Position subjects at a 45-degree angle to light for natural shadows and depth
  • Look for reflections in water, glass, or puddles to add symmetry and mood
  • Use long exposure mode to soften motion (like moving water)
  • Capture more frames in action shots by utilizing burst mode

From Drizzle to “Golden-ish”

A light drizzle greeted us at the gardens, but it didn’t dampen the mood. As the clouds slowly parted, the scene transformed into what we fondly dubbed “golden-ish hour”—not perfect, yet perfectly inspiring.

Soon, the group went across the park, framing glowing pagodas, catching bridges in mirror-like reflection, and, in true UP fashion, getting delightfully competitive once Don Lechon vouchers were announced for the best photos.

My top 3 photos, shot with an iPhone and edited on Lightroom for final touches. (Photo credit: IG @mycahangela)

The Jump Shot (and Other Wins)

I quickly learned that no UPAAS event is complete without a little fun, and a jump shot was the cherry on top. It took several hilarious attempts to coordinate, but we finally landed a photo bursting with airborne joy.

Defying gravity – one hilarious take at a time!  (Photo credit: John Rosado)

We wrapped up the evening with dinner and coffee, swapping stories, and sharing more about future events from the UPAAS crew—definitely something to look forward to!

Huge thanks to Wendy for inviting me, to John for the epic tips and generous spirit, Ariane, Elle, Gil, Precious, Kat, Janelle, Gunal, Hermrei, Eunice, Rilet,and the entire UPAAS family (too many awesome people to name!) for making this first-timer feel instantly at home.

I came for the golden hour—but left with golden memories. Can’t wait for the next one!