Saturday, January 21, 2012

Bliss and Animal (This week's Photo Hunt themes)



Do animals -- particularly/including insects such as butterflies -- feel bliss? And if so, when in particular do they feel blissful? This was one of the questions that Sandi's and Gattina's choice of themes for this Saturday had me pondering as I decided what images to put up for this week's Photo Hunt entry.

With advance apologies to the more sensitive Photo Hunters: Going with the theories about food and sex (or, if you prefer, food, love and sex) that I first was introduced to in a college biological anthropology class, I've consequently elected to put up shots of animal pairs -- specifically butterflies -- getting sustenance (this entry's top photo) and going at it (the other two photos -- yes, even in the middle one... though you'd have to look more closely to see the... *ahem*... connection! ;b).

On a personal note: I must say that spotting beautiful butterflies and being able to get good photographs of them can get me feeling pretty blissed out. And being able to do so counts as one of the highlights and attractions of hiking in Hong Kong for me -- this particularly so because a great variety of butterflies (about 240 different species, in fact!) can be spotted in the territory. :)

21 comments:

Carver said...

I would feel bliss if I took these shots. I've photographed butterflies mating and felt a bit like a voyeur but I don't think they cared.

gengen said...

Just pretty. Visiting from PH!

Luna Miranda said...

i love the first photo. butterflies are delicate, beautiful creatures--being with them is pure bliss.

magiceye said...

wow beautifully captured!
perfect for the themes!

YTSL said...

Hi Carver --

I know what you mean about feeling a bit like a voyeur but, as you say, the butterflies don't seem to mind... and I will readily admit to being happy to come across mating butterflies as they often do lie so very still and thus are pretty easy to photograph! :D

Hi gengen --

Welcome fellow Photo Hunter. :)

Hi Luna Miranda --

Thanks for liking the first photo. I hesitated about choosing it as the butterflies look so small in the picture but decided to do so in the end because I love how they look, however small.

Hi magiceye --

Thanks for your vote in favor of the photos in this entry. :)

Gattina said...

I am sure that a butterfly can be blissful, about its sex life I don't know anything, lol !

Annie said...

These are very nice. Butterflies aren't easy to photograph and you did great. Agree with Carver, they didn't mind at all. :)

Happy weekend!

Berto and Kwala said...

Well they look pretty blissful right there... great timing!

gengen said...

Wow so pretty yellow butterflies...Visiting from SPH!

Trekcapri said...

Hi YTSL, wonderful photos. I love the colors on their wings. I think think it's great that insects can enjoy a little bliss too. :)

Have a great weekend.

LifeRamblings said...

lovely shots. butterflies make a great subject for photography.

Happy Chinese new year YTSL!

Kim, USA said...

That is beautiful!

Bliss

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

I love butterflies. They truely do give me a moment of Bliss~
Thanks for joining The Saturday PhotoHunt.
See y'all next Saturday... and bring your Fluff!
Sandi

YTSL said...

Hi Gattina --

Teehee re your comments about butterflies! :D

Hi Annie --

Yes, butterflies can be really frustrating for a photographer -- they really are prone to flit about so! Hence the bliss when I manage to take non-blurry photos of them -- singly or as a pair! :D

Hi Berto and Kwala --

Cool re your having similar thoughts re butterflies as me! :b

Hi gengen --

Teehee, thanks for visiting and commenting twice on this thread! :)

Hi Trekcapri --

It's funny that the three photos I have on this entry have butterflies of the same colors (albeit different shades and patterns). And if you're wondering, yes, there *are* indeed Hong Kong butterflies that are not yellow and brown/black! ;b

Hi Life Ramblings --

Thanks, agree and happy new year of the dragon to you too! :)

Hi Kim, USA --

Am glad you think so. :)

Hi Sandi --

Butterflies are beautiful... and maybe good lovers too! ;D

Susan Demeter said...

I love butterflies :) So pretty! I can never do them justice in photos though. Love your collection for the themes :)

Alice Audrey said...

But do they really feel bliss just because they are getting it on?

A. @ A Changing Life said...

Beautiful pictures! I've never been able to capture any of butterflies - they fly faster than I can run. :)

YTSL said...

Hi Sue --

Butterflies are pretty but difficult photography subjects, alright! Hence the feelings of delight and bliss upon managing to get clear captures of them on camera. :)

Hi Alice Audrey --

That's a question of mine too -- particularly since some humans don't feel bliss when "getting it on". (I think of Queen Victoria's "Think of England..." quote!) ;(

Still, couldn't help but think of this Photo Hunt entry as another opportunity to share my randy insect photos -- yes, I do have a fair few! ;b

Hi A. --

I find butterflies fly and flit at different speeds. And some -- especially when they're copulating -- really do stay still in one place for a good length of time! ;D

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

U back in Penang or in HK?

U know what bliss I get? when I smack a pair of flies. They die in heaven.

Ruth said...

Cool shots.

YTSL said...

Hi Ann --

I'm here in Hong Kong -- and no, this is not the first time I've stayed in town for Chinese New Year.

Re your idea of bliss: geez, you sound like the Brothers Grimm's The Brave Little Tailor! ;D

Hi Ruth --

Thanks!