For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Caterpillar (Acraea sp) Nymphalidae

I have now been blogging for two years and this was the first post I ever did....
For many years I have done photography as a hobby, my subject being mainly wildlife and, just recently, macro. We have a large variety of subjects and since doing macro photgraphy, I have discovered a wealth of otherwise unnoticed, but very interesting, critters.

As I am in the financial sector, photography is a wonderful escape from the stressful, hectic daily routine. Without being able to go out into the fields over weekends, I would go crazy.

Hopefully, over time, I will be able to give viewers of my blog the chance to see something different and a glance at our beautiful country. It is a tourist mecca as we have much to offer, and cater for all tastes, from beautiful beaches and high mountain ranges to semi-desert and tropical areas. Our wildlife parks are of the best in the world with millions coming here just to enjoy them.

Enjoy my blog with me and if you are interested in anything in particular about my country, feel free to ask. Bewarned though, I do not get involved in politics or religion, so questions along these lines will go unanswered. I am a nature lover not a politician. :)

24 comments:

Craver Vii said...

I am so glad you came back to blogging! :-)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thank you my friend!! :)

Unknown said...

Congratulations my friend! Two years is quite an accomplishment! :o)

I'm glad you don't 'do' politics on your blog. I don't either so it's nice to not have that distraction.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Joan: What a neat start for a great blog.

Andrea said...

I remember a Warning inside an Irish Pub,maybe in Donegal area.
There was written "Here you can speak about everything,except politics and religion".
It'always a good way to do...

Mary said...

Congratulations on two years! That first photo was a great one....that I missed, so nice to see it now. We enjoy whatever you post and I'm with you on not getting into political or religious discussions in our blogs. There is a time and a place for everything, but a nature photo blog is suppose to be a nature photo blog :-)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Penny. I like to think this is a fun blog, not anyhing serious.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Tom. :) Glad you were eventually able to get onto it.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Andrea. This was the same rule I had as a tour guide and it worked well. There are things I will discuss but never argue about as I think each person is entitled to their own opinions.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Mary, I have to agree with you there, some subjects are to be left alone as far as I am concerned.

It is thanks to you again for the best two years of my life. Without your encouragement, I would never be were I am today and I would never have made all these wonderful friends.

Hugs

Becky said...

Hey, I'm with you!
Please keep sending us all those wonderful amazing photographs you take Joan!
I'm very interested in everything you post.
Have a terrific rest of the week.
B.

Gaelyn said...

All right Girl, two years, and still going stronger! So fun to read your first blog post. OK, so I haven't read all the ones before I found you. And so glad I did! I have learned so much from you about life in SA and SO look forward to learning more, soon. 19 days!

BTW, that's a wonderful macro of a cute hairy catapillar. Please keep sharing.

myonlyphoto said...

Joan you two been blogging that long, nice accomplishment, and can you believe time really flies. You did well, too bad I wasn't around from the beginning, but never too late right? BTW I feel the same many times, as being in engineering, photography is a great escape, and I do to would go crazy if it takes too long, lol. Have a good night! Anna :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Becky. You have a great week too.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Gaelyn. I am counting the days too. :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Anna. Photography has really been a life saver for me, especially that it gets me out into the bush where I really want to be.

Unknown said...

This shot is amazing!
Have you watched 'Microcosmos', the french movie? If not (and you have to!) do a search on Youtube and you will know why I mention it... :-)

Anonymous said...

Exploring the macro world ironically connects us more fully with the greater world as if we have seen many of the individual components that make up the whole. By studying the small, we see how grand the collective organism is.

Rambling Woods said...

I have told you I think that I have had an e-mail friend for.. let's see..for 15 years now and I have learned a lot about the country from her. Not that I couldn't learn more. I will take in anything you choose to present with pleasure...Michelle

Rambling Woods said...

I forgot to add..about my ducks in snow. I do leave cracked corn and water under a large pine tree and some of the pond mallards stop at dusk to eat..what ever is left a deer and her two offspring take...Hope nobody here takes any notice of it... Michelle

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Jose. What a great site that is. I have been thinking of getting me a video camera too and starting something like this. We have so much which might be of interest to people.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

This kind of photograohy has taught me a lot Bernie. I see now just how ragile our world can be because if you take just one thing out somewhere, the whole circle collapses. It has been a fascinating experience learning about all the things I never knew before.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I am sure you have learnt a lot of my small part of the world Michelle. Like all countries, there are good things and bad about it but for me it is home and where I want to be.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

It is great to have a feeding spot for these birds and animals in the winter when food is scarce and I am sure everything you put out is greatly appreciated by them. I still have to feel sorry for them in that extreme cold. At least our winters are mild and as such, they have a fairly easy life finding food.