I want to tell a little story about a stupa in Bhutan called Chendibji, a beautiful place I have visited many times but has a sad story.
It's a special place for Bhutanese, a spiritual place surrounded by wild forests. Recently they restored the stupa and chorten and installed immense flood lights to illuminate at night.
I can tell you the Chendebji is covered in white lime. The stupa and shorten at very very white.
But in recent times they repainted and added some super bright flood lights. When I stepped closer to these, I found literally thousands of dead moths.
Not to say they wouldn't have died somewhere in the forest anyway, but it seemed very sad.
There was more than months too. Beetles were drawn in by the light, big ones! Many of these were still alive. One in particular was so feisty, even flipped upside-down.
I righted him up and he tried to murder me. Nature is dangerous people!
I was fascinated by this glimpse into the wild moths of Bhutan. Makes you wonder what else is hiding out there in the forests? You just need the right triggers to bring them "into the light".
I found one fluffy white moth with metallic teal spots. In the right light, the blue/green hues shine back at the lens.
None of these guys were doing a great job of hiding I might add. Most were just clinging to grooves in the side of the chorten. Many were on their last legs too, barely able to fly.
A few had camouflage more suited to the forest than a white washed temple.
I'll wrap it up there. I could have spent hours at the site observing all the moths and trying to capture them with a little more art. Bhutan throws all manner of surprises at me, but rarely something so impressive and unexpected.
Hope you enjoyed getting a glimpse into this world too.
Some days you just see the same species over and over, as though somebody cleaned your glasses and suddenly the things that were right in front of you are clear to see.
One of those teeny tiny little butterflies that might be a sapphire or might not and my only reference for Bhutanese blues doesn't actually show the upper wings for most of the species.
I do love how every flash of blue fluttering by could be something totally new to my eyes.
What an amazing day! It was coolish and very damp this morning in Trongsa. I spotted one of these fellas just posing, next to the female. Then saw another. And as the morning progressed I realised they were everywhere :)
I was too slow to capture the female. They flitter off quickly. But the boys just hang about and show off their colours.
I really wish I didn't have to make a living and instead could just wander the Himalayas looking for meadows where butterflies enjoy the morning light.
Big day in Wangdue Phodrang Dzong on Friday. Locals turning up for special blessings and wearing their finest. Bhutanese know how to bling it up for the Buddha.
Big crowd for the Tsechu in Bumthang this week. I love the way Bhutanese folk dress up in their finest, regardless of the weather or the muddy road they have to walk through to reach the gonpa!
Did see a few butterflies today as well. This teeny little fella never gave me a look at the upper wing artwork, but was amazed to zoom in close and discover a thin little edging of blue scales.
The detail in butterflies is just astounding to me. I had no idea that was happening right before our eyes.
All these butterfly shots taken with the Sigma 105mm F2.8 Macro, pushed to F2.8 because I love the shallow depth of field.
Just a little update to the Emerald Tiger Moth (Callindra principalis) seen zipping about Bhutan at 2900m.
I first saw one two days ago, and posted those pics above. But then yesterday while visiting Gangtey Gonpa another one landed right in front of me while walking the grounds of the gonpa!
Found a bunch of these guys right next to the highway when I stopped to shoot a rice field. Peachy! Was pretty excited to get a chance to get close. Always amazed how some butterflies are indifferent to a huge big camera lens.
Saw a heap of Junonia today, some of them in a romantic mood. Slightly different markings at this spot in Trongsa compared to the Thimphu or Nobding shots I got the other week.