Elegant Varmit
Varmit (also spelled varmint) is an American (mostly rural) slang word for a nuisance animal or person. It’s probably a regional dialect version of vermin. For gardeners in the Pacific Northwest it certainly applies to deer. It’s a rare day when I don’t see several. They eat most flowers and the new growth off a lot of plants. They cost homeowners hundreds or thousands of dollars in fence construction expenses. Tourists stop traffic to shoot photographs of them. Most locals consider a different kind of shooting when we see them.
However, they are beautiful animals. When a friend asked for a lesson on using Photoshop to add a painterly quality to a photo, I used this as an example.


September 2nd, 2010 at 5:12 am
Truly lovely!!!
September 2nd, 2010 at 5:42 am
These are lovely looking animals but not very popular in the countryside. However, this is a beautiful “painting” of that varmit.
September 2nd, 2010 at 6:50 am
“Varmint”, usually, with an “n”, no?
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:19 am
Barry, I looked the word up and it is more often spelled varmint. Both spellings are used. Thanks for the tip.
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:04 pm
Beautiful animal and beautifully processed image.
September 3rd, 2010 at 6:10 am
I understand why they can be so annoying but they look so cute! This image surely makes them justice. It’s wonderful!
Regarding Tierra del Fuego:
When Europeans first passed through the Strait of Magellan, which separates Isla Grande (Big Island) from the Patagonian mainland, the fires stemmed from the activities of the now almost extinct Yahagn Indians; nowadays they result from the flaring of natural gas in the region’s oil fields.
September 4th, 2010 at 6:23 am
This is just wonderful…I love the effect…now it just needs a frame! I have been going through your blog and find it just beautiful!
September 4th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Ha! I see you are from the Pacific Northwest. (grin) I am too–when I was a kid I called Portland “Bridge City.”
This picture is simply wonderful, by the way.
September 6th, 2010 at 10:20 am
Simply stunning photo! I love the effects you used.