Kerflustered! by Lois  Bryan
Lois  Bryan

Kerflustered! by

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Featured in Art Universe June 1, 2011.
Featured in Snow Glorious Snow October 19, 2009.

An adorable little Black Capped Chickadee perched on my deck railing in Montgomery County, Maryland, braving the snow and ice on a February afternoon in 2008. I named this image in honor of my friend, Renee Dawson who loves Black capped Chickadees dearly, and who also coined the phrase. Her chickadee images are beyond compare!!!

I just thought this little guy looked a bit “kerflustered” on this cold winter’s day!!

Image taken with the Nikon D40x and the 55-200mm vr Nikon lens at 190mm focal length. Shutter 1/320, aperture f/5.6, exp. 0.00, iso 800. I hand-painted the entire bird in Corel Paint 11 and created and added the snow layer in Photoshop. Texture layer from Skeletal Mess at Deviant Art added in Photoshop.

The following information is from What Bird.com

Overview
Black-capped Chickadee: Medium-sized, stocky chickadee with pale gray upperparts and breast and pale olive-brown underparts. The black cap and bib and white cheeks are conspicuous. Black bill is short and thin. Wings are dark with broad white edges on feathers. State bird of Maine and Massachusetts.
INTERESTING FACTS
The song of the Black-capped Chickadee is one of the most complex vocalizations of all animals, acting as a contact call, an alarm call, to identify an individual, or to indicate recognition of a particular flock.
They may cache food in hundreds of different sites, recalling those locations and retrieving food up to 28 days later.
It is the state bird of Maine and Massachusetts.
A group of chickadees are collectively known as a “banditry” and a “dissimulation” of chickadees.

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About Lois Bryan

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Tags

snow, winter, bird, cold, birds, sleet, black capped chickadee, lois bryan, photomanip

Comments

  • Larry Trupp
    Larry Truppover 2 years ago

    Such a neat pose Lois, and well documented

  • Thanks so much, Larry … I just love that website!!!!! Their “interesting facts” section is my favorite.

    – Lois Bryan

  • Tamara  Kenneally
    Tamara Kenneallyover 2 years ago

    lovely image. love the texture

  • Hi Tamara!!!!! Thank you!!!!! I had a blast learning how to create snow!!!!!

    – Lois Bryan

  • Curtiss Simpson
    Curtiss Simpsonover 2 years ago

    Nice catch Lois. Beautiful processing also !!

  • Hello Curtiss … thank you!!!! I really enjoyed “painting” him … but then hated covering him up with my fake snow. So I went back and erased a lot of the snow that was over him. BIG fun!!!

    – Lois Bryan

  • Renee Dawson
    Renee Dawsonover 2 years ago

    awwwwwwwwwe – thank you Lois!!! Yes, yes I do love these little guys so very VERY much. It’s hard to describe, in words, how much joy they bring to me each and every day. Thank you so much sweetheart. I didn’t see my little Patch today…sniff I hope he’s okay. xo

  • Renee … I do know how you feel … I went thru a spell, years back, when I could tell you every bird in my backyard just from their songs. I completely, completely understand!!!!! Now don’t worry about Patch … you’ll see him tomorrow.

    – Lois Bryan

  • Tom Gomez
    Tom Gomezover 2 years ago

    He is posing for you Lois, lovely shot …

  • Hi Tom!!!!! Thank you!!

    – Lois Bryan

  • Renee Dawson
    Renee Dawsonover 2 years ago

    I got rambling and completely forgot to comment about your image…lol I adore the way he is looking at you and love the subtle texture you added. xo

  • Thanks, sweetie … I “painted” him, al la Renee, too!!!! Hard to tell here, but full size on my ‘puter it doesn’t look bad!!! YAY!!!

    – Lois Bryan

  • Tracy Faught
    Tracy Faughtover 2 years ago

    Most excellent!! LOVE those eyes!! :]

  • thank you, Tracy!!!!!!! I love the quizzical look they have when they spot me, lol!!!!

    – Lois Bryan

  • LudaNayvelt
    LudaNayveltover 2 years ago

    so sweet shot, perfectly done my dear

  • thanks, Luda!!! Hugzz!!

    – Lois Bryan

  • Isa Rodriguez
    Isa Rodriguezover 2 years ago

    lol! awwwwww! fabulously wonderful, Lois!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • thank you, Isa!!! I just adore these guys!!!

    – Lois Bryan

  • bioman
    biomanover 2 years ago

    another Lois Bryan masterpiece! excellent work Lois!

  • John, you are such a sweetie!! Thank you!

    – Lois Bryan