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Portfolio Images
Nesting in the Blowing Sand
1st PlaceNesting in the Blowing Sand
vawendy


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Grit (Standard Editing)
Collection: Portfolio
Camera: Sony Alpha a1 II
Lens: Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS
Date: May 22, 2026
Aperture: 5.6
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/400
Date Uploaded: May 23, 2026

[Jun. 11th, 2026 10:53:34 PM]

I was at my happy place -- Chincoteague, VA. But it was an extremely windy day. It was almost pointless trying to shoot. The wind speeds were around 25mph with gusts up to 43.

The day before I had noticed a roped off area on the beach, which usually meant something was nesting. I didn't go out then, but before I left, I had to go see what was there. I was hoping for a plover. But what I found was this very dedicated oyster catcher. It was being continuously pelted by stinging, blowing sand. And it just stayed there on the nest.

This photo doesn't do it justice. I tried longer exposures, shorter exposures, I really wanted to show the misery this poor bird must have been feeling.

I was so nervous bringing my camera and good glass out in these conditions, and I tried very hard to keep it pointed away from the wind.

Here's one with a break in the wind, and a couple more wind photos.

That is true dedication!


Statistics
Place: 1 out of 26
Avg (all users): 7.0000
Avg (participants): 6.6316
Avg (non-participants): 7.5385
Views since voting: 226
Views during voting: 86
Votes: 32
Comments: 9
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 06/21/2026 02:33:44 PM
A powerful image of persistence in a harsh world. The blowing sand makes the moment feel fragile, but the bird’s determination gives it quiet strength. Congrats on the blue, vawendy
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/14/2026 02:00:47 PM
Great job, Wendy!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/12/2026 02:42:06 PM
Congratulations, This is a perfect catch for this challenge. It almost looks like it was taken on a beach in Alaska. Incredible, but then again all your images are unbelievable. Super photography!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/12/2026 12:06:45 PM
Definitely the blue for me. And a reminder of how brutally beautiful the natural world can be.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
06/11/2026 10:26:38 PM
Composition: 6
Technical: 6
Creativity: 7
Appeal: 8
Challenge: 7
Overall Calculated Average Score: 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/11/2026 05:07:12 PM
This is great. I wonder what the bird is thinking.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/10/2026 10:52:44 PM
Composition: 7
Color: 9
Old man in the fog: 10
Dies next week with the newspaper in his hands: 12
Total: 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/07/2026 03:57:00 PM
I can feel the grit in this bird’s eyes. This is nicely done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/05/2026 11:53:36 PM
this is incredible .. and more than perfect for the challenge .
i havent seen your competition yet but this is looking blue to me .. :)
not voting atm ..:)
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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