I have to agree with Kavey. What a powerful photograph this could have been without all of the chaos in the background. I also think that a little brightness adjustment through photoshop might help to bring out the details in the face.
Great work on his part and interesting image of an artist at work but the background is too cluttered (would standing up have given a sand only background?) and doesn't speak strongly to me of challenge theme.
I really love the artist and his sand schulpture but also want to run in there and remove those purple chairs, chop down the palm tree, and get rid of the rest of the distracting background. I hope you played around a bit with different angles.
Wsh the sand sculpture was totally in focus & the artist a bit out. Also, I find all of the colr in the background distracting. Might consider desaturating everything except the artist & the sculpture???