World Championship of Sand Sculpting, Washington

The World Championships of Sand Sculpting was held in Washington from September 8 to October 3. Artists from all over the world competed for the title in three categories: solo, duet and team. The winner in solo was Thomas Koeta from Florida for “Whirlwind” and the Sculpture “The distance gives perspective,” won first place in the category of “duet”. Check out these amazing work of art.

Dan Belcher of St. Louis runs around his sculpture a few minutes before the start of the competition. (Jim Seida / msnbc.com)

Members of the team ‘Sandboxers’ fill sand molds in a competition in Federal Way, Washington. The teams had six hours to fill sand into solid molds for future figures. (Jim Seida / msnbc.com)

Left to right: Katie Corning, Geoff Strong and Kirk Reydmeyker of the U.S. team work on a sand sculpture called "open mind". (Jim Seida / msnbc.com)

Fergus Mulvaney working on his sculpture

Helena Bangert from Amsterdam, blows away the excess sand from her sculpture entitled "Walking through". (Jim Seida / msnbc.com)

A team member from Washington’s ‘Orbital Sanders’ working on the sculpture "The Missing Link". (Jim Seida / msnbc.com)

Spectators watch as Remy Girts from the Netherlands working on his sculpture "Bountiful Harvest". (Jim Seida / msnbc.com)

The Dutch "solo-artist Remy Girts carves details on his sculpture" Bountiful Harvest ". (Jim Seida / msnbc.com)

Sculptor Sue McGraw from Tacoma, Washington works on her creation. (Jim Seida / msnbc.com)

Walter McDonald, from Texas works on one of the towers of his castle. (Jim Seida / msnbc.com)

To create the final figure, the sculptors use a variety of devices - from the archaeological tools to credit cards. (Jim Seida / msnbc.com)

Sculptor Mark Lepir from Quebec is working on her figure.

Nicole Wood (left) with trowel smoothes the base sculpture of his team while her teammate Arianna Van Rosmalen carves little figures, and Mariella Hesels sprays on them a mixture of water and glue. (Jim Seida / msnbc.com)

Despite drizzling rain, the team from the United States completes the details on the sculpture "open mind". (Jim Seida / msnbc.com)

Sudarsan Pattnaik works on the sculpture of Barack Obama.

Five minutes before the end of the fourth day of the team members ‘Team Sand Boxers’ hurry to finish the figure before time (Jim Seida / msnbc.com)

The back side of the sculpture “Bound”

A small toilet - part of the sculpture, entitled "Where to go" - from Walter McDonald of Texas. (Jim Seida / msnbc.com)

Joris Krivits from the Netherlands presented the sculpture "Puzzle". (Jim Seida / msnbc.com)

Briton Paul Hoggard’s sculpture- an elephant

The day before the competition, this sculpture of a clown had hair on both sides. The other side was damaged by a bird who tried to land on it. (Jim Seida / msnbc.com)