Sudarsan Patnaik, who pioneered the genre of sand sculpting in Puri in Orissa state, on the eastern coast of India. His Golden Sand Art Institute has produced 75 students, including those from Britain, the US, Germany and Italy.

Sudarsan Patnaik, who pioneered the genre of sand sculpting, at work in Puri, Orissa. Patnaik uses only his fingers. His thumbnails are three-and-a-half inches and his fingernails are about an inch long, useful in creating the designs.