The Exemplary 2024
1st Place, Non-Professional Original

One morning I went to the beach to take photos at sunrise. There was a single young seagull nearby. He moved in closer to me and stayed very close for at least an hour. We studied each other and the sunrise while pondering the day to come. There were no French fries or any other snacks, just two new buddies taking it all in that morning.

I used many layers and varieties of thread to get a thick, variegated, and fluffy look for my bird. The background is hand-dyed fabric. From a photo and memory.