Ms. Jung Soon Ja (Korea)

Title: Part of Nature

Evaluation: The creator used many layout elements, but somehow the layout as a whole is well organized. This is due to the way that the driftwood comprises the compositional backbone. The way driftwood is arranged, and the open space in the middle makes the layout seem to have more depth than its actual size.

Her Comment: I understand from the past ADA contest top prize winners’ layout that this contest places emphasis on the originality of the creator. So it was not easy to express a part of nature for me who, never has enough river stone, driftwood, aquatic plants and fish, or expertise to take photographs, but I expressed a part of nature using my own belief and imagination. I spent my childhood in the countryside. It is not a hidden scenic spot like Kumgangsan, nor flourish like a rose, I just included my pure heart in the layout. I really appreciate the good grading result by the judges.

Aquarium Tank: W130 x D45 x H57 (cm)

Aquatic Plants:
Glossostigma elatinoides
Anubias barteri var. nana
Bolbitis heudelotii
Microsorum pteropus
Microsorum pteropus “WINDELOV”
Vesicularia dubyana

Fish & Invertebrates:
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Gyrinocheilus aymonieri
Neocaridina sp.

Source : Aquatic Gardeners

Mr. Fumio Shiga (Japan)

Title: Listen Carefully for the Sound of a Stream

Evaluation: The use of driftwood is very skillful, and the composition is powerful. From the way the moss and aquatic plants are arranged — attached on the driftwood — one can feel elaborateness. The contrast between the red-brown color driftwood surface, and green aquatic plants is beautiful, and the use of pure white Rio Negro Sand in the foreground makes the layout powerful in terms of color.

His Comment: I am very glad to receive this prize. I made this layout with an image of a babbling stream of a river. I wanted to make a layout as if the flowing river sound is meeting the ear. So I combined the driftwood with such a feeling in my mind, and inserted Willow Moss between space of the driftwood, imagining their idealistic form. I am very glad the moss grew as I wish. I hope to enjoy making a new layout for next year’s contest.

Aquarium Tank:W150 x D45 x H60 (cm)

Aquatic Plants:
Echinodorus angstifolia
Vallisneria nana
Bolbitis heudelotii
Microsorum sp.
Isoetes japonica
Blyxa novoguineensis
Eleocharis acicularis
Rotala nanjean
Ludwigia arcuata
Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘brown’
Fantinalis antipyretica

Fish & Invertebrates:
Hemigrammus ulreyi
Otocinclus sp.
Crossocheilus siamensis
Caridina multidentata

Source : Aquatic Gardeners

Mr. Junichi Itakura (Japan)

Title: Hiding Hometown

Evaluation: The basic composition is concave, but two white lines in the center created an accent, and make the whole impression an organized one. The balance of right and left aquatic plants is also good.

Aquarium Tank: W120 X D45 X H45 (cm)

Aquatic Plants:
Rotala rotundifolia ‘green’
Vesicularia sp.
Micranthenum micranthemoides
Micranthenum unbrosum
Bolbitis heudelotii
Microsorum sp.
Microsorum pteropus
Echinodorus tenellus
Eleocharis sp.
Eichhornia natans
Rotala nanjean
Ludwigia brevipes
Ludwigia inclinata var.
Myriophyllum mattogrossense
Hottonia palustris
Glossostigma elatinoides
Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘green’

Fish & Invertebrates:
Hemigrammus bleheri
Otocinclus sp.
Caridina multidentata

Source : Aquatic Gardeners