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[TheStoriesOfTop7] Destiny - Josh Sim / Malaysia - IAPLC 2013

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The second Silver Prize went to the layout featuring an impressive arrangement of driftwood and shade plants including ferns. Combination of different sizes of driftwood attached with ferns successfully produced an image of dense jungle. Anubias and Bucephalandra skillfully planted around driftwood added an outstanding natural feel to this layout and this received high evaluation. Overall composition and perspective expression are also excellent. This work demonstrates a high perfection level of aquascape.

"Destiny" by Mr. Josh Sim (Malaysia) is the 4th in the World Ranking. This aquascape is the Best Aquarium of the year for two contest juries. And here are the comments from the juries.

IAPLC 2013 - World Ranking 0004

Destiny

Author: Josh Sim / Malaysia

Aquatic Plants

1) Microsorium Pteropus sp.
2) Anubias Barteri var. nana
3) Bucephalandra sp
4) Eleocharis sp
5) Hemianthus Callitrichoides
6) Fantinalis antipyretica
7) Hemianthus Micranthemoide
8) Fissidens Fontanus
9) Bolbitis sp

Fish & Invertebrates

1) Harlequin Rasbora Heteromorpha x 30
2) Rasbora Espei x 30
3) Pristella maxillaries x 10
4) Otocinclus Affinis x 10
5) Caridina sp Malayan x 100

Comments

Year after year I have felt a gratifying feeling on participating in this exciting contest. And every year, just like any other contestants, I spend some exciting months waiting anxiously for the ADA's letter. This year, the dream came true! The feeling of receiving this award is very good and I'm sure that this moment will mark my life forever. Have been awarded third place in a league full of true artists around the world is a great honor. I and my Brazilian aquascaper friends are truly happy with this achievement that symbolizes our growing pas- sion for Nature Aquarium. I was born and live in São Paulo, a frenetic megalopolis where people have little time to enjoy the beauty of nature. Handle with underwater plants, fishes, rocks, wood... To sit every night in front of my tank and observe the beauty of life, right before my eyes, brings me back to the roots, I mean, closer to nature. The inspiration for this work came from my visit to two beautiful places in Brazil: Iguaçu Falls and Itaimbezinho Canyon. I had an indescribable feeling ahead of the hundreds of existing water- falls and cataracts, pouring the biggest volume of water I have already seen through my eyes. Then, I felt that it would be a pleasurable challenge trying to mount a landscape which could represent that wonderful feeling. My wife and I are so happy with the award. And, we decided that it would be the right time to fully live this dream. Despite living on the other side of the world, we are travelling to Japan to take part on the NA Party. It will be our first travel to Japan and I am sure it will be an unforgettable moment in our lives.

Comment of Mr. Hiroshi Yamada (JAPAN)

When I saw the top 100 layouts, "Destiny" attracted me the most. After the judgment and grading according to the judging criteria, "Des- tiny" was still my choice as the best layout. "Destiny" uses the most typical composition of Nature Aquarium and shows outstanding perspectives. In spite of many driftwood used, this layout does not look disorganized and unnatural. The fishes and the layout are in perfect harmony in the soothing and refreshing aquatic environment expressed in this work. I feel this is a very dynamic work which can represent Nature Aquarium. The best first-impression layout won the top score - I think this shows the ultimate sophistication of this work. The contestant who created "Destiny" has extremely superior skills and senses. I look forward to his subsequent layout next year.

Comment of Mr. Han Seong Soo (KOREA)

Cosmetic sand placed in two locations of the foreground towards the background skillfully creates a sense of depth in the aquascape. This is a first time approach and looks new to me. The composition is well established and the more I see it, the more attractive it looks. The stone arrangement is a little too simple but it is effectively cov- ered up by planting various species of aquatic plants. The timing for shooting is excellent. I feel that this work is perfect to be selected as "the Best Aquarium".

This is a highly evaluated layout work created by a talented aquascaper. As mentioned in both juries' comments, we can see it in its composition, arrangement of planting and the timing of the photo.

 

Comment of Dave Chow (HongKong/China)

This is a grand layout which I expect for many years. It has detail balance and harmony! Fantastic!

Comment of Luca Galarraga (Brazil)

Impressive work very natural full of details and a lot of work inside to keep this layout in excelent conditions. The only negative point is that it isn't an original layout even then congratulations for this masterpiece!

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