[TheStoriesOfTop7] Diamonds - Philip Schwarz / Austria - IAPLC 2023

The large piece of driftwood looming in the foreground casts a dark shadow, but the white cosmetic sand in the foreground and the Cryptocoryne and other aquatic plants planted under the driftwood soften the impression of the shadow. The shadows also help to accentuate the shimmer of the metallic fish bodies.

IAPLC 2023 World Ranking Announcement - World Ranking 0006 - Bronze Prize

Diamonds 

Author: Philip Schwarz / Austria

Aquarium Size/W1,200×D500×H450 (mm)

Aquatic Plants

Marsilea hirsuta

Marsilea crenata

Helanthium tenellum 'Red'

Staurogyne repens

Hygrophila pinnatifida

Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba'

Micranthemum sp.

Cryptocoryne spiralis 'Red'

Eriocaulon sp.'Social Feather Duster'

Eriocaulon malayatoor

Eleocharis montevidensis

Eleocharis acicularis

Bucephalandra sp.

Ricardia chamedryfolia

Vesicularia dubyana

Fish & Invertebrates 

updating

AWARDS

World Ranking 0006 Bronze Prize IAPLC 2023

The sixth place in the world ranking (Bronze Prize) went to the work "Diamonds" by Mr. Philip Schwarz of Austria with an a total of 1,090 points. This work was selected as one of the top 10 individual works by 4 out of 10 judges. The work was created in the Nature Aquarium style, and its stable layout composition shows the creator's high level of com-petence. The bold arrangement of the driftwood is well done, and the moss and Bucephalandra that have been attached on the driftwood enhance the naturalistic impression while moderately reducing the strong impression of the driftwood. The foreground space with stones covered with Ricardia chamedryfolia and other mosses is also very natural and blends well with the driftwood without being too much elab-orate. This layout composition was rather impressive, given the many detailed and well-constructed works. The layout also reminded us of the excellence of Nature Aquarium, including the perspective of long-term maintenance. The Melanotania praecox and Oryzias wawor-ae, the stars of the aquascape, are both unique fish with metallic blue body colors, but if the timing of the photo shoot had been better, the presence of the fish could have been more noticeable, and the work would have been even better.

Comments

It is hard to find the right words! I am honored and very happy of course. After following and participating in this great contest for some years, it seems like a big goal is achieved - a dream came true! I am grateful that the judges and ADA staff liked my work. This incredible feedback increases my motivation to try to create the best layouts possible for future contests. When I first found videos of Master Takashi Amano creating his beautiful layouts and started to try replicating something similar, I thought I was the only one in Austria. After some years I met other aquascapers and we started to exchange our knowledge. Without their persuasion I probably never would have participated at the lAPLC. Thank you! For now, I celebrate and enjoy the privilege of being selected as one of the few bronze prize winners!