[TheStoriesOfTop7] Fallowness - Siak Wee Yeo / Malaysia - IAPLC 2019

09 May 2024

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Interestingly, the first Bronze Award winning aquascape uses straight driftwood pieces similar to the ones in the Grand prize work. Making the most of the characteristics of driftwood, the layout forms a unique composition by emphasizing the horizontal lines. The layout showcases a wonderful underwater presentation with its perfect positioning of fish and a pleasant sense of water flow given by the driftwoods and supporting rocks oriented in the same direction. The maker intentionally photographed the aquascape in the way, making the water surface look like an open space, and this worked favorably for the evaluation.

[TheStoriesOfTop7] Fallowness - Siak Wee Yeo / Malaysia - IAPLC 2019

Mr. Yeo Siak Wee (Malaysia) is ranked 5th (Bronze prize) with his "Fallowness." The layout was highly regarded, receiving more than 200 points from each of the three judges; Mr. Andre Longarco (Brazil), Mr. Friedrich Bitter (Germany) and Mr. Sergei Kochetov (Russia). Although aquascapes are created largely in a vertical manner, this layout is cleverly composed with a horizontal empha- sis that makes it unique and different from others. This layout stands out among many other contest submissions, which are aiming mostly at making a great visual impact, because while gen- erating such an impact it simply creates a natural atmosphere with wonderful planting details, which reduce sharpness of the layout. The color and texture of foreground rocks were selected to match those of the driftwood, and on top of it, Mr. Yeo tactfully selected fish of similar color. The photo was captured at the perfect moment in view of plant growth and fish positioning.

IAPLC 2019 Gallery - Look back history - World Ranking 0005 - Bronze Prize

Fallowness

Author: Yeo Siak Wee / Malaysia

Aquarium Size/W120×D60×H45 (cm)

Aquatic Plants

Limnophila sp 'Vietnam'

Anubias baeteri var. nana 'Petite'

Starogyne repens

Fissidens fontanus

Fissidens nobilis

Helanthium tenellum

Bolbitis heudelotii

Littorella uniflora

Riccardia chamedryfolia

Fish & Invertebrates

Hasemania nana 'Gold'

Crossocheilus siamensis

Otocilus sp

Caridina cf. babaulti var. 'Malaya'

Caridina multidentata

AWARDS

World Ranking 0005 Bronze Prize IAPLC 2019

Comments

The 4th day after the announcement, I have received a post slip from POST office to inform that, an EMS letter from Japan. I was jumping up and down because this was the first time to receive the EMS from Japan. And it brings a lot of different feelings. Happiness, anxiety, relief... The good news has made me struggle for the whole night without a nice sleep until the next day, my wife collected the EMS envelope and I open it almost immediately after I backed from work. The moment when I opened the letter, I have made a wish and aiming for a "target" ranking. My wife is ready on the camera to record the moment of receiving my ranking. My kids and wife are very excited and waiting for the result to be announced. I was telling myself! Chill be chill ~. Then I opened it, and I received the bronze Prize (Ranked 5) from the biggest Aquatic Plant Layout Contest in the world. I am feeling relieved, happy and with a little bit upset. Relieve, because the countless midnight I spent on this layout finally recognized by the IAPLC judges. Happy, because this is my second time receive top 7 rank in IAPLC record after 7 years. Upset because I am still not able to get beyond the best rank I have made years ago. In general, I am satisfied on my ranking this year. This award and recognition bring me more confidence where I have been lost last year, and I hope whoever did not do well this year. Don't be upset. And try even harder next year. You will be the lucky winner like me next year.

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