[TheStoriesOfTop7] Butterfly Hideaway - Steven Chong / United States - IAPLC 2018

07 May 2024

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The composition creates an image as if you were looking up at a land erosion from a cave. Making hanging vines and spreading roots with fine branches is a commonly practiced technique nowadays, but it is tastefully done in this layout. The creator tactfully emphasizes perspective by attracting your eye to the space overlapping between the V-shaped open space located at the top of the aquascape and the smaller open space on the right side. On the other hand, the presentation of plant arrangement, that is mostly composed of mosses and ferns, looks flat and unappealing

[TheStoriesOfTop7] Butterfly Hideaway - Steven Chong / United States - IAPLC 2018

The 5th place (Bronze Prize) in the world ranking was awarded to "Butterfly Hideaway" by Mr. Steven Chong from the United States. Four judges counted this layout among the top 10 layouts, and the remaining judges also rated it very high, which gave this layout the high ranking of 5th place in the contest. This layout also has a cave like composition, which is a pattern often seen among recent layouts. While the technique of making a shadowy area intention- ally in the foreground to enhance the depth perception is certainly effective, one would wonder how it would look in the actual aquarium. Although this is a layout technique effective primarily for a contest based on photographs, the judges' opinions are split on this point. However, this layout was rated very high because judges accepted it genuinely for the natural atmosphere it pro- duced in spite of the various layout techniques used in this layout

IAPLC 2018 Gallery - Look back history - World Ranking 0005 - Bronze Prize

Butterfly Hideaway

Author: Steven Chong / United States

Aquarium Size/W120×D45×H45 (cm)

Aquatic Plants

Anubias barteri var. nana "Pangolino”

Anubias barteri var. nana "Petite"

Anubias barteri var. angustifolia

Hemianthus callitrichoides "Cuba"

Eleocharis parvula

Lilaeopsis brasiliensis

Hygrophila pinnatifida

Microsorum sp. "Trident"

Fissidens fontanus

Vesicularia Ferriei

Vesicularia dubyana

Bucephalandra sp.

Riccardia sp.

Pellia sp.

Micranthemum sp.

Fish & Invertebrates

Pseudomugil gertrudae

AWARDS

World Ranking 0005 Bronze Prize IAPLC 2018

Most Innovative AGA 2018 Aquatic Garden 200~320L

Comments

5th. The number was burning into my eyes, but my body collapsed, I slumped in my chair-like all energy had been ripped from my every muscle. I found myself laughing and I didn't even know why-a profound relief overcoming me, but it was soon replaced with excitement as I answered my wife (who was panick- ing at this point) "5th! I placed 5th!" I told her with pride, and my heart leapt as she also began to outburst with joy. And finally, that excitement was overcome with gratitude, deep and profound. To my wife, to my family, to my teachers and teammates-to every- one who had sacrificed and supported me to get to this point. I closed my eyes and trembled, my mind racing with memories of the journey to make this layout, where I had pushed myself to my outmost limits-and just overwhelmed with the deep, deep, deep sense of gratitude for the people who had made that journey possible. First telling my family, my parents and sister in the US, and then reporting to the chat in TAU. It was a race of emotions, but we were in soaring high spirits.

Comment from Jeff Miotke

Very strong use of perspective and scale. The top reflection is very effective. The left and right sides leave something to be desired as they are mostly blacked out. Great job!

Comment from Dennis Wong

Hardscape construction and perspective work are beautiful. Strong and bold usage of shadows accentuates the textures of the rock work. However I think that conditions of plants can be greatly improved upon; plants here are almost used just as cursory makeup for the hardscape. Hardscape-wise I think this is among the best in this category.

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