Individual comment

Selcuk Durmaz (Türkiye)
The design and naturalness of the hollow log pieces are wonderful and reality is reflected very well. Then, a wonderful angle was given to the continuing tree trunks, thus strengthening this composition. However, the mini tree figures in the farthest middle area remained very simple and added a negative atmosphere to the design. .Again, the plants planted in that exact area next to the thin branches unfortunately contributed to the atmosphere of negativity. I think there were deficiencies and misfortune in the photography and post-editing. I think the artist is a professional, but it is unfortunately a shame that these small corrections, which seem very small, were not made. Overall, congratulations on a great job.

Hyoungjoo Jeon (Korea) 
I can feel the gloomy atmosphere of the forest. The atmosphere originated in low chroma and created works with low vitality. As the title indicates, I think this is the artist's intention to express 'the veins of nature'. Assuming that the fallen trees and the forest are expressed vividly and lively, I think the result would have been completely different. I think the artist's intention is the most important factor for me, who thinks there is no correct answer in the competition as well as aquascape. Thank you for a special work. Congratulations.

Alberto Farinello (Italy)
I really appreciated the naturalness of this aquarium, the choice of materials and an excellent balance of the plants. The shaded areas are well balanced and the fish are in a perfect position. Overall it is a quality tank, it is a shame about the vanishing point which is perhaps a little too flat. You can also notice an excellent cleanliness and health of the plants which further elevates the quality.

Agussalim Jamauddin (Indonesia)
This falling tree idea is very impressive, original and natural. The balance of the size of the falling tree with the size of the tree behind it makes this work look very wide and deep. Makers should learn how to take better photos to get better results. The character and color of the wood is very strong and natural.

Ismael Aguilar (Spain)
Great work. In this case I would like to start by talking about the worst thing I see about this work and it is very simple, the lack of color saturation, the lack of vividness that the montage conveys. I don't know if it's a question of the light used or the photo, the fact is that it conveys a feeling of absolute sadness. A very negative feeling when one is faced with evaluating it. Ignoring this, the work is very good technically, with a close-up of ten, I love those logs. But perhaps the rear part is not in the same tune, I think the vanishing point should have been raised to be able to better finish off the size of the trees. Congratulations on the work.

Jaesun Cho (Korea) 
Many aquascapers have attempted to depict the appearance of a forest, as it is one of the most accessible layout styles in aquascaping using driftwood and aquatic plants. Among the many such works, this piece has captured my attention for a long time. While the low saturation of the plants' colors might seem unhealthy to some, it feels simple and elegant to me. The arrangement of the driftwood is natural and beautiful. This is a work that clearly involved a lot of effort. Thank you for showcasing such a wonderful piece.

Tereza Lazar (Ukraine)
This is an amazingly realistic composition! It's as if it were a real forest. The way the driftwood is arranged really emphasises the perspective in the aquarium. The fish is perfectly positioned. The plants are so skilfully chosen to convey the wonderful atmosphere of a morning forest. I like this work

Individual comment

Takayuki Fukada (Japan) 
The stone arrangement is very bold and makes a strong impact. The cave-like depression in the center is particularly interesting and has become the iconic feature of this piece. I think the artist probably put a lot of effort into creating the hardscape. As for the plants, it is a bit disappointing that the stem plants have only just been planted and have not yet fully blended into the landscape. 

Selcuk Durmaz (Türkiye) 
The texture of the rocks is very wonderful and a very good job was done when it came to this successful composition. In general, I can say that the hardscape is very good. But I think some plant species are the wrong choice for this design. I am sure the artist will agree with this opinion. In general, congratulations for this good work. 

Agussalim Jamauddin (Indonesia) 
I like the composition of the stone hardscape, feeling like I'm in a cave and looking at the sky. However, in my opinion, the choice of plants was not appropriate, and there were several "Micanthemum Montecarlo" plants which made it unnatural. There are also reflections of LED lights from the front. 

Tereza Lazar (Ukraine)
I love such works. The cool stones, which the author has successfully used, convey the mood of the painting. I felt like an underwater photographer who is shooting underwater at the bottom of some reservoir, where the sun's rays penetrate from the surface to the bottom, creating a cosy atmosphere around me. Harmoniously selected fish complements the picture. This work is one of my favourites. The only thing I lowered the score for was the plants in the foreground, but despite this, it remains one of my favourite works.

Alberto Farinello (Italy) 
Brave hardscape, very particular and daring. Very interesting vanishing point, the light effect creates a magical atmosphere, I really appreciated the shadows and the position of the fish that give this tank a great lightness. Good variety of plants and health. Truly impressive.

Hyoungjoo Jeon (Korea)
The originality of the hardscape is excellent. The stone hardscape was intended to give a strong impression, but I think that the central hole and the X-shaped composition may be a distraction. The fish's military camp is wonderful and the water surface reflects well. However, the water plant is monotonous and in poor condition, so it does not show its natural color.

Ismael Aguilar (Spain) 
Great work. Without a doubt a work that I had among my favorites initially, the hardscape is very good with very marked structural lines that focus all attention towards the center of the work, where a large crack becomes the true protagonist of the montage. However, when one begins to analyze the plantation it shows signs of lack of maturity and health. Furthermore, the foreground looks lacking in definition and all the elements crowd together next to the front glass without being clear about their place and role. The bluish light adds a full sensation of submersion but be careful with the reflections in the photo, a series of dots appear in the central area that may possibly be from the lamp used, these things must be taken care of. Congratulations on the work. 

Jaesun Cho (Korea) 
The structure using driftwood in this piece is quite impressive. While aquascaping heavily relies on the placement and condition of driftwood, this artwork demonstrates that structural beauty can earn high marks. Given more time, it could have been even more stunning, but it is already sufficiently beautiful. The slight reflection of light in the central part during the shoot is a bit regrettable. Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece, and congratulations on your achievement.

Individual comment

Selcuk Durmaz (Türkiye) 
The arch is impressive and very natural. Maybe the reflexes in the part where the right side meets the ground can be exercised better. The bolbitis type plant used on the arch added strength to the design. I found the fish selection successful because of its color. The hanging rock piece in the upper left suddenly appeared unfinished. If a few more rocks were added towards the windshield, more stability could be provided. In general, it is a design that I see as successful and I like it, including the photography. Thanks for the good job. 

Fabian Kussakawa (Brazil) 
The highlight of the layout is the "Eye cave" because there you can see that it was well executed with a very good level of detail. The work on the right side is also something to highlight. I believe that the fauna could be different to make it more prominent. Maybe Hyphessobrycon amandae. Congrats. 

Ismael Aguilar (Spain) 
Excellent work. It is one of the jobs that makes me doubt whether I am being as fair as I should be when evaluating it, because it is almost perfect in all its aspects; good planting, natural and healthy, fish, photo, etc...so what is the problem?...I don't know, maybe the strong competition, because given the great notable features of the best works, the arch of this hardscape is the one that conveys the least to me. Congratulations on the work. 

Jaesun Cho (Korea) 
This artwork features a cave motif created with snow as its distinctive characteristic. It beautifully avoids the potential stiffness by incorporating surrounding mountains and hills. If there were features resembling eyebrows (like "brow ridges") pointing upwards, it might have enhanced the piece further, but its current appearance is already quite beautiful. 

Individual comment

Selcuk Durmaz (Türkiye) 
Exiting from the cave towards the sky gives this feeling to the other party. The lighting effect used strengthened this effect. The root pieces used in the stalactites could have been different. Another issue is whether the small size of the rock pieces used to give the cave effect are used in the middle area. Light colors and different textures were used. I would say the other stone pieces were probably the wrong choice. Congratulations on a good job. 

Fabian Kussakawa (Brazil) 
Very complex hardscape work. And the degree to take the photo must not have been easy either as there are dark and light areas that need to be viewed to be analyzed. My observation is to try to make it more natural, especially in plants. Use a mix of plants for carpeting or even to create shadows. I liked the fauna. 

Jaesun Cho (Korea) 
This artwork evokes the sensation of looking outside from within a cave. The bold use of shadows and the depiction of strong light rays are impressive. In aquascaping, the creativity significantly impacts the artistic quality, and this piece demonstrates excellent creativity and impact. While more aquatic plants could have enhanced it further, its current appearance is already quite beautiful. Thank you for showcasing such a stunning piece.

Hyoungjoo Jeon (Korea) 
It is a very interesting work that uses darkness and light to create the motif of the momentary moments that can be seen in caves. Given the similarity and complementarity that have been increasing recently, I think Aquascape's originality can be an important weapon that can appeal to the judges. In that sense, Benamahoma in Andalusia, Spain, seems to have a good review.

Ismael Aguilar (Spain) 
Excellent work. Impressive work recreating a type of natural cenote or cave, which is characterized by the sensation it transmits to the viewer of finding themselves completely enclosed within it but in which they can always find a ray of light of hope. The resource of the final slope of the path is fantastic. Great work on the roots that show the meticulousness with which this aquascaper works, although the roots that hang in the final part should have the same orientation as those in the foreground. To add a but to the assembly, to say that perhaps the planting does not look completely natural, the forced nakedness of some branches and the lack of balance between the planting in the right and left areas detract from its naturalness. On the other hand, the chosen atmosphere is a double-edged sword, because the same thing that focuses attention on the negative points of the work, removes all interest from the rest of the space where we cannot find anything of interest. Congratulations on the work. 

Tereza Lazar (Ukraine) 
I really liked the play with light in this work, it feels like I'm in some kind of underwater cave. The fish perfectly complemented the author's idea. Great perspective, beautiful healthy plants. Nice! 

Individual comment

Takayuki Fukada (Japan) 
The overall impression is that it is a very beautiful and intricately crafted piece and I thought that this tank was the most outstanding in terms of completeness as a work of art. But at the same time, what I felt from this scape was a sense of déjà vu, that I had seen this style before in other contests. I'm sure the artist knows very well which piece it is. I can't help but look forward to seeing what kind of work will come out if more originality and creativity is added to this wonderful landscape.

Selcuk Durmaz (Türkiye)
I always like works done with materials that extend from the ground to the water surface or vice versa from the water surface to the ground. This design reflects this work to the other side very successfully. At first glance, it comes to mind that the length of the tank will be a maximum of 90 cm. When I see in the description that the length of the tank is 120 cm. I wonder if it would make more sense to use a smaller root piece so that the parts where the roots meet the ground could be touched a little more. But in general, the preferred plant species are very successful.I congratulate you on this good job. 

Hyoungjoo Jeon (Korea) 
"Vestigae" is a typical diagonal style of aquascape using driftwood. It's a composition that I use often and like. I also see some moss in the area near the surface of driftwood. The reflection on the right is seen as a cleaning problem on the wall of the tank. If you include the original elements, you seem to have the technical ability to compete with the best. Congratulations. 

Ismael Aguilar (Spain) 
Excellent work. A classic underwater based on a simple hardscape but at the same time with a lot of strength and flow, where I stand out above anything else...its sublime planting, one of the best in the contest without a doubt. To add a but to the montage, perhaps the worst thing about the work is that its author has not achieved good continuity in the right reflection as if he had done it in the left. Congratulations on the work 

Jaesun Cho (Korea) 
This artwork features a placement of thick driftwood in diagonal lines to enhance tension. While similar styles exist, this piece stands out with its excellent arrangement of aquatic plants and their healthy growth, completing it beautifully. Using thinner driftwood to enhance detail in the background could have made it even better. Thank you for sharing this impressive piece. 

Individual comment

Takayuki Fukada (Japan) 
It's a very interesting idea and a novel scape that I've never seen before. The way the driftwood is displayed like a mangrove forest is truly amazing and the plants and fish match well with the layout. In fact, also I had previously attempted to tackle the mangrove forest theme, but in the end was unable to make it a reality, so I think the author's imagination and execution are worthy of praise. The background is too wide, so adding more plants to either side of the background and emphasizing the central space of the mangrove forest would make it even more impressive. 

Selcuk Durmaz (Türkiye) 
Although it looks quite simple, the positioning of the root pieces used actually did a very good job. Congratulations on this good job. 

Agussalim Jamauddin (Indonesia) 
very extraordinary idea. but for contest photo competitions you should pay attention to many things such as layers, depth, perspective and many more.  

Hyoungjoo Jeon (Korea) 
It is one of the most original and distinctive works of art. Its originality allows people to appreciate the work for a longer time. The schooling of fish also goes very well with the overall composition and expands the feel of the work. Congratulations on turning a great idea into a work. 

Ismael Aguilar (Spain) 
Excellent work. The most original and innovative of the contest for me, I was pleasantly surprised by the simple hardscape due to the material used but at the same time very technical due to the depth achieved by its author. I love mangrove-style root work, it's something I also like to practice. An authentic underwater aquarium that its author wanted to highlight with the use of lotus and the effect of water drops on the surface, very original...I think I have only seen two works in the contest. To add a but to the assembly, I think the planting lacks strength, perhaps the weakest part and something else, perhaps a pet peeve of mine...finish the harscape on the left side to cover the surface line of the water with the glass, to manage to generate doubt in the viewer as to whether they are seeing a real natural landscape and not something created by man between 5 glasses. Congratulations on the work. 

Jaesun Cho (Korea) 
This is a wonderful piece with a fresh, new style. We know how challenging it is to create a new style in aquascaping. While having a bit more aquatic plants would have been nice, the current appearance is already sufficiently beautiful. Thank you for sharing this impressive artwork. 

Tereza Lazar (Ukraine) 
I absolutely love this work! It's so creative and natural at the same time. The composition is really interesting. It immediately caught my attention. The way the driftwood is arranged and the fish that have been chosen are so well-suited to the scene. The green plants, red nymphs, and everything else create a wonderful sense of calm and naturalness. Thank you so much to the author! I got such positive emotions from contemplating this picture. 

Individual comment

Takayuki Fukada (Japan) 
The arrangement of the dragon stones is wonderful and gives us a very powerful impression. The plants are impressive and voluminous, but unfortunately many of them were planted just before the shoot and only had a short growth period. With more time in this tank to mature, I'm sure it will become an amazingly beautiful landscape. 

Agussalim Jamauddin (Indonesia) 
Good job. With the strong driftwood character, detailing is perfect, plus the dark shadows are very good. Blending various plants makes it more natural. 

Hyoungjoo Jeon (Korea) 
The arrangement of the driftwoods and the appropriate placement of the dragon stones between the driftwood look simple but leave a very strong impression. However, the use of aquatic plants does not look neat and does not seem mature. I think it needed more time. It is also unfortunate that the photos do not show the condition of the aquatic plants. Thank you for the great work. 

Ismael Aguilar (Spain) 
Great work. A work where there is a perfect balance between plants and solids, where neither imposes itself on the other and that is precisely where I see the weak point of this work. Except for the solid one in the back, who has his role well defined and fulfills it with solvency; create the vanishing point and accompany the feeling of flow together with the hardscape, the rest of the plants are distributed randomly throughout the aquarium, without creating their own planes or areas of real interest. That is why it is recommended to use large plants in the foreground and progressively use smaller ones to achieve different planes and the desired sensation of depth. The use of isolated sandy areas on the way to the vanishing point would also help in this regard. Congratulations on the work 

Jaesun Cho (Korea) 
Lately, I have been focusing more on the long-term maintainability of works when judging them. I question whether a piece can truly be called a masterpiece if it is beautiful but difficult to maintain over time. From this perspective, this work is exceptional. Despite arranging the materials for ease of maintenance, the image appears very natural and exhibits a powerful beauty. The placement of the aquatic plants is also something from which many can learn. Thank you for showcasing such a wonderful piece.