Recent content by Steven Chong

And this is also something where there is contention with traditionalists, who do often make the easy and inaccurate assumption that abiding by Amano’s methods makes one more aligned with his ethos— which isn’t true, or at least isn’t the whole truth. The Amano I first met was extremely...

If you’re really making the above argument, it means— “I’m fine with the IAPLC’s direction, it’s works, it’s evolution. The layouts are fantastic each year, but I don’t like the naming of this one category and the rubric is hard to understand.” If that’s really your argument (not my impression...

You can tap on a truth of nature's beauty without being literal. You can get into a fish's mindset, you can consider poetically, what is beautiful about the different faces of nature-- whether that is seeing from under a overhang from a fish's perspective, or the dignity of trees reflected on a...

Not at all. This comes back to whether the aim is to perfectly re-create nature, or to present/capture the beauty of nature in art. I believe Nature Aquarium has always been about the later, despite ADA's phrasing (which I also critiqued). I agree they shouldn't use the phrase "re-creation"...

Great questions! Yes, I was aware of the logical fallacy there-- and it's not the only one. For instance, you're not going to have trees underwater; or why is there a water surface above (it's an aquarium, we're under water) and a water surface below (the mirrors). Two water surfaces! One...

Thank you— my aim is to win next year. Once again, just as in this year and every year— Habitat for Fish and Sense of Nature and passionate research will be first and foremost in my strategy.

I disagree. I don’t think ADA risks anything that you say it risks. Also diorama doesn’t need it’s own category, and they’re inseparable anyway with lots of room for exploring hybridization. The diorama scapes are often superior to the NA style ones in the habitat and nature sense categories...

I think if you read my earlier post, I mostly disagree— about the categories, and how suited the diorama style is to the categories. I do think ADA could be more clear on what they mean by “Natural Habitat for Fish,” but those who do understand it deal with it well. The “what kind of entries it...

Also on the main topic, it’s very sad about what Albert decided to do. It’s dishonest and a tragedy for scaping. To add my own take— looking at the photoshopped version, and his work in progress scape— it’s clear he currently still lacks the technique and size sense to actually create this...

It's interesting, because from this end the rubric feels objective-- it's definitely in effect. And the top aquascapers that consistently get results, see success because they definitely have a sense for the different parts of it. The two categories in question, “Recreation of a natural habitat...

Hey guys! Thanks for the feedback. I too can't believe things when I see the prices here... flips my mind. I will be getting my visa soon, so hopefully I'll get another chance to parooze HK's even more insane market again. All you folks from the UK should visit Hong Kong some day-- it's a...

Hey guys, just set up the 40cm that until now had been sitting outside on my washing machine (DSU). Quick pic from my phone: More later when I find time to look through the photos I took with my camera of the set up (easy set up though)

Glad you guys enjoy the pictures! @Phil-- Good to see you! I don't have a lot more pictures unfortunately; I try not to take the photos too candidly since many stores/shops refuse photos. I don't have my DSLR out there blazing in other words-- got to be sneaky with my iphone you see...

你好！　(Ni Hao! Hello!) Hi guys-- friends of old and aquarium enthusiasts I've yet to meet. My name is Steven Chong, and I'd like to share with you all my newest layout I've been working on since I got to China in September. First, I'll say that the fish market here in Guangzhou is incredible--...

Since I'm coming close to my move back to hawaii (tear down of the tank), some last photos: