South African Aquascaping Contest 2021

Closing date end May. The more entries, the more seriously ADA international will take SA as a market thus the more goodies will be available to us going forward. So even though we might think (or know) that we don’t stand a chance in the least, still beneficial to enter a tank

The guys are still busy updating the website but I’ll post a link once they’re done!

 

Msg forwarded from this post: “
Thank you for this ....i was quite surprised to have learnt that alot of our SA aquarists are under the impression that the SA Aquascaping contest and the IAPLC has to be tanks where ONLY ADA products are used. This is untrue. Both competitions doesnt have this as a rule to enter the comp.

We need to all help to promote and grow these competitions”

 

Submission Rules

◯Entrants must submit image data created with a compact digital camera, smartphone, tablet, or others. Photographic film, recording media and printed photograph are not acceptable.
◯Image data file to be submitted must be in JPEG format (less than 5MB). RAW data is not accepted.
◯Image must not be processed by way of trimming, reversal and retouching, etc. Do not delete the Exif information.
◯Use entry form on the official IAPLC website for entry. Online entry process is very simple - just fill in the form and attach your image data.
◯If the image data is resized for submission, the original image data must be retained. The original data is required for top-winning entries.
* Starting with the IAPLC 2021, only online submission is accepted. Photographic film, recording media and printed photograph are not acceptable.

Guidelines and Rules

●This contest is open to everyone who has a planted aquarium. Only the work created by the entrant (individual) is accepted.
・There is no restriction in aquarium tank size.
・The picture of the layout can be taken by any person other than the creator of the layout.
* Those individuals who are involved in administration of, or judges of international aquascaping contests are unacceptable (This condition does not apply to ADA-authorized contests.)
* Applying under a name other than the name of the creator of the layout, including name of family members and others, may be subject of disqualification.

●Each entrant can submit only one entry with the picture of an unpublished layout work, taken within a year prior to submission.
・Entry must be a picture of the entire aquarium taken from the front side.
* Entry that violates this may become subject to disqualification, before and after the determination of the world ranking. The submission of an identical work to the ADA-authorized contests is accepted only if the contestant shall not release any images of the work on the internet, publications or any distribution media prior to the official result announcement and release by ADA.
* Once image data has been submitted, it cannot be replaced.

●Subject of point deductions
・Reuse of similar motif that has been demonstrated in any work formerly submitted to this contest (including use of the same composition materials, rearrangement of any past layout through mere change of plants and reversal of any past layout.)
・Layout remarkably resembling any of the past top winning entries is subject to point deductions.
・Plants growing above the waterline are not subject to evaluation. Use of houseplant, marginal plant or other plants which hardly survive in water, and layout materials that are difficult to maintain for a long period of time.
・Pictures taken at an angle and/or showing only a part of the aquarium.

●Copyright of IAPLC entries
・The copyright of the entries belongs to Aqua Design Amano Co., Ltd. Use of any entry for advertisement and/or publication purposes without consent of Aqua Design Amano Co., Ltd. is strictly prohibited.
・Private disclosure of entry on social networking media must take place only after the official disclosure by Aqua Design Amano Co., Ltd.

●Others
・Your application may be invalidated if it violates the contest rules and guidelines, doesn’t meet application requirements, or if the IAPLC steering committee deems it inappropriate.
・Submitted images will not be returned to the contestants.
・In regard to issues related to similarity between works, and simultaneous submission of an identical work to a non-IAPLC authorized contest, the decision taken by the IAPLC steering committee is final.
・The number of works showcased in the contest book hasn't been decided, yet. Lower-ranked entries may not be included in the booklet.
・Please note that the IAPLC steering committee does not take any questions regarding the grading and results of the contest. Also, please refrain from contacting individual judges about the contest or specific work(s).
・The IAPLC-authorized contests and co-sponsors are subject to change. Please check the latest information.

 

Scoring criteria. Recreation of a natural habitat for fish is 50% of it!

 

@MariaS yes I will enter a tank purely to promote that side of the hobby. It’s a way of sticking our hands up to say that we’re out there. Hoping a ton of forum members will enter this year just to make a point, it has serious implications for what will or will not be available to us going forward...

Seriously people what is needed right now is quantity of entries over quality. Entry is free and I’ve been assured that the entry process is easy. If you have a tank with some live plants in it, enter.

I’ve asked the question and the answer has been that we CAN enter a tank that we’ve posted on TASA. Just don’t use the same photos and perhaps don’t post final full tank shots in the interim.

 

Ok cool seems as if they’re done with the websites update. You can enter via the ADA site or the Epic Aquatics website. Here are links to the entry form. Rules etc also on there

https://www.adasouthafrica.co.za/the-south-african-aquascaping-contest-2021/

https://www.epicaquatics.net/the-south-african-aquascaping-contest-2021/

 

I can ask that question tomorrow. Just check on that link if it says anything specific about it?

 

The answer came back and you need to be based in SA unfortunately as you might have an unfair advantage Ito what you can source, plus they can’t ship the winning prize to you.

@Shabir the folks are scared you’ll beat them

 

Three months to go guys! Plenty of time for growing in.

PS: Ito cropping a photo: all 4 sides of the glass (edges) must be clearly visible in the pic. Photo must be taken straight from the front, of the entire tank.

 

Excellent!!

 

Photography tips from @Zubster
In this contest, pictures taken with smartphones are also accepted. It is possible to improve the picture quality of aquascapes with a little technique and take sufficiently beautiful pictures even with a smartphone.

We are introducing some techniques to take beautiful pictures of your planted aquarium with your smartphone in this issue. Please use them as references.



1. Remove all devices except lighting equipment



Remove all devices except lighting equipment before shooting (Remove water from external filter). Don’t forget to clean inside and outside of your aquarium tank.



2. Background



Install a colored board on the back of your aquarium tank in order to hide artifacts such as wallpapers. By setting the board diagonally, simple gradation can be made on the back of the aquarium.

Image taken with an iPhone

An A1 size board is the perfect size for a W60cm aquarium tank.





Colored boards can be found at home improvement stores. Pick a color that suits your aquascape.



3. Shade the top of your aquarium tank



If light from lighting equipment directly enters the lens, the color of an aquascape fades. So you will need to shade the light source with a board. And if a board with a white back is used, the front side of the aquarium tank can be shot brightly.


Comparison with and without light shielding



4. Preventing something unwanted from reflecting on the aquarium tank surface


In order to prevent unwanted images of something from reflecting on the glass surface of your aquarium, turn off indoor lighting and shoot with only the lighting of the aquarium tank. By closing curtains and shooting at night, reflections can be further reduced. But, smartphones and photographers are likely to reflect when shooting. So try the following tricks.

① Wear black clothes



Images of light colored clothes and hands are easy to reflect on aquarium tanks. Therefore, wearing black clothes and balck gloves can help reduce chances of unwanted images to reflect on the aquarium tank surface. If a smartphone itself is in light color, put a balck cover on it.



②Step back from your aquarium tank



When there is no black clothes or gloves available, try stepping back from your aquarium tank and shoot from slightly diagonally above. It can reduce chances of unwanted images to reflect on the aquarium tank. Look for a location where images of a photographer don’t reflect.



③ Use a selfie stick (tripod)



Stepping back from the aquarium tank while using a selfie stick can reduce chances of unwanted images reflecting on the aquarium tank. And if releasing the shutter from a distance with remote control while using the selfie stick as a tripod, reflections can be significantly reduced.


Link to mobile camera tips....

https://www.adana.co.jp/en/aquajournal/iaplc_howto_001/


Link to camera tips.....


https://www.adana.co.jp/en/aquajournal/iaplc_howto_002/

 

Almost time guys and gals!
Closing date end of May.

Please consider entering a planted tank to support the hobby, even if you think you don’t stand a chance. I don’t but I’ll enter something, not sure what yet as my ‘secret project’ ain’t doing it for me.