In 2006, my 1st attempt-Angels In Elysium at IAPLC was 81st. Pretty good/lucky at the time because there was no expectation. :D
Shot with Nikon-D70, 20mm AFD, Existing aquarium lighting and a Nikon Speedlight-SB800 aimed at the Angel fishes.
Come 2007 and the Altum Angels-Pterophyllum altum having out grown this tank, I searched for inspiration and ended up with a riot of fishes. It was my 1st time using lots of stem plants. This was a large bunch of Rotala sp Vietnam. Lucky me, Carefree Spring Summer's Day got 60th this time! It was also the 1st time I used my new Nikon D200 + 12-24mm f4 AFS to shoot with! What a difference! I set it at around 18mm.
Lighting was trickier and had to balance the aquarium lighting and also light up the wall in the background. I wish I had time to make the right back bushier and take another pic but I had another event to attend.
For most, the IAPLC-International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest is like the Oscars of the Aquascaping world. Launched by Takashi Amano-Aqua Design Amano[ADA] in 2000. The contest inspires a lot of planted tank 'nuts' like me to try our hand at a decent placing among the best in the world. [let alone hope to win the Grand Prize of ¥1 million]
This is a preview of my this year's attempt. Hopefully I will not do too badly this year. Results would be out soon-August 4th I think.
This is titled-Morning Shimmer [it was shot in the morning!]