WORLD RANKING 0007

‘Origin Dawn Lights’

Juan Puchades, Spain

Dimensions: 120x60x55cm

Plants: Anubias barteri var. ‘nana’, Anubias barteri var. ‘nana

Pangolino’, Anubias barteri var. ‘nana petit’, Bolbitis heudelotii, Fissidens fontanus, Microsorum sp. ‘Trident’, Riccardia chamedryfolia, Hemianthus callitrichoides ‘Cuba’, Littorella uniflora, Bucephalandra sp. ‘Velvet Entikong’, Bucephalandra sp. ‘Red Velvet’, Bucephalandra sp. ‘Mini Belindae’, Bucephalandra sp. ‘Belindae’, Bucephalandra sp. ‘Mini Coin’, Bucephalandra sp. ‘Catherine’, Bucephalandra sp. ‘Mini Catherine’, Bucephalandra sp. ‘Cherry Mini’, Bucephalandra sp. ‘Lamandau Mini Red’, Bucephalandra sp. ‘Lamandau Purple’, Bucephalandra sp. ‘Theia’, Bucephalandra sp. ‘Bukit Kelam/Sintang’, Bucephalandra sp. ‘Angel Tears’, Bucephalandra sp. ‘Kedagang Mini’, Micranthemum sp. ‘Monte Carlo’, Cryptocoryne parva,

Eleocharis sp. ‘Minima’, Rotala rotundifolia ‘Colorata’, Rotala sp.

‘Hra’, Rotala sp. ‘Orange Juice’.

Fish: Hemmigrammus erythrozonus, Trigonostigma hengeli, Crossocheilus oblongus

IAPLC notes: By creating an arch at a low position in a deep valley, and making the path leading to the back under the arch slightly visible, an interesting visual effect is created. Even the reflection on the surface looks intentionally integrated, making the central space clear and emphasising a sense of perspective.

Nathan says: This is something straight out of a Tolkien novel. There’s as much to be said for the photo editing as the layout — the contrast is fierce and the colours paradoxically bold while simultaneously muted — but the impact is immediate and full-on. Of extra interest is that not an inch is wasted, and wherever the eye looks there’s something fabulous leading directly into something else equally fabulous. I’d have ranked this higher.