2007 AGA International Aquascaping Contest - Page 8 - Aquascaping

Steven_Chong · 11-14-2007, 10:07 AM

In my opinion, the goal to develop aquascaping should not be to create "tiers" of competitition-- IMO, there's not enough competition to go around yet. 200 in the AGA, 1200 in the ADA, and these contests are on a WORLD WIDE basis.

I understand that just handling 200 is a lot of work for AGA, but for a world wide competition to only have 200 competitors? Compared to other hobbies/interests/artforms, I have to say that is still very, very small. In my opinion, we should want to continue to see greater numbers and higher level among competitors in aquascaping.

I'm not exactly sure what the effects of competing against great aquascapers has on the participation in the hobby, but I can hardly believe it would act as a deterant and dishearten folks from participating. If anything, with the increasingly high levels of aquascaping, I think we're seeing more excitement, more participation and higher levels of aquascaping overall everywhere.

To this day, seeing the great scapes (especially those done by Amano) is still what draws folks into this hobby, and what makes it really incredible to anyone who happens to come accross our community. That reaction-- DAMN I had no IDEA something so INCREDIBLE existed! Is still what's helping us grow, and will help aquascaping to receive wider recognition as an art form.

Just my 2 cents about the importance of encouraging/showing very high level scapes at any point we can.

messy_da_legend · 11-14-2007, 10:30 AM

I think it can work both ways. Some people might enter just to be judged on the same level in the same competition as these great scapes, but others might be put off by such a high level of aquascaping.

K Randall · 11-14-2007, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gf225

Many thanks to Karen and Tony for their comments on my three entries.

http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.or...=0&vol=0&id=22
http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.or...=0&vol=1&id=95
http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.or...0&vol=1&id=104

Very helpful and insightful. I look forward to next year's contest...

PS I'm looking forward to meeting Ole next month when he visits the UK.

I'm even more impressed now, knowing that all three of these tanks are yours. I like them all very much, and I like the fact that they are all beautiful as well as non-fussy tanks!

Karen

K Randall · 11-14-2007, 01:43 PM

[quote=Phil Edwards;341384]

Quote:

Originally Posted by K Randall

I'm not sure if you're familiar with NASCAR racing but a trend as built up over the past couple years of their highest division drivers (Nextel Cup) racing in their 2nd highest division (Busch, or used to be). These drivers routinely win the races and take the highest placing in the circuit to the detriment of the drivers who's greatest achievements to date have been racing in this 2nd division. They've worked their hardest only to have someone from a higher level of competition come in and ruin the level of competition for the field because they're so much better drivers. That's kind of how I'm seeing the situation with some of these entries. For the most part the level of this year's competition was very close in my eyes and could have gone in a million different directions if some entries weren't there. On some level it just feels to me like "stealing the show" and making light of an otherwise very competitive field.

Hi Phil,

One thing you have to remember, though, is that most people (if not all... I can't remember the timing to the day!) have already entered the AGA contest before they even KNOW where they stand in the ADA contest. I am sure there was no intent to "steal the show" in this case. And it is somewhat self-limiting, because you can't enter exactly the same aquascape two years in a row.

You can't really compare it to NASCAR, at this point... NO ONE has won these contests multiple times yet. And this is the first time we've had the same person, let alone the same tank win both contests.

And if you are insinuating that the AGA contest is "division 2", I resemble that remark!<g>

Karen

K Randall · 11-14-2007, 01:46 PM

Very well said.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven_Chong

In my opinion, the goal to develop aquascaping should not be to create "tiers" of competitition-- IMO, there's not enough competition to go around yet. 200 in the AGA, 1200 in the ADA, and these contests are on a WORLD WIDE basis.

I understand that just handling 200 is a lot of work for AGA, but for a world wide competition to only have 200 competitors? Compared to other hobbies/interests/artforms, I have to say that is still very, very small. In my opinion, we should want to continue to see greater numbers and higher level among competitors in aquascaping.

I'm not exactly sure what the effects of competing against great aquascapers has on the participation in the hobby, but I can hardly believe it would act as a deterant and dishearten folks from participating. If anything, with the increasingly high levels of aquascaping, I think we're seeing more excitement, more participation and higher levels of aquascaping overall everywhere.

To this day, seeing the great scapes (especially those done by Amano) is still what draws folks into this hobby, and what makes it really incredible to anyone who happens to come accross our community. That reaction-- DAMN I had no IDEA something so INCREDIBLE existed! Is still what's helping us grow, and will help aquascaping to receive wider recognition as an art form.

Just my 2 cents about the importance of encouraging/showing very high level scapes at any point we can.

K Randall · 11-14-2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by messy_da_legend

I think it can work both ways. Some people might enter just to be judged on the same level in the same competition as these great scapes, but others might be put off by such a high level of aquascaping.

That's where I would hope local clubs (and small web communities) would start to take up the slack with local competitions.

Karen

Gomer · 11-15-2007, 07:17 AM

All I have to add is that I am already looking forward to AGA2008. Tomorrow I get my plants in to start up something new