Steven Chong

First nano demonstration scape for the Master Skill Series- based off my 2023 layout. For the full making-of vid, check out the Youtube link in Profile! Thanks to @ultumnaturesystems for support on materials for the series! #aquascape #aquascaper #aquascaping #aquascapers #aquariumhobby #aquariumlife #aquascapedesign

The new series episode 1 is released on YouTube! Check the link in my profile description for the video. Hope you guys enjoy, making mountains! Support with materials from: @ultumnaturesystems #aquascape #aquascaper #aquascaping #aquascapedesign #aquascapers #aquascapes #iwagumi

PLAN to release this weekend (plan) 😓💪🤣 #aquascape #aquascaping #aquascaper #aquascaped #aquascapers

Full YT vid coming soon! Thanks to @ultumnaturesystems for the demonstration supplies! And this beautiful aquasoil 😂 #aquascape #aquascaper #aquascaping #aquascapes #aquascapers

Really looking forward to sharing how to make a mountain. YouTube demonstration incoming, thanks to tank from @ultumnaturesystems 😁 #aquascape #aquascaper #aquascapes #aquascaping #aquascapedesign #iwagumi #アクアリウム

Remember this scape? "Echoes of the Pali"-- kicking off a new Youtube video series, the "Master Skills Series" demonstrating the real, hands-on skills of making my past scapes. Thanks to @ultumnaturesystems for providing this 45cm tank for replica-- please look forward to it! #aquascape #aquascaper #aquascaping #aquarium #iwagumi

Always climbing! 上り続く！This year I will publish video going into technical detail! As soon as I finish moving into New York… 😅 Stay tuned! (for those who don’t follow me on Facebook, I am moving to New York from Tokyo for work— this will be my last work in Japan) さらば、東京！ @lifeaqua_maxlite #aquascape #aquascaper #aquascaping #iwagumi #岩組レイアウト #iaplc #iaplc2023 #aquarium #水槽

Dedicating my my 2023 Aquascape to Maui🥰, "Kūpinaʻi o ka Pali" (Echoes of the Pali). Pali means "Cliffs" in Hawaiian, so it could also be translated as "Echoing Cliffs". ⛰️ But, "The Pali" refers to a specific place of ledges in Nuuanu, where I grew up. I am proud I could finally convey a layout my feelings for the nature of my home. 🌈 While the inspiration comes from Oahu, I want to dedicate this layout to the people in Maui who are now trying to come to grips with the tragedy of the Lahaina fires. We share the same nature, people, aloha, and the same world. You are in my heart. ❤️🥰❤️ I also want to dedicate this work to the two masters who inspired me most in its creation, my aquascaping master Takayuki Fukada who taught me "Heaviness", and my late painting master Hiroshi Tagami who populized this Hawaii mountain theme, and taught me "Looseness". Special DEEP gratitude to Michael Powell, my elder disciple under Tagami-sensei who refined my understanding of our teacher’s philosophy.🙇 #aquascape #aquascaper #aquascaping #iaplc #iaplc2023 #plantedaquarium #水草水槽 #水草レイアウト #レイアウト #plantedtank #plantedtanksofinstagram #aquarium #fishtank

Hello all, new upload to YouTube! Please check Profile Link to see video about my thoughts/background/process on my scape from 2022. Sorry this vid is so late-- I have recently been blessed with a lot of opportunity in my main career as a Marketer, while still staying dedicated to competing in 2023. Please enjoy the vid! #aquascape #aquascaper #aquascaping #plantedtank #水草水槽 ＃水草レイアウト ＃アクアリウム

Nature Aquarium is an adventure! 🔥 ネイチャーアクアリウムは冒険だ！🔥 People did not only fall in love with Amano for his art, it was also his dream, which included a call to adventure! To explore and learn from nature. I was inspired by his words, and while I never got personally close to the man, I was blessed to make even greater teachers for me, Masashi Ono and @tokyo_aquascape , and good friends like @daveaqua05 and the guys at CAU! Never forget our friendships! Never forget the call to adventure! (Photos in Akita, Oirase) 芸だけあって天野さんは愛されていなかったです。夢も、冒険への招待にネイチャーアクアリウムの世界に秘められていたために愛されていました。旅に出る、自然から学ぶ、その冒険への招待。私はその招待状を取り上げ、本人とはあんまり親しくなれなかったですが、共にする僕のための先生達（小野さんと深田さん）とデーブ／CAUのような友。冒険はまだまだつづく！ #aquascape #aquascaper #aquascaping #natureaquarium #plantedtank #iaplc #iaplc2022 #fall #autumncolors #アクアリウム #水草水槽 #水草レイアウト #ネイチャーアクアリウム アクアリウム

One of my shots from Kyoto last fall, at the temple Nanzenji. 去年の秋、京都の南禅寺で撮った写真です。 I think this is a really great example of the type of sweeping shape and texture I admired most from Japanese Momiji. This garden impressed me greatly even 13 years ago, unforgettable.😌🍁🍁 私が想うもみじの形や質感の良い例かと思います。この庭の葉っぱは昔見た時も感動しました、忘れられないほど。😌🍁🍁 I think you can see why I didn’t ever make an autumn layout until now, after I felt confident I could recreate it—the idea to use Red Myriophyllum, and the confidence in husbandry to bring it to this shape. Truly, deeply satistfied.😌🍁🍁😌 見たら気持ちを分かっていただけますでしょうか？これだ！これを再現できないと秋のレイアウトを作りたくなかった気持ち。レッドミリオを使うアイディアと、この形に育成できる自信。本当に、満足です。😌🍁🍁😌 #aquascape #aquascaping #aquascaper #plantedtank #iaplc #iaplc2022 #水草水槽 #水槽レイアウト #アクアリウム #fall #fallcolors

In the fall of 2009, I visited Japan with 2 special goals in mind. 2009年に２つの大切な目的を持ち、来日しました。 The first was goal was to attend the Nature Aquarium Party for the first time— meeting Amano-san, and stepping into a whole new world that one day would be filled with memories and friends. The second goal was to see Kyoto in fall for the first time. I was priveleged that my Kyoto relatives allowed me to stay in their home for two weeks, and during that time I did what Amano's Nature Aquarium World compelled me to do: I hit the road with my Camera. 一つ目の目的はネイチャーアクアリウムパーティーを初めて参加する事でした。とうとう天野さんに出会い、いずれ新しい仲間と思い出に溢れる、新しい世界へ。２つ目の目的は京都の紅葉。目込まれたほか言えませんが、京都住まいの親戚のお家に２週間泊めていただきました。その間、私は何をしたか、当然天野さんの「ガラスの中の大自然」で教われた行動。自然を出会いに、カメラを持ちました。 Every day I spent visiting countless shrines and temples. Even those that require special reservations like Kokedera and Rurikoin, who's strange view of red leaves reflected on mirror-top table partly inspired this aquascape (picture on left). The power and delicacy of leaves, and looking out fron under the roof of a temple to peer into the mysterious and magical world of a Japanese Garden. Throughout though I was saddened. Not just because of momentary beauty, but also because I couldn't think of even a single red aquarium plant that could replicate it. The sweeping, swaying, thickness, thinness of leaves flowing between delicate branches. No Autumn layouts I had seen then, and none that I saw after could replicate the texture of this scene. 毎日足を運び、無数の庭、神社、お寺、メージャーからマイナー、無限にありながら、全て見ようとしました。特別の要約もとったり、苔寺も、今回の作品からインスピレーションをとっている瑠璃光院も拝見しました。輝きとデリカシーを持つ葉っぱ、そしてお寺の屋根の下から不思議な世界である庭に覗き込む感覚。非常に切ない気持ちでした。もちろん紅葉は切ない美というわけですが、それ以上に切ない事はこの風景を再現できる水草を一つも思いつかなかったです。厚い所と薄い所、光と影、しだれ。この紅葉の質感を再現できている秋をテーマにしたレイアウトはそれまでも、それ以降も、一つも見なかった事がずっと切ない事でした。 Over a decade later, returning to Kyoto with my young family brough all the feelings rushing back. Empathy for this nature, and my love for aquascaping. This time, the gardens finally told me the answer: Red Myrio. 去年家族を連れ、十年以上久しぶりに京都を訪れたら、その当時の気持ちが全部戻ってきました。この大自然への共感、そして水景への愛心。時に渡って詰めた経験も持ち、今回お庭が教えてくれました：レッドミリオだ。 #aquascape #aquascaper #aquascaping #plantedtank #iaplc #iaplc2022 #水草水槽 #水草レイアウト #アクアリウム #natureaquarium