Please introduce yourself briefly

I'm pleased to have the opportunity to introduce myself.  

I am 44 years old and reside in Seoul, South Korea.  

My profession is in architectural design and architectural visualization. This profession involves encapsulating the layout, theme, story, flow of vision, and the variations of light and color of buildings within a single image. These elements are seamlessly applicable to aquascaping, which allowed me to naturally transition into this hobby.

Although I am relatively new to aquascaping, I am deeply fascinated by its various styles, including Iwagumi, Nature, and Diorama. I am currently exploring these styles to discover which one truly resonates with me.

Aquascaping has become more than just a hobby; it is a unique avenue for expressing both my professional expertise and my artistic sensibility. It has significantly contributed to my personal growth and continuously inspires my creative pursuits.

Shin Dong Jin

Where did the inspiration for the winning entry come from?

This work is based on the Nature style.  

To accurately capture this style, I put in a lot of effort to study various underwater landscapes and understand their characteristics.

I closely examined countless underwater photos to understand the growth patterns of aquatic plants, the flow of water, and the shapes of tree branches. Through these photos, I aimed to recreate nature as realistically as possible, realizing that capturing the delicate details of underwater ecosystems was essential.

Furthermore, I allowed sufficient time for the plants to grow naturally, enhancing the organic feel of the work. This approach enabled the plants to settle and flourish, bringing a more vibrant and lifelike quality to the piece.

I believe that Nature style goes beyond mere aesthetic representation; it is about capturing the inherent textures and movements of nature within the artwork.

Production process of Shin Dong Jin's award-winning work

What was a particularly memorable event or challenge you encountered during the creation of this work?

To faithfully adhere to the Nature style in this work, I avoided using adhesives between the materials.  

What are some of the things you need to pay attention to in terms of daily maintenance of the works you create?

Also, can you also share with us some photo tips on how to better capture and show the unique charm of your works?

 There is nothing particularly special about the daily maintenance of my aquarium.  

However, I have an automated water change system that handles the tedious tasks automatically every day.  

This setup allows me to focus entirely on the layout of the tank without the distraction of routine maintenance.

A key tip for photographing the tank is to maximize the use of lighting.  

When I shoot, I bring all the lights from my other tanks at home and carefully control the light to illuminate the desired areas precisely.  

I don’t spend too much time on the schooling behavior of the fish; I prefer to capture them in the most natural state possible.

Congratulations on your runner-up award!

Please share your acceptance speech!

 It is a great honor to receive this award.  

I still can’t believe I was awarded second place at CIAC.  

Nature style is my favorite, but I always thought it would be difficult to achieve a high ranking in a competition.  

This time, I didn’t expect to receive such a good result, so I am even more surprised and delighted.

I think the judges appreciated the natural look of the aquatic plants, which makes me especially grateful.  

Being invited to China as part of this award will be one of the most memorable experiences in my aquascaping journey.  

Having the chance to talk with many legends and connect with them has been incredibly inspiring, and I believe this experience will help me grow even further.

What new plans or goals do you have for the future in terms of creativity in the field of aquascape art?

For now, I plan to take a break and enjoy the natural evolution of my current tank as it develops over time.  

This period also gives me the opportunity to reflect and start conceptualizing my aquascape for next year.

In October, I will begin preparing my entries for next year’s competitions.  

This year, I achieved far more than I ever expected, so my goal for next year is not about results but about focusing more on the style and approach that truly resonate with me.

How many CIPS events have you participated in so far?

What do you think are its unique features or highlights?

Also, if you have something you would like to say to the organisers, please do not hesitate to share it.

This is my first time participating in the Great Wall Cup.  

Problems can arise during the process of any competition, and I understand that there were some issues in both the process and results of this year’s CIAC.  

However, the organizers I met in China left a strong impression on me with their passion and thorough preparation.

I am confident that the CIAC competition will continue to grow and improve.  

I hope it evolves into an even better event, becoming a celebration for aquascapers worldwide, just as it is now.