Tiger bark ficus received WBFF exception tree award

[Chuah]

I entered my tiger bark ficus to the 2013 7th World Bonsai Friendship Federation photo contest, it received high enough points from international judges and made it to the 25 exceptional trees category. Just barely made it, sharing the 25th place with Hans van Meer of the Netherland. Never thought an amateur's tree could advance so far in this world contest. Other NA winners are Bill Valavanis and Suthin Sukosolvisit.

You can see all the winning trees in the following NABF website:

http://www.northamericanbonsaifederation.com/PHOTOCONTEST/photocontest.html

 

[Redwood Ryan]

I entered my tiger bark ficus to the 2013 7th World Bonsai Friendship Federation photo contest, it received high enough points from international judges and made it to the 25 exceptional trees category. Just barely made it, sharing the 25th place with Hans van Meer of the Netherland. Never thought an amateur's tree could advance so far in this world contest. Other NA winners are Bill Valavanis and Suthin Sukosolvisit.

You can see all the winning trees in the following NABF website:

http://www.northamericanbonsaifederation.com/PHOTOCONTEST/photocontest.html

.......I think I'm in love.....

 

[A Random User]

Congratulations !!! Very nice job

 

[berobinson82]

Very well done! Great looking tree. Would you mind sharing your photo set up with us? Lighting, settings, distance, etc...

 

[sam]

congratulations for success. you were in good company

best wishes, sam

 

[akhater]

congratulations

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

Congrats to you! Those photos are inspiring, to say the least.

 

[Dav4]

You should be very pleased with your effort. Well done!

 

[JudyB]

Most excellent work! You are in some heady company for sure. Congratulations.

There were some amazing mugos in there...

 

[Chuah]

Very well done! Great looking tree. Would you mind sharing your photo set up with us? Lighting, settings, distance, etc...

The photo was taken in my living room with a black velvet cloth hanging on the wall as the background. No fancy lighting, just overhead living room incandescent light. The bonsai was a few feet away from the window with some natural light coming in on the right. The photo was shot with an old point and shoot Canon PowerShot SD790IS camera mounted on a tripod, no flash. Just changed the ISO setting to get one I like.

 

[berobinson82]

The photo was taken in my living room with a black velvet cloth hanging on the wall as the background. No fancy lighting, just overhead living room incandescent light. The bonsai was a few feet away from the window with some natural light coming in on the right. The photo was shot with an old point and shoot Canon PowerShot SD790IS camera mounted on a tripod, no flash. Just changed the ISO setting to get one I like.

Aaaannndddd I've been over thinking things. Thanks for the information. Again, lovely work here!

 

[Chuah]

Thanks everyone for your compliments. This ficus has come a long way as a pre-bonsai in '97. This is how it looked in 2001, no pre-digital camera shot of the tree in the 90s.

 

[tmmason10]

Congrats on your award with this remarkable tree. I hope you share more of your collection more often.

 

[Forujames]

Wow, that is a great tiger bark you have there-how old is it, how long has it been in training? Thanks for the link.

 

[Chuah]

Wow, that is a great tiger bark you have there-how old is it, how long has it been in training? Thanks for the link.

I bought this as a pre-bonsai in 1997 for $15. The main trunk had a good taper when looking from the front but the back was severely flawed; no back roots and the back base beveled inwards. The whole tree was unstable and appeared it would fall backwards at any moment. The branches also grew haphazardly. I cut off all the branches to basically a tree stump. Regrew all the branches selectively, and grafted back roots to improve the nebari. Basically a complete rework. The rest is allowing the tree to grow, diligently go through all the repotting, defoliating etc., developing the nebari and ramifications. The tree matures and looks better as each year goes by.