AusBonsai

The Ryuga Bonsai Tools, competition at Of bonsai, is over. I did not win anything but considering the experience and caliber of the participants and the scores I achieved, plus the comment of the judges, I am a happy girl. This was my first competition so to be in the top third of the scores with all my trees for me is good. Plus the fact that I did everything at the last moment...and with very little enthusiasm... thinking I stand no chance....i think i did very well. ;D
Please post your entries and results here.
My entries:
http://ofbonsai.org/contest/entry-bouga ... wer-zambia
http://ofbonsai.org/contest/entry-chine ... bra-zambia

http://ofbonsai.org/contest/entry-vitex ... ion-zambia

what are the mistakes I made:
I gave up too soon...had no confidence...and become lazy due to loss of interest.
On the deutzia, I chopped all the branches to 1 internode on the final...I should have removed the extra branches and wired it so it looks better.
On the vitex I never bothered to finish carving the tree...bad woman.
On the bougie I am not sure I could have done much more...Perhaps shorten the first primary branch shoots???? But I want to fatten them.
What would have done differently? Please discuss so we can all learn.

congrats Neli.
Pity i did not get my final pics in on time.
Missed the deadlines due to the crap site there as I could not track the comp.

Oh well I will post them here as a Progression thread anyway

Ken

Here's mine-

http://ofbonsai.org/contest/entry-hibis ... -australia

Happy with the score-although more points is always better!!!
Like you it was my first comp-now I have a taste I have also earmarked trees for the next shohin comp!

Nice work Neli, you've got some lovely tree's on the way

I didn't enter any myself, my tree's remain my little secret until i think they look alright

Isitangus wrote:Here's mine-

http://ofbonsai.org/contest/entry-hibis ... -australia

Happy with the score-although more points is always better!!!
Like you it was my first comp-now I have a taste I have also earmarked trees for the next shohin comp!

I like our entry very much...considering what You started with...it is a good end result.
Maybe you did the same mistake as me... Do you think it could have looked better if you left the leaves on?
I know now what are the most important things...presentation is key!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did you see Xavier's entry of the rose that won unique design or something like that?
Perfect presentation...documentation...but very low score on the tree...it still won...and that is a credit to him and his confidence.

Neli wrote:

Isitangus wrote:Here's mine-

http://ofbonsai.org/contest/entry-hibis ... -australia

Happy with the score-although more points is always better!!!
Like you it was my first comp-now I have a taste I have also earmarked trees for the next shohin comp!

I like our entry very much...considering what You started with...it is a good end result.
Maybe you did the same mistake as me... Do you think it could have looked better if you left the leaves on?
I know now what are the most important things...presentation is key!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did you see Xavier's entry of the rose that won unique design or something like that?
Perfect presentation...documentation...but very low score on the tree...it still won...and that is a credit to him and his confidence.

Most of my trees are a mess...but that is how bonsai are developed...dont be shy to post your trees. Have confidence!

kcpoole wrote:congrats Neli.
Pity i did not get my final pics in on time.
Missed the deadlines due to the crap site there as I could not track the comp.

Oh well I will post them here as a Progression thread anyway

Ken

I would have forgotten too, but lovely xavier...made sure he kept reminding me to post my updates....He he he!
Just post your tree links here so we check them up and have them on record.

No I don't think I made too many "mistakes" along the way. It was a learning curve for me regarding the species type-there isn't a great deal of info about hibiscus as bonsai so I was making it up as I went along. I probably could of started work on the tree earlier and fed it bucket loads more but in the end I'm happy that I have a good solid foundation for the future. Considering it started off with one branch and a few leaves I think I did ok.

You definitely did well, I am just speculating how it would have looked with leaves...In future...I think I would take pictures with more options...Like after trimming...after wiring...remove some leaves...remove all leaves...and see which one looks better.

The final pic had leaves. I think the biggest factor for my improvement is going to be my photography!

Well it was an interesting competition.
Here are my entries:
http://ofbonsai.org/contest/entry-cuphe ... -mauritius
http://ofbonsai.org/contest/entry-ficus ... -mauritius
http://ofbonsai.org/contest/entry-rosa- ... -mauritius

I've been awarded "Most Original Design Award" for my rose entry.

I'll need to take some time to go though the other entries and check on their progressions.

Xavier, Your links are not opening...
Congrats on your win...What are you getting as a prize?

Thanks Neli,
Yeps the whole site is under-maintenance it seems, dunno yet what I got, but a nice lil kit would be most welcomed right now

Hi all
The site there is down so cannot see Xaviers win

I had 2 entries one of my collected Junipers, and an airlayered Bougainvillea

here are the initial and 1/2 way pics as they are the only ones I got done. I will see if i can get some final ones for you all tomorrow.

did anyone else enter?

Ken