There’s so many aquarists emulating terrestrial landscapes (mountains, glaciers, etc.) these days, yet – with the exception of saltwater reef tanks and a few African cichlid tanks – you very seldom see tanks that really look like the bottom of an actual aquatic ecosystem. Even planted tank biotope purists – the ones who only combine plant and fish species that would actually occur together in a pristine regional environment – often achieve a look of artifice, as if an interior decorator stepped into a creek and went to work. It would be nice to have more sources of underwater photography, from plant-rich freshwater environments, for aquascaping inspiration.

I was never a biotope purist (finances have always forced me to go low-tech), and have nothing against an element of fantasy in aquascaping (after all, ALL aquascaping is really fantasy, when you think about it) – but it would still be nice to have that source of inspiration. As it is, all I have to go on is a small handfull of photos from divergent sources, and my own experience taking a rare, occasional dip in North American and European rivers and reservoirs. (I’m a lousy swimmer!)

If you (or anybody else out there) can recommend a specific title by Amano – or any other photographer, for that matter – that would be great.