Studying, illustrating, and making known the little-known underwater treasures of the Mediterranean: this is the challenge taken up by Laurent Ballesta, renowned photographer, biologist, and leader of the Gombessa expeditions.
The Mediterranean… Because humans have traveled its waters for millennia, it is believed to hold no secrets. Because they have conquered and mistreated it, it is thought to be devastated. Yet, the Mediterranean is still a living sea that remains to be explored.
In its depths lie vast and rich territories that humanity knows very little about: coralligenous reefs. These biodiversity hotspots, as beautiful as coral reefs, are located in the « twilight zone » between 60 and 120 meters deep, where less than 1% of light penetrates.
After spending 28 days at a depth of 120 meters in July 2019, Laurent Ballesta publishes a new book entitled « Mediterranean Planet« , the fruit of his personal work as a photographer during this extraordinary expedition, but also the conclusion of a more comprehensive work conducted over the long term in the Mediterranean. The book therefore includes his most beautiful shots, from the 2010s to today, and follows in the tradition of beautiful books « Ocean Secrets, » « Adélie Land & Sea » and « 700 Sharks into the Night. »
Accompanied by minimalist texts, the photographs of rare creatures never before illustrated or of unprecedented behaviors tell, page after page, natural and lived stories. From the extraordinary biodiversity of coralligenous reefs to the vast landscapes of the depths, Laurent Ballesta initiates a journey into these very real ecosystems that seem to emerge from another world.
Currently available for pre-order, « Mediterranean Planet » will be available online from September 8 and in bookstores from November 12. Photos by Laurent Ballesta are also visible at the « Liquid Spaces » exhibition at Hemeria in Paris, from Sunday, September 6 to Saturday, September 16, 2020.