Laurent Ballesta was the youngest photographer ever to receive the prestigious "Gold Diver" award at the International Festival of Underwater Images held in Antibes. In 1999 he was named scientific advisor in marine settings for the TV series Ushuaia Nature, alongside the explorer and show host Nicolas Hulot. For 12 consecutive years, he made the most of his travels in expanding his compendium of deep-sea fauna from across the world. In 2000, alongside Pierre Descamp, he founded the Eye of Andromeda Association, in the aim of reconciling oceanological studies with an artistic appreciation of the marine environment. Since then, Laurent Ballesta has led various expeditions and is now renowned as one of the world's leading underwater photographers.
