|
Under Antarctic ice by Laurent Ballesta, France. Winner, portfolio award “pyramid of life”. Living towers of marine invertebrates punctuate the seabed off Adelie Land, 105ft (32 metres) under east Antarctic ice. Here, a tree-shaped sponge is draped with life, from giant ribbon worms to sea stars. Ballesta endured below-freezing dives to reveal the diversity of life beneath Antarctica’s ice. His expedition, took two years to plan, a team of expert divers, and specially developed kit. His 32 dives in water temperature down to -1.7C included the deepest, longest dive ever made in Antarctica. (Photo by Laurent Ballesta/Wildlife Photographer of the Year)
|
