Robert Ballard

Easton Press Robert Ballard books

Titanic The Last Great Images - Signed Limited Edition - 2009

 

 

Who is Robert Ballard?

Dr. Robert Ballard, a pioneering oceanographer and marine geologist, emerges from the depths of exploration as a figure whose life story is intricately woven with the mysteries of the sea. Born on June 30, 1942, in Wichita, Kansas, Ballard's narrative unfolds as a tale of relentless curiosity, groundbreaking discoveries, and a passion for unraveling the secrets hidden beneath the ocean's surface. Ballard's fascination with the underwater world began at an early age, inspired in part by reading Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." This childhood intrigue would blossom into a lifelong commitment to exploring the Earth's least understood frontier.

In the 1970s, Ballard's name became synonymous with deep-sea exploration when he developed the submersible vehicle Alvin, capable of diving to extreme depths. His early successes included the discovery of hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor, challenging prevailing notions about the limits of life in the abyss. However, it was Ballard's most iconic achievement that would capture the world's imagination. In 1985, he led an expedition to locate the RMS Titanic, the infamous luxury liner that had sunk in 1912. Utilizing a remotely operated vehicle called the Jason Jr., Ballard and his team uncovered the wreckage nearly two and a half miles below the surface of the North Atlantic. The world watched in awe as live broadcasts captured images of the ship's ghostly remains, sparking a renewed fascination with the Titanic's tragic story.

Beyond the Titanic, Ballard's expeditions extended to numerous other significant discoveries. His exploration of the German battleship Bismarck, the luxury liner Lusitania, and the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown added layers to our understanding of history and provided a visual record of these once-majestic vessels now resting on the ocean floor.

Ballard's career is not confined to the thrill of discovery alone. A passionate advocate for underwater archaeology and ocean conservation, he founded the Institute for Exploration and the Jason Foundation for Education. These institutions not only fostered scientific research but also played a crucial role in educating the public about the wonders and vulnerabilities of the world beneath the waves. As the chapters of Robert Ballard's life continue to unfold, his narrative remains one of profound impact on our understanding of the oceans and the history they hold. His insatiable curiosity, technological innovation, and commitment to education have left an indelible mark on the field of marine exploration, inspiring future generations to delve into the mysteries that lie beneath the surface of the world's oceans.

 

 

Titanic The Last Great Images

Dead men tell no tales. Dead ships, however, do. Over seventy years after the great ocean liner sank, marine geologist Robert Ballard discovered the wreck of the Titanic 12,500 feet beneath the surface of the icy North Atlantic. Now Ballard presents the world with an opportunity to live the story of the famous ship through his amazing last great images, before Titanic 's remains are gone forever. This is a story told in rusted, twisted metal and debris, but it is also a human story told in a porcelain doll's face, an empty shoe, and an abandoned derby hat. Titanic: The Last Great Images maps the wreck of the ship from a variety of perspectives to give a completely new picture of the triumph and tragedy that was Titanic . This illustrated volume and a National Geographic special weave the strands of the ocean liner's story together in renderings done by the ship's original designers, charts of the debris field, and period illustrations. Robert Ballard provides the clearest, most accurate view of the ship we have ever seen. In crisply detailed underwater photography, disintegrating ruins and shattered pieces reveal pride of workmanship, a rigidly defined class system, and indelible images of terror and courage. This book shows what makes the Titanic worthy of the world's undying fascination.

Robert Ballard quotes

"The greatest ocean in the world is the one we haven't explored yet."
"The thing about the deep sea is that it's been stable for millions of years. It's our home, but it's an alien world."
"We know more about the surface of Mars and the Moon than we do about the bottom of the ocean."
"Exploration is the engine that drives innovation. Innovation drives economic growth. So, let's all go exploring."
"The ocean is Earth's last great unexplored frontier, and we know much less about what lies beneath the surface than we do about the moon, Mars, or the farthest reaches of space."
"Exploration is not a choice, really; it's an imperative."
"Technology is allowing us to reach deeper and deeper into the ocean. Every time we go there, we find new species, new chemical processes, and new organisms."
"Every shipwreck is a time capsule, holding clues to our maritime history, culture, and the human experience."
"The ocean is not too big to explore; it's too big not to explore."
"Our knowledge of the oceans has doubled every decade since the 1960s, leading to an explosion of new discoveries and understanding."