For those who’re like me, you’ve been anxiously looking for any reduction from the Unhealthy Information™ and limitless stream of AI slop plaguing your feed. Joseph Ricketts’ breathtaking wildlife movies may very well be the antidote. An alligator taking a nap on the ground of a crystal clear spring. Faculties of fish glittering within the darkness. A cosmic cloud of burnt orange tannic river swirling into clear blue water. An enormous salamander battle on an Appalachian riverbed.
Joseph is an ecologist, underwater videographer, and alligator researcher based mostly in Florida. He brings a chilled and curious gaze to a number of the extra obscure underwater vistas via his work as a scientist and wildlife researcher, together with his pictures and videography expertise. Together with his undersea strobes, he casts gentle on the mesmerizing conduct of a number of the extra obscure creatures that lurk under the water’s floor, creating stunning movies whereas educating his viewers on the weak wildlife he finds there. Documenting Florida’s pure springs and America’s freshwater ecosystems has develop into a ardour challenge. The Verge caught up with him to study his fascinating YouTube content material.
This interview has been edited for size and readability.
Science or pictures first?
It might most likely be pictures first. Really, I obtained into wildlife and animals as a child. There was a creek in a park close to our home and we discovered bullfrog tadpoles in there and so they had been actually huge. That simply blew my thoughts and set me on the trail of being fascinated by wildlife. My dad obtained a digital camera sooner or later and on some household journeys I’d use it and obtained actually fascinated by it. All of that collectively led to me getting fascinated by science after which conservation, storytelling, and wildlife filmmaking.
How did you get entangled with ecology?
I used to be in Boy Scouts as a child and there was one other child in our group who was actually into snakes. I additionally grew up watching Steve Irwin, who was an enormous hero of mine.
Rising up within the Southeast, folks have very robust emotions about snakes. They don’t like them — particularly the venomous ones. It was neat to look at Steve Irwin and the best way that he approached all kinds of animals, regardless of how harmful they had been, with immense pleasure and curiosity. To see somebody in my very own neighborhood even be fascinated by that, it was like, “I can do that too.”
After which, studying to like these animals however nonetheless seeing lots of people who simply wished all of them eradicated from the setting. Even after I was younger, I used to be pondering: what does it imply to guard these animals and what does it imply to encourage different folks to alter their mindset? How do you justify defending and conserving an animal that is perhaps probably harmful? What concerning the environmental significance of predators? I used to be so and passionate, I ended up finding out conservation science in undergraduate and grad faculty.
And you now concentrate on alligators?
A whole lot of my skilled work has been with reptiles and amphibians. Presently I’m finding out alligators and crocodiles.
What particularly are you researching?
We monitor alligator populations. I’ve helped out with some initiatives on American crocodiles, that are a local threatened species in Florida. One challenge I helped with was placing satellite tv for pc transmitters on crocodiles we captured and monitoring their actions via city areas in South Florida. The objective of that challenge was to get a greater thought of their conduct in these extremely city environments as a result of they transfer fairly a bit. They’ve very variable residence ranges. Some may be in a very small space, however then typically they’ll simply up and go for a 20-mile swim to some other place fully. The objective is to learn to higher domesticate protected coexistence with these animals in such a dense and extremely populated space equivalent to South Florida.
How did you begin stepping into underwater filming?
I first began out with a GoPro, as a result of it’s a really accessible and never too costly solution to get a digital camera underwater. In school, my roommates and associates all the time tried to go on some sort of journey throughout spring break. We had been tremendous fascinated with the concept of snorkeling in clear water, as a result of that wasn’t one thing that was round us the place we grew up. So each spring break we drove all the way down to Florida. We snorkeled within the Keys and found Florida’s springs alongside a few of these journeys.
I’d take pictures with the GoPro, although it’s not likely meant for that. However underwater pictures tools is actually costly and I simply thought, “There’s no means, I don’t understand how I’ll ever have the ability to afford that.”
However then after my spouse and I graduated, we obtained married, lived in North Carolina for a short while, after which, as a result of she’s initially from Pensacola, Florida, we moved again. I obtained a job performing some ecology work right here in Gainesville.
Sooner or later I used to be simply cruising round Fb Market and I noticed a digital camera housing made to suit a 20-year-old digital camera that was inside millimeters of the dimensions of my digital camera. It was a tenth of the value of what a mean full package price. So I obtained it. I needed to make some modifications and I truly used Lego items to make a number of the controls match my digital camera. I had fairly restricted management underwater, however I might do auto ISO, after which management the aperture and the shutter pace, and pull the set off to get a shot. After I did video, I needed to begin recording, put the digital camera within the housing, shut it, after which I couldn’t do anything. It might simply be one single shot the entire time. So it wasn’t nice for video, however that’s how I obtained began. After which I noticed I used to be a fairly first rate wildlife photographer.
I took some pictures and I obtained shortlisted in some fairly main worldwide competitions. I didn’t push via to be a finalist, however it was sufficient to be, “I even have some talent on this and it’s price pursuing.” It simply sort of saved build up from there. Finally I obtained one other used housing that was designed for my digital camera. By that time, I used to be promoting prints and doing another issues, so I used to be in a position to lastly totally improve my package to the place I’m at now.
What sort of tech is in your diving package?
I’m utilizing the Canon R5 with a Canon EF-RF adapter and a Canon EF 8-15mm f/4 L fish-eye lens. It’s a brilliant wide-angle lens that folks have a tendency to make use of both for underwater or for skateboard pictures. It’s slightly bizarre as a result of the whole lot’s slightly distorted and sort of rounded, however if you’re underwater, it’s actually nice for taking pictures that simply sort of immerse you in that system. You may focus extraordinarily near your topic. You may be an inch away and nonetheless deal with it. For the reason that angle is so large, you may lock in on the attention of the wildlife and sort of seize their face, but additionally the remainder of the scene and their complete physique, even when it’s a much bigger animal.
I take advantage of an Ikelite 200DL Dive Housing, and I’ve obtained two Sea & Sea YS-90DX strobes and two 2900 VTL BigBlue Dive Lights. The strobes connect with the digital camera in order that if you pull the set off, it lets off some gentle, as a result of the deeper you go underwater, gentle tends to fade fairly shortly and that little flash of white gentle simply sort of restores coloration to the scene.
I even have an Ikelite 8-inch Dome Port with an extension that’s large sufficient in order that the super-wide fish-eye lens doesn’t get minimize off by the design of the dive housing. For those who maintain it proper on the floor it could create a water line so you may get break up photographs.
I take advantage of Lightroom and Photoshop for modifying pictures and making prints. I take advantage of Premiere Professional for modifying movies.
How do you determine what you’re going to movie?
I’ve to seek out an thought that’s attention-grabbing to me. Typically it’s a narrative that I believe must be advised, and that I really feel certified with the data to do it. I must know the placement and be assured that I can get the photographs I would like safely. I additionally wish to really feel able to telling the story in a significant means.
Science and wildlife are such big topics. It’s laborious. There’s lots of people that are likely to tout themselves as wildlife consultants, however except they’re very, very skilled, that raises a pink flag. I wouldn’t describe myself as that. I’ve to do a whole lot of analysis myself and I be taught issues alongside the best way too.
I’m actually captivated with something aquatic as a result of I really like doing underwater pictures and videography. That’s the principle a part of my social media and YouTube channel. I particularly love displaying folks distinctive environments the place you wouldn’t have a tendency to consider what life appears to be like like underwater. I take into consideration what wildlife I would encounter there, and what conservation story I can weave via that. Additionally, is there sufficient visibility within the water for me to get my digital camera in and truly get usable photographs that folks can join with?
There’s a disconnect that exists between folks and wildlife within the pure world that now we have to actively fight, like local weather change, air pollution, and habitat destruction. There’s one other disconnect between us and what lies beneath the floor, and I actually wish to do what I can to bridge that hole. It’s essential that folks put faces to the creatures that dwell in these locations, regardless of how huge or how small they’re. They’re all essential, fantastic, price studying and value caring about. Aquatic ecosystems are very delicate environments. It’s essential to know what’s there, to know what we’d stand to lose.
Do you will have a narrative in thoughts earlier than you dive, or do you normally piece issues collectively after?
I really like pictures and having the ability to inform a narrative via a single picture, however I additionally love longer varieties, utilizing video to inform tales as properly.
My artistic course of is certainly evolving. I’ll have the beginnings of an thought whereas I’m attempting to work out the storytelling and looking for methods to assist folks connect with it. Sometimes I’ll have an thought of the realm I wish to cowl for the shot and what I’m going to deal with. One instance was looking for a really specific species of very tiny fish that lives in springs.
That Gulf Coast pygmy sunfish is an exquisite fish.
They’re so cool. So my thought was that it’s going to be about discovering that fish, filming it, hopefully getting some conduct. That was about what I needed to work with, and I used to be fortunate sufficient to see fairly a little bit of conduct.
After I get the footage all edited all the way down to the perfect clips and have a normal idea of a narrative, that’s after I’ll write the script. Writing the script final will not be regular for many creators, however I need the journey and the motion of going out and snorkeling, exploring these locations, to be the center of the channel. Typically I may need slightly bit extra script on sure elements, however usually I don’t have any management over what I’m going to see. So I’ve to exit and shoot, after which come again and do the story from that.
What are the greatest challenges that you just’re attempting to work via?
An enormous problem is sustainability and the way I may be constant and never burn out, as a result of it’s a lot of labor, going out to discover and dive, typically not having a whole lot of success and different occasions having success. How do I tempo myself? I believe I’ve sort of settled on a fairly first rate schedule.
One other problem is that a whole lot of YouTube is shock worth and clickbait. I wish to use my channel to push again in opposition to that. The algorithm appears to be altering to entertain longer consideration spans and increase genuine and actual content material. However I need to have the ability to use my channel to assist folks admire even little particulars and small issues.
Like should you go snorkeling and also you’re within the ocean or on a reef, clearly the actually huge issues just like the sharks and large rays are going to be what stand out to you. However should you’re in a tiny pond and there’s nothing round, and then you definately discover one dwelling factor, instantly that factor turns into actually attention-grabbing. I need to have the ability to inform tales about a number of the much less thrilling issues and make these attention-grabbing.
Such because the video you made about Appalachian Hellbenders. I by no means imagined salamanders would duke it out like that. Do you want being based mostly in Florida?
It’s nice, however in a whole lot of methods it’s laborious and irritating, too. Florida has some completely wonderful wildlife and wonderful ecosystems, and as an underwater photographer, it’s an excellent place to be. There’s the coasts, the Keys, freshwater springs, rivers and streams as properly. There are a whole lot of locations which might be inside affordable driving distance to seek out underwater adventures and tales to inform. It’s irritating as a result of there’s a lot to lose and Florida can also be growing at a really unsustainable price. There are new developments going up in all places. A whole lot of spots I really like are degrading. I’ve been going to the springs since school and a few of them are virtually unrecognizable from after I first visited them 10 years in the past. It’s a problem globally and positively across the US, however I believe Florida is experiencing that at an accelerated price.
It’s a superb place to be as a conservationist as a result of there’s a lot of work to be achieved, messages to get on the market, however it may be draining and exhausting. Typically [you] really feel such as you’re combating an uphill battle with no breaks or relaxation.
Appears like politics mixed with being a vacationer and retirement vacation spot.
An enormous drawback is that individuals are shifting right here and never taking the time to be taught concerning the pure neighborhood that exists previous to their arrival. So folks transfer right here and are shocked to see an alligator of their yard. Or different actually rich folks transfer to South Florida and have crocodiles round, and so they freak out as a result of that’s completely new to them. However that is Florida. We’ve venomous snakes, now we have alligators, now we have crocodiles. They belong right here. They’re essential for this ecosystem. For those who can’t embrace that, then I don’t know what you’re anticipating.
There are many methods to be taught to securely dwell alongside these creatures. There’s simply an enormous want to satisfy the inflow of recent folks with schooling and reminding those that we would like Florida to stay wild. A lot of the attraction of Florida is its pure setting and so there’s loads of the explanation why it must be protected, however it’s sort of a continuing battle.
I really like Florida a lot. It’s such an exquisite place, an essential place to guard, however it has a ton of challenges going through it.
Are there any spots that you just actually wish to dive into that you just haven’t had the prospect to but?
As a result of a whole lot of my stuff is Florida-based, I’d actually like to do a collection of diving in each single state within the US. A few of that may be extra predictable, like diving off the coast of Maine. That’d be cool. However although you by no means hear of anybody going to Nebraska or Oklahoma to snorkel, there’s underwater tales to be advised there and I’d love the prospect to do this. So I’m hoping if the channel grows sufficient, there’ll be curiosity sufficient from the viewers to assist one thing like that.
After all I’d completely like to journey internationally to do some movies as properly. I believe that’s one thing I would wish to earn, as a result of there are positively different individuals who is perhaps extra certified to inform a few of these tales. However I believe if my channel [followers] had been and wished me to, I’d completely love the prospect to do this. There are a whole lot of freshwater springs world wide.
I simply hope that I can proceed to encourage folks to be variety and curious concerning the world round them and take note of the little issues. It’s essential to be aware of our particular person impacts on the world round us, but additionally to carry ourselves as a neighborhood and as a rustic to the next normal so far as defending our pure assets and our wildlife, as a result of we don’t get a second likelihood at this. It’s essential that we take it severely and we get it proper.
I believe it’s laborious to be taught to like one thing should you don’t know that that factor exists or haven’t been in a position to see it in its residence. So I hope that my underwater movies may help folks to get a glimpse into these underwater worlds to see that they’re locations which might be actually particular, price defending, and value maintaining wild.
