When you’re like me, you’ve been anxiously looking for any reduction from the Unhealthy Information™ and countless stream of AI slop plaguing your feed. Joseph Ricketts’ breathtaking wildlife movies might be the antidote. An alligator taking a nap on the ground of a crystal clear spring. Colleges of fish glittering within the darkness. A cosmic cloud of burnt orange tannic river swirling into clear blue water. A large salamander battle on an Appalachian riverbed.
Joseph is an ecologist, underwater videographer, and alligator researcher primarily based in Florida. He brings a chilled and curious gaze to a number of the extra obscure underwater vistas by means of his work as a scientist and wildlife researcher, along with his images and videography expertise. Along with his undersea strobes, he casts mild on the mesmerizing conduct of a number of the extra obscure creatures that lurk beneath the water’s floor, creating stunning movies whereas educating his viewers on the susceptible wildlife he finds there. Documenting Florida’s pure springs and America’s freshwater ecosystems has turn out to be a ardour challenge. The Verge caught up with him to find out about his fascinating YouTube content material.
This interview has been edited for size and readability.
Science or images first?
It could in all probability be images first. Truly, I bought 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 have been actually large. That simply blew my thoughts and set me on the trail of being curious about wildlife. My dad bought a digital camera sooner or later and on some household journeys I might use it and bought actually curious about it. All of that collectively led to me getting curious about science after which conservation, storytelling, and wildlife filmmaking.
How did you become involved 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, individuals have very robust emotions about snakes. They don’t like them — particularly the venomous ones. It was neat to observe Steve Irwin and the way in which that he approached all types of animals, irrespective of how harmful they have been, with immense pleasure and curiosity. To see somebody in my very own neighborhood even be curious about that, it was like, “I can do that too.”
After which, studying to like these animals however nonetheless seeing lots of people who simply needed all of them eradicated from the surroundings. Even after I was younger, I used to be considering: what does it imply to guard these animals and what does it imply to encourage different individuals to alter their mindset? How do you justify defending and conserving an animal that may be probably harmful? What in regards to the environmental significance of predators? I used to be so and passionate, I ended up learning conservation science in undergraduate and grad college.
And you now concentrate on alligators?
A whole lot of my skilled work has been with reptiles and amphibians. Presently I’m learning 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 by means of city areas in South Florida. The aim of that challenge was to get a greater concept of their conduct in these extremely city environments as a result of they transfer fairly a bit. They’ve very variable residence ranges. Some could be in a very small space, however then typically they’ll simply up and go for a 20-mile swim to some place else totally. The aim is to learn to higher domesticate secure 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 technique to get a digital camera underwater. In faculty, my roommates and buddies all the time tried to go on some form of journey throughout spring break. We have 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 right down to Florida. We snorkeled within the Keys and found Florida’s springs alongside a few of these journeys.
I might take pictures with the GoPro, though it’s probably not meant for that. However underwater images tools is basically costly and I simply thought, “There’s no manner, I don’t know the way I’ll ever be capable of afford that.”
However then after my spouse and I graduated, we bought married, lived in North Carolina for a short time, after which, as a result of she’s initially from Pensacola, Florida, we moved again. I bought a job doing a little ecology work right here in Gainesville.
In the future 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 scale of my digital camera. It was a tenth of the value of what a mean full equipment value. So I bought 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. Once 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 could simply be one single shot the entire time. So it wasn’t nice for video, however that’s how I bought began. After which I spotted I used to be a fairly respectable wildlife photographer.
I took some pictures and I bought shortlisted in some fairly main worldwide competitions. I didn’t push by means of to be a finalist, however it was sufficient to be, “I even have some ability on this and it’s price pursuing.” It simply form of stored increase from there. Ultimately I bought 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 equipment to the place I’m at now.
What form of tech is in your diving equipment?
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 individuals have a tendency to make use of both for underwater or for skateboard images. It’s just a little bizarre as a result of the whole lot’s just a little distorted and form of rounded, however while you’re underwater, it’s actually nice for taking pictures that simply form of immerse you in that system. You possibly can focus extraordinarily near your topic. You could be an inch away and nonetheless concentrate on it. For the reason that angle is so extensive, you possibly can lock in on the attention of the wildlife and form of seize their face, but additionally the remainder of the scene and their whole physique, even when it’s a much bigger animal.
I exploit an Ikelite 200DL Dive Housing, and I’ve bought two Sea & Sea YS-90DX strobes and two 2900 VTL BigBlue Dive Lights. The strobes connect with the digital camera in order that while you pull the set off, it lets off some mild, as a result of the deeper you go underwater, mild tends to fade fairly rapidly and that little flash of white mild simply form of restores shade to the scene.
I even have an Ikelite 8-inch Dome Port with an extension that’s extensive sufficient in order that the super-wide fish-eye lens doesn’t get lower off by the design of the dive housing. When you maintain it proper on the floor it may well create a water line so you will get cut up pictures.
I exploit Lightroom and Photoshop for enhancing pictures and making prints. I exploit Premiere Professional for enhancing movies.
How do you determine what you’re going to movie?
I’ve to search out an concept that’s fascinating to me. Typically it’s a narrative that I feel must be advised, and that I really feel certified with the information to do it. I must know the situation and be assured that I can get the pictures I want safely. I additionally wish to really feel able to telling the story in a significant manner.
Science and wildlife are such big topics. It’s onerous. There’s lots of people that are inclined to tout themselves as wildlife specialists, however except they’re very, very skilled, that raises a pink flag. I wouldn’t describe myself as that. I’ve to do plenty of analysis myself and I study issues alongside the way in which too.
I’m actually enthusiastic about something aquatic as a result of I like doing underwater images and videography. That’s the principle a part of my social media and YouTube channel. I particularly love displaying individuals 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’d encounter there, and what conservation story I can weave by means of that. Additionally, is there sufficient visibility within the water for me to get my digital camera in and really get usable pictures that individuals can join with?
There’s a disconnect that exists between individuals 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 necessary that individuals put faces to the creatures that stay in these locations, irrespective of how large or how small they’re. They’re all necessary, fantastic, price studying and value caring about. Aquatic ecosystems are very delicate environments. It’s necessary to know what’s there, to know what we’d stand to lose.
Do you could have a narrative in thoughts earlier than you dive, or do you normally piece issues collectively after?
I like images and having the ability to inform a narrative by means of a single picture, however I additionally love longer kinds, utilizing video to inform tales as effectively.
My inventive course of is unquestionably evolving. I’ll have the beginnings of an concept whereas I’m making an attempt to work out the storytelling and looking for methods to assist individuals connect with it. Sometimes I’ll have an concept of the realm I wish to cowl for the shot and what I’m going to concentrate on. One instance was looking for a really specific species of very tiny fish that lives in springs.
That Gulf Coast pygmy sunfish is a gorgeous fish.
They’re so cool. So my concept 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 right down to the very best clips and have a common idea of a narrative, that’s after I’ll write the script. Writing the script final isn’t regular for many creators, however I would like the journey and the motion of going out and snorkeling, exploring these locations, to be the guts of the channel. Typically I may need just a little 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 largest challenges that you just’re making an attempt to work by means of?
An enormous problem is sustainability and the way I could 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 plenty of success and different occasions having success. How do I tempo myself? I feel I’ve form of settled on a fairly respectable schedule.
One other problem is that plenty of YouTube is shock worth and clickbait. I wish to use my channel to push again towards that. The algorithm appears to be altering to entertain longer consideration spans and enhance genuine and actual content material. However I would like to have the ability to use my channel to assist individuals respect even little particulars and small issues.
Like for those who go snorkeling and also you’re within the ocean or on a reef, clearly the actually large issues just like the sharks and big rays are going to be what stand out to you. However for those who’re in a tiny pond and there’s nothing round, and then you definately discover one residing factor, abruptly that factor turns into actually fascinating. I would like to have the ability to inform tales about a number of the much less thrilling issues and make these fascinating.
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 primarily based in Florida?
It’s nice, however in plenty of methods it’s onerous and irritating, too. Florida has some completely wonderful wildlife and wonderful ecosystems, and as an underwater photographer, it’s an important place to be. There’s the coasts, the Keys, freshwater springs, rivers and streams as effectively. There are plenty of locations which might be inside affordable driving distance to search out underwater adventures and tales to inform. It’s irritating as a result of there’s a lot to lose and Florida can be creating at a really unsustainable price. There are new developments going up in all places. A whole lot of spots I like are degrading. I’ve been going to the springs since faculty and a few of them are nearly unrecognizable from after I first visited them 10 years in the past. It’s a difficulty globally and undoubtedly across the US, however I feel Florida is experiencing that at an accelerated price.
It’s a very good place to be as a conservationist as a result of there’s numerous work to be performed, 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 persons are transferring right here and never taking the time to study in regards to the pure neighborhood that exists previous to their arrival. So individuals transfer right here and are shocked to see an alligator of their yard. Or different actually rich individuals 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 now have venomous snakes, now we have alligators, now we have crocodiles. They belong right here. They’re necessary for this ecosystem. When you can’t embrace that, then I don’t know what you’re anticipating.
There are many methods to study to soundly stay alongside these creatures. There’s simply an enormous want to satisfy the inflow of latest individuals with schooling and reminding people who we wish Florida to stay wild. A lot of the enchantment of Florida is its pure surroundings and so there’s loads of the reason why it must be protected, however it’s form of a continuing battle.
I like Florida a lot. It’s such a gorgeous place, an necessary place to guard, however it has a ton of challenges dealing with 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 plenty of my stuff is Florida-based, I might actually like to do a collection of diving in each single state within the US. A few of that will 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 might love the prospect to try this. So I’m hoping if the channel grows sufficient, there’ll be curiosity sufficient from the viewers to help one thing like that.
After all I might completely like to journey internationally to do some movies as effectively. I feel that’s one thing I would wish to earn, as a result of there are undoubtedly different individuals who may be extra certified to inform a few of these tales. However I feel if my channel [followers] have been and needed me to, I might completely love the prospect to try this. There are plenty of freshwater springs world wide.
I simply hope that I can proceed to encourage individuals to be type and curious in regards to the world round them and take note of the little issues. It’s necessary to be conscious of our particular person impacts on the world round us, but additionally to carry ourselves as a neighborhood and as a rustic to a better 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 necessary that we take it severely and we get it proper.
I feel it’s onerous to study to like one thing for those who 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 individuals to get a glimpse into these underwater worlds to see that they’re locations which might be actually particular, price defending, and value retaining wild.
