An Interview with Joseph Ricketts by Denise Pietsch
Crocodilian researcher, underwater videographer, and YouTuber Joseph Ricketts is now adding music video director and “professional snorkeler” (direct quote from the magazine Pitchfork!) to his list of accolades.
Joseph Ricketts has made his mark on the underwater scene by creating some of the most outside-of-the-box, informative, and entertaining underwater videos we’ve seen. His highlights include: Brain Eating Amoebas Hate This One Trick, Snorkeling Hidden Sinkholes for Rare Creatures, and Night Snorkel in a Crystal Clear Florida River.
So it’s no wonder that when the band Animal Collective, known for their experimental and eclectic style, were looking for a music video director for their upcoming side project Croz Boyce, they selected the singular vision of Joseph Ricketts.
Between his dreaming up new snorkeling content for YouTube and helping promote Croz Boyce’s new self-titled album Joseph and I got a chance to talk about the making of the music videos and what content he’s got cooking up next.
To watch all of Joseph’s music videos with Croz Boyce, visit the Animal Collective YouTube Channel.
How did you get connected with Croz Boyce for the video?
The way this project finally came together really speaks to the power of YouTube and mutual love for freshwater ecosystems. Initially, Dave Portner (Avey Tare) and Brian Weitz (Geologist) of Animal Collective reached out to me by email, seeing if I’d be interested in creating some music videos for the release of their first album as the duo Croz Boyce. Turns out they had watched some of my Appalachian snorkeling adventure videos on YouTube. Their own personal experiences exploring springs, rivers, and swamps played a part in the creation of this album, and, thanks to YouTube, we were able to connect!
Manatee underwater in a freshwater Florida spring from the music video for the song Hanging Out With a Blueberry Pop. © Joseph Ricketts / Croz Boyce
What was the brainstorming process like with the band?
To be honest, it was pretty minimal, but that’s because the band wanted me to make something in my own style. Being hired to create something super specific can be cool, but it’s incredibly rewarding when someone wants to work with you simply because they like the stuff you make and they just want you to make something for them. The band had a little direction in terms of capturing a wide range of ecosystems, but other than that they were pretty intentional about giving me the freedom to create as I saw fit. I really appreciated that from the band, and it was an absolute pleasure working with them and their record label.
Brook trout shot from the music video for Steven's Sunshine Rejected. © Joseph Ricketts
Where were the music videos filmed?
The first music video was filmed in a large freshwater spring in Florida. The remaining videos were filmed in various freshwater environments throughout the Southeastern US, ranging from Florida up into the Appalachian mountains.
What gear did you use?
I used the Canon R5 with a Canon 8-15mm f/4 L fisheye lens and a Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro lens in an Ikelite 200DL Underwater Housing with the 8” Dome Port. I know this isn’t the most traditional video gear (also that 100mm macro lens is ancient now - it was a combined birthday and high school graduation gift from my parents), but it has inevitably become my own kind of unique filming style.
Snell's Window image of a tree from underwater for the video for Hanging Out With a Blueberry Pop. © Joseph Ricketts / Croz Boyce
What did your pre-production creative process look like?
Listening to the music before filming/creating the videos was definitely the most critical part of the creative process. It sets a foundational vibe that I can build upon as I film/create. I hope that doesn’t sound pretentious. It’s really just if I know the ebb and flow of the song, I’m more likely to create something that fits it.
What was the most important aspect of production?
A really important part was being familiar with the environment I was shooting in. Not only do I know what wildlife I can anticipate encountering, but I also know where and when to look for moments of natural beauty, whether it be a little, rolling sand boil or the way the sunlight reflects off the bottom of the spring at a certain time of day. I’m familiar with enough everyday moments of beauty that happen underwater in these environments that I can somewhat methodically snorkel around and film them so that I have all the puzzle pieces I need to put together an effective video.
"Banana Pudding" by Croz Boyce, video by Joseph Ricketts
What was the editing process like?
Again, it’s all about the music. Matching the footage I have collected with the tone of the song is critical. The music is absolutely the focus, but my goal is to take the audience on a visual journey that compliments the audio and adds to overall experience.
What’s the next project you’re working on?
This summer I’ll be working on a handful of YouTube videos that will tackle the daunting task of showing off the diversity of Appalachian freshwater ecosystems. The goal is to show that these mountain rivers and streams are as vibrant and important as coral reefs, even though they don’t often get as much press as their marine counterparts. There’s a lot of logistics, luck, and snorkeling involved, so hopefully it all comes together!
River chud underwater in Appalachia, the site of Joseph's upcoming summer projects. Subscribe to Joseph's YouTube channel so you don't miss his latest videos. © Joseph Ricketts
Connect with Joseph
Listen to Croz Boyce
Additional Viewing
The Up-and-Coming Photographer You Need to Know: Joseph Ricketts
Photographing Freshwater Cave Ecosystems 220 Feet Underground
What Secrets Lurk Underwater in the Florida Springs at Night?
Underwater Photography Tips in Freshwater Florida Springs [VIDEO]
Behind the Scenes of a Short Film About Freediving
Joseph Ricketts grew up canoeing, camping, and looking for snakes whenever he could, and somewhere early along the way he picked up a camera. Since then, his love for wildlife photography combined with an academic background in biology has grown into a lifelong passion for wildlife science, visual art, and conservation story-telling. Joseph’s creative work is primarily built upon Florida’s various aquatic ecosystems, and his focus most recently has been documenting freshwater springs at night and urban crocodiles of South Florida. Through his imagery, Joseph aims to shed light upon the beauty and conservation needs of aquatic habitats and species in order to motivate those who visit these wild places to take action to protect them for generations to come. Currently, Joseph is based out of Gainesville, Florida where he works as a Crocodilian Research Scientist. Follow Joseph on his wildly successful YouTube channel @josephrickettsphoto and on Instagram @josephrickettsphoto.
