Every year the Underwater Photographer of the Year photo contest makes a huge splash in the news garnering attention far and wide, hitting international publications and legacy media outlets. Being named among the winners can change the trajectory of an underwater photographer's career.
This is no more apparent than in the context of the Up & Coming category. This category is designated for those underwater photographers who've yet to win a major international award, are not yet regularly paid for publications, nor have major brand ambassadorships.
This year Joseph Ricketts took home not one but two awards in the Up & Coming category. With over 80k followers on Instagram Joseph is already well known on social media, but now he's getting noticed on the international competition circuit too. We got a chance to dig a bit deeper into this up-and-comer's award-winning shots, his philosophy on underwater photography, and what his future has in store.
With a camera, I can take people into aquatic habitats that they might never get to experience and show them the world as I experience it. I hope that my images and videos instill a sense of wonder and desire to protect wild spaces - particularly aquatic environments.
Commended | Up & Coming | UPY 2025
'An Alligator Rests Below Tall Reeds in a Spring' © Joseph Ricketts
Where were your UPY award-winning images taken and what equipment did you use?
I used an Ikelite 200DL housing for my Canon R5 with an 8” dome port. I also had some old strobes and a couple of dive lights for focusing. For the manatee split shot, I had my housing mounted rather precariously on an old tripod. Images were taken at separate freshwater springs in Florida.
Both of your commended shots were taken at night, what tips do you keep in mind for night shoots?
My combined interest in astrophotography and underwater photography naturally led to me experiment with night diving. I also wanted to document Florida’s springs in a unique way. I definitely recommend being as familiar as possible with a location in the day before attempting a night dive. It also helps to have extensive knowledge about what animals live in that area - both from a safety standpoint and behavior when it comes to capturing interesting photos/video. Also, whenever possible, bring a buddy - especially at night.
You shoot both photo and video, what tips do you have on hybrid shooting?
Embrace the sacrifice. You can get the photo or you can get the footage, but very rarely can you get both - and that’s okay. You can capture and tell meaningful stories with either stills or video, and at the end of the day that's what matters. I generally find that if I stick to what I originally had planned for a shoot, that will probably be my best work. Of course there's always exceptions, and I still try to be as efficient as I can at swapping back and forth.
Highly Commended | Up & Coming | UPY 2025
'Manatees Sheltering in a Spring on a Starry Night' © Joseph Ricketts
Why is underwater photography important to you?
As a biologist and conservationist, I often feel like I have a hard time expressing what I feel for the world around me and its natural beauty through words. With a camera, I can take people into aquatic habitats that they might never get to experience and show them the world as I experience it. I hope that my images and videos instill a sense of wonder and desire to protect wild spaces - particularly aquatic environments.
For the images recognized in UPY specifically, I hoped to document scenes that portray the resilient wildness that persists in Florida’s springs in spite of the many challenges these sensitive ecosystems face.
Give me 3ft + visibility and at least one animal and I’ll try my best to find an underwater story to tell.
You're a crocodilian research scientist by day, does underwater photography play a roll in your research?
Most of my alligator work has to do with population monitoring throughout the state. I especially enjoy getting to work with threatened American crocodiles in South Florida. I have been able to help with ongoing studies related to satellite tracking and toxicology of Florida’s native crocodiles.
Although my underwater imaging doesn’t play a role in my research work directly, I am able to take note of educational needs concerning crocodilians and use my camera to capture photos and video that target these information gaps concerning the ecology and conservation of these large reptiles.
What underwater adventures are in your future?
I’m currently working on a handful of photography and video projects related to American crocodiles in Florida. I also upload regularly on YouTube with a variety of freshwater and marine aquatic adventures from all over the US. There’s quite a bit ahead on my YouTube schedule, from backpack diving, gator holes, minnow spawning events, venomous snakes, and more! Give me 3ft + visibility and at least one animal and I’ll try my best to find an underwater story to tell.
Where can people follow you?
Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok @josephrickettsphoto and also my website www.josephrickettsphoto.com
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.
Additional Viewing
7 Tips for Photographing Florida Manatees
What Secrets Lurk Underwater in the Florida Springs at Night?
Photographing Manatees Underwater in Crystal River, Florida [VIDEO]
