Alicia Franco

October 2024 Issue
Lowcountry Originals

Photography submitted by Alicia Franco

Alicia Franco
Art: Aquatic Adventure / Wildlife imagery
Career: Underwater Photographer & Videographer
Current Residence: Hilton Head Island
Hometown: Kailua-Kona, HI
Family: Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, Boyfriend & 2 fluffy dogs!

When and how did you discover your artistic talent? How and/or why did you choose this medium? What do you love about it?
My mom was the person who originally instilled an appreciation of photography within me. Throughout my childhood, her Nikon film camera was never far from her reach as she captured everything from my first swim to saturated sunsets behind our house, contrasted by the silhouette of a Great Blue Heron. Our home was adorned with precious moments preserved for a lifetime thanks to her keen eye.

At the age of 15, I got my first job as a photographer on a dolphin swimming tour off the west coast of Oahu. I had previously dabbled with my mom’s camera but when my new boss handed me a DSLR inside a water housing and told me, ‘If you can dive 20 feet down to the bottom on a single breath of air and take a picture of those fish, I’ll hire you,’ an entirely new world opened up to me.

Being underwater feels intrinsic to me. From the time I could speak, I would tell anyone who asked that I wanted to work in the ocean. It’s both my sanctuary and my playground, and I’ve known all my life I was made to be in the sea. I love that no two days are alike when working in nature and have always had a sincere passion for the watery depths of blue. 

As a “creative” you are unique. What makes you the most YOU! 
I started my career basically from scratch. Though I watched my mom create her own unique imagery, I never took a “proper” class on photography and didn’t have anyone who trained me on a DSLR. Instead, on my first day of work, I took that camera in the underwater housing home with me and pressed every button, scrolled each dial, looked at all the settings, and then practiced to see what worked and how. It was trial by error, and I dove in head first. Through that, I feel I was able to create a style of photography that is uniquely my own. I wasn’t really influenced by others, and social media didn’t exist in the way it does today. 

What do you hope people who view your art “get” out of it?
I think my artwork gives people an opportunity to dive deep into a world they may not have access to or perhaps don’t feel particularly comfortable within. I’ve had quite a few people tell me they’re afraid of being in the open ocean or don’t enjoy swimming, yet they love seeing what’s below the surface of the water from the safety and warmth of their home. I hope my work inspires passion and appreciation for the ocean even in people who don’t consider themselves to be “water babies”. 

What is the most unique or funny thing you’ve ever done or experienced? 
I don’t know if the world is ready for this answer… but I’ll give it a go anyway. A little background: I often submit my images and videos to scientists around the world. I’ve previously collaborated in research missions in Hawai’i, French Polynesia, and the Red Sea. I’m even listed as a co-author on a peer-reviewed scientific paper about Bottlenose dolphins. I love contributing to research that might further advance protections of the ocean’s various fragile ecosystems and inhabitants, so I collect photos, videos, and “other things” when encountering wildlife. 

One day, I was in the water filming Blainville’s Beaked Whales in Hawai’i when suddenly a juvenile regurgitated squid beaks in front of me. (They can’t digest them, so they regurgitate the beaks a short while after consuming their prey.) Without a second thought, I dove towards the cloud and collected as many falling beaks as possible.

I had a couple friends in the water with me who looked absolutely appalled by my behavior, but it turns out that single collection of beaks showed us not only which species of squid the whale had feasted on, but also informed us that a squid species not previously known to inhabit Hawaiian waters was actually in abundance thanks to DNA analysis of those beaks! It was a small discovery but still felt like a “win” in my book!

What’s something you’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t done yet?
I’d like to go freediving under the ice in the arctic, and I think it’d be really exhilarating to film Leopard Seals! I have an acquaintance who’s done it before and the intensity of encountering a large apex predator in such an extreme environment seems right up my alley! I love spending time with marine life. Studying, documenting, and sharing my view of the ocean for its many facets is my deepest passion.