Richard Fitzpatrick ACS is an Emmy-winning cinematographer and Professorial Research Fellow at James Cook University, specializing in marine life and shark behavior.

With an impressive portfolio of over 150 films for high-profile clients like the BBC, National Geographic, Netflix, and Discovery Channel, Richard is celebrated for capturing intricate and unprecedented behavioral sequences.

His career has taken him to some of the most extreme environments on Earth, from the deserts of outback Australia to the jungles of the Amazon and the snowy expanses of Alaska. Richard’s extensive underwater filming experience includes over 15,000 hours spent documenting marine life in diverse settings, from the vibrant coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef to the murky depths of the Amazon.

Based at James Cook University in Cairns, Richard and his team at BIOPIXEL manage one of the world’s largest marine stock vision libraries and a dedicated biological filming studio. The BIOPIXEL Aquarium studio has been instrumental in producing complex sequences for notable productions, including “Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef,” “Welcome to Earth with Will Smith,” and James Cameron’s “Supernatural” series.

Richard’s research through the BIOPIXEL OCEANS FOUNDATION has significantly contributed to the scientific community, with over 80 publications to date. His work includes pioneering satellite tagging and tracking of various shark species along the Great Barrier Reef and making groundbreaking discoveries related to under-researched megafauna such as whale sharks, manta rays, and Omura whales.

Richard’s thrilling underwater adventures and career milestones are documented in the University of New South Wales publication, “Shark Tracker: The Confessions of an Underwater Cameraman.”