Photography is Nothing

First Time in New York City Oct 14, 2026 01:14:26 Zach & Courtney take the family to New York City for the first time. Over the past few years, Zach has been working regularly in New York, but the rest of the family (Courtney included) had yet to visit the city.In this episode, we talk about experiencing New York with our five kids. We visit spots like Times Square, Battery Park, Chinatown, the 9/11 Memorial, Central Park, the American Museum

Interview with Tajette O'Halloran Sep 16, 2026 00:58:46 In this interview with Australian photographic artist Tajette O’Halloran, we talk about the inspiration behind her projects like In Australia, The Quarry, and Regional Rituals. She talks about her difficult upbringing in the Northern Rivers area, and how that put her on a path to tell the stories of adolescence. We also talk about parenting, incorporating our kids into our art, and her practice of

The Photography of Tajette O'Halloran Sep 9, 2026 00:27:11 Tajette O’Halloran is a photographic artist based in Lismore, New South Wales, Australia. Her work ranges from documentary to portraiture to conceptual. The common thread is examining adolescence and identity; both her own and others’.Tajette’s projects include In Australia, where she revisits her hometown and creates scenes reminiscent of her youth, and the ongoing The Quarry, a series of portrai

What We've Learned So Far Sep 2, 2026 01:09:22 In this 50TH episode, Zach & Courtney talk about what they’ve learned so far from running a photography business, starting a podcast, raising 5 kids, homeschooling, and just being generally busy making things for 20 years.“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson Index0:00 - Grow or die1:40 - Starting a business4:31 - Courtney & Zach had the same ide

Football Aug 26, 2026 00:52:39 Episode 49 - In this episode Zach & Courtney talk about how football and photography came up together since the late 1800s. We can see how as the technology advanced, the style of photography changed as well.“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson Index0:00 - Film becomes the subject of the photo.3:49 - The oldest football photo I could find. Old divis

Copyright Aug 19, 2026 01:00:04 US Copyright laws exist to protect artists and their art. Zach & Courtney take copyright seriously and have retained the copyright for all of Zach’s photography since the beginning of their business.In this episode of Photography is Nothing, Zach & Courtney talk about famous court cases involving photographers protecting their copyright as a means to teach how these laws benefit photograph

Interview with Christopher Morris Aug 12, 2026 02:05:39 Zach & Courtney interview Christopher Morris, a documentary photographer who has covered war, politics, and fashion since 1981.In this interview, Morris talks about being mistaken for a CIA agent, living with the consequences of witnessing atrocities firsthand, working to make sure his vast archive lives on, and more.Christopher Morris got his start with the Black Star agency covering conflict

The Photography of Christopher Morris Aug 5, 2026 00:48:18 Christopher Morris is a documentary photographer who has covered wars, politics, and fashion since 1981. In this episode, Courtney & Zach introduce Morris’s photography ahead of next week’s interview with the photographer.Christopher Morris got his start with the Black Star agency covering conflicts in the Philippines, Panama, the Persian Gulf War, Yugoslavia, Chechnya, Yemen, Iraq, and more.

Interview with Kiliii Yüyan Jul 29, 2026 01:11:03 Episode 45 • Kiliii YüyanZach & Courtney interview Kiliii Yüyan, National Geographic photographer, Explorer, and speaker. Kiliii’s work focuses on indigenous communities around the world with special attention to environmental issues.Indigenous PhotographyKiliii is himself of Chinese and Nanai/Hèzhé descent and speaks often of how his own background informs his photography with Indigenous peop

Kiliii Yüyan Jul 22, 2026 00:47:51 Zach & Courtney introduce you to the work of Kiliii Yüyan, National Geographic photographer. Kiliii’s work focuses on indigenous communities around the world with special attention to environmental issues.This week we talk about Kiliii’s background and some of his best known work so you’ll be familiar with his photography and approach before our next episode, an in-depth interview with Yüyan.I

Kids and Cameras Jul 15, 2026 01:05:54 Zach & Courtney talk about supporting their kids taking photos. Zach has always been open to letting kids use his professional cameras, even if it made him nervous at first. ICYMI, Zach & Courtney ARE married! They have 5 kids together, who have free rein with cameras whenever they ask. In this episode, Zach & Courtney talk about how they work to support their kids’ creativity and indi

World Cup 2026 Jul 1, 2026 01:02:54 Episode 42 - Zach & Courtney go through the best photos of the 2026 World Cup so far. And by “best” they mean the photos they like the most.There are a lot of great storylines that have unfolded early in the tournament and Zach & Courtney get into their favorite photos of these stories and moments.Photos include Cape Verde goalie Vozinha, watch parties around the world, Lumumba Vea, and a

Larry Fink Jun 24, 2026 00:43:00 Episode 41 - Zach & Courtney have talked about Larry Fink on multiple occasions, so wanted to have an episode dedicated to him.The photography of Larry Fink was documentary in nature and full of social & class commentary. His most famous series, Social Graces, put images of Manhattan socialites of the 70s & 80s alongside images of the Sabatine family living in rural Pennsylvania. He al

Lourdes Grobet Jun 17, 2026 00:46:43 Episode 40 - Zach & Courtney talk about Lourdes Grobet, an amazing Mexican photographer whose best known work is her nearly 40 years of documenting lucha libre, Mexican wrestling.Grobet’s work isn’t just unique because of the subject matter. She did a mix of action, documentary, behind-the-scenes, and portraiture, all with great skill.Other series by Grobet includes Paisajes Pintados (Painted

PaJaMa Collective Jun 10, 2026 00:48:38 Episode 39 - Zach & Courtney talk about PaJaMa collective, made up of painters & photographers Paul Cadmus, Jared French, and Margaret French. Between 1937 and the mid 1950s, they created a set of photos that feel like summer. This episode about PaJaMa is also a great way to celebrate Pride Month, as the artists are credited as being the first queer art collective on Fire Island, NY.In thi

Joel Meyerowitz - Cape Light Jun 3, 2026 00:38:23 Episode 38 - Zach & Courtney talk about photographer Joel Meyerowitz and his project Cape Light. This series, created in 1976-77 in Cape Cod, is a fantastic and nostalgic look at what summer feels like. Joel Meyerowitz is an early adapter of color photography in an era when “serious” art photographers chose black & white film. He is primarily known as a street photographer, but for this se

Indy 500 2026 May 29, 2026 00:29:50 Episode 37 - Zach & Courtney head to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for their annual trek to the famed Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, aka the Indy 500. This episode is a visual experience! You have to see the sights through video clips and photos.This is Neve’s first Indy 500, so we were all very excited to show her what it’s like, especially her older siblings Henry and Louisa, who are practica

Ruedi Hofmann - Photographer & Master Printer May 20, 2026 01:21:22 Episode 36 - In this episode, Zach & Courtney talk with Ruedi Hofmann, photographer and master printer for Richard Avedon's In the American West.Ruedi Hofmann has worked as a professional photographer since the 1980s with regular clients like Giorgio Armani. But before that, Hofmann worked for 5 years with Richard Avedon as Studio Manager, First Assistant on the In The American West series

Famous Photographers' Family Photos May 13, 2026 00:45:52 Episode 35 - In this episode, Zach & Courtney talk about famous photographers photographing their own families. After last week’s episode about documenting everyday life, Zach wanted to talk about some famous photographers who documented their own life, and specifically their family.Documentary photographers are known for telling stories about hard-hitting issues in the world. But some well-kn

Documentary Photography is for Everyone May 6, 2026 00:54:54 Episode 34 - In this episode, Zach & Courtney talk about the importance of documenting our lives. It’s could be easy to dismiss photographing everyday life and the world around us, but it’s an important practice. We learn a lot about the past from ordinary images, maybe even more than we learn from the major events that people might consider “photo worthy.”What did people really look like and

Baseball - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Apr 29, 2026 00:50:28 Episode 33 - In this episode, Zach & Courtney talk about their recent trip to the ballpark and learn about a photographer from the golden age of baseball. Charles M. Conlon photographed baseball between 1904-1941, taking absolutely gorgeous photos of some of the game’s most famous names.“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson Index0:00 - Intro: Photogr

Moab, Utah - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Apr 22, 2026 00:51:36 Episode 32 - Zach & Courtney talk about one of their favorite trips: Moab, Utah! They visit Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, and more!Zach used to photograph weddings and that’s how he ended up in Moab 3 years in a row. Courtney & Henry went, too, on the second year. On this episode they discuss their highlights from the trip, which (in addition

Yes, Michigan! - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Apr 15, 2026 00:44:47 Episode 31 - Zach & Courtney talk about a trip to Hoeft State Park located on the beautiful shores of Lake Huron in Rogers City, Michigan. They stayed in a 1929 Sears Roebuck house just 100 yards from the beach, visited 40 Mile Point Lighthouse and Rogers City Marina, and took in a super early morning sunrise.Zach & Courtney talk about the trip, life lessons they learned, and the photos Za

Florida Keys Road Trip - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Apr 8, 2026 00:39:37 Episode 30 - Zach & Courtney talk about a favorite family trip: A roadtrip through the Florida Keys! In 2018, Courtney, Zach, and (then) 4 kids, drove nearly 3,000 miles from Indianapolis, IN to Key West, FL (and back, of course).On this episode we talk about the experience, including our favorite spots, things we learned, and the photos Zach took along the way.“Photography is nothing–it's

All-Time Best Basketball Photos - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Apr 1, 2026 01:04:02 Zach & Courtney talk about Zach’s six selections for all-time best basketball photos. Plus, they take a look at the photography of Walter Iooss, Jr., who has photographed professional sports in 7 different decades!“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson Index0:00 - Intro - Zach didn’t know he once worked for Atlantic Records2:16 - What is the criteria

Basketball - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Mar 25, 2026 00:44:45 Episode 28 - Zach & Courtney take a look through Zach’s archive of basketball photography from around the state of Indiana.Indiana is of course the best state in the country for basketball. In this episode, Zach & Courtney talk about their own experiences with the sport as well as go in-depth on Zach’s photos and his approach to photographing basketball.“Photography is nothing–it's lif

St. Patrick’s Day - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Mar 17, 2026 00:53:36 Zach & Courtney take the family to the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Indianapolis, IN. They talk about the experience while looking through Zach’s documentary photography from the event. Courtney tells Zach what she learned about Irish photographer Jane Shackleton (1843-1909) and they go through some of her photos together.“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier

Photography Hot Takes - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Mar 11, 2026 00:58:40 Episode 26 - Photographers are a passionate bunch and always have hot takes about our beliefs and convictions surrounding our art. And this goes all the way to the beginning of photography with the original hot take: Is photography art?Zach and Courtney discuss some of the biggest hot takes throughout the history of photography.In this episode we talk about current & historical photography hot

Best Photos of the 2026 Olympics - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Feb 25, 2026 00:48:39 Episode 25 - Bringing you the best action and documentary photography from the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games! Zach scoured the internet to find the greatest photos of the Olympics so he and Courtney could discuss the making, the meaning, and the impact they’ve had on our view of the games.In this episode we talk about… Women showing up in numbers and making fantastic photos at the 2026

Olympic Fashion Photography - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Feb 18, 2026 00:43:39 Episode 24 - There is typically lots of fashion & editorial photography that surrounds the Olympics. For this year’s 2026 Winter Olympics, Zach & Courtney found three cool photoshoots, but feel like there should be a lot more!In this episode we talk about… Win Tam’s high-fashion photos of Team China for VogueMan ChinaFrench photographer Mathieu Forget photographing Italian Olympians in a 5

Photography Q&A - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Feb 11, 2026 00:54:56 Episode 23 - What focal length lens do you use for backstage photography? Do you ever use “silent shutter” mode? Do you use fixed focal length? Do you have insurance on all your cameras & gear?What do people who are actually from working class areas of England think of Martin Parr’s documentation of New Brighton?In this episode, we answer questions and read comments from viewers and talk about

Backstage - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Jan 28, 2026 00:58:42 Episode 22 - This week we talk about going behind the scenes and photographing backstage at concerts, shows, and events. When attending a performance, what happens on stage is only one small part of the story. Going backstage to photograph the emotion, preparation, and all the moving parts offers a more complete sense of what it takes to make a show happen.In this episode, we go through Zach’s bac

Martin Parr - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Jan 21, 2026 00:51:48 Episode 21 - This week we talk about the late great Martin Parr. Starting in the black & white documentary tradition in the 1970s, Parr’s work took a bold turn to color accentuated by flash in 1982. While still documentary in nature, in that he didn’t stage or pose scenes, Parr acknowledged that his photos were more of a personal interpretation of reality than a strict document of fact. He sai

Cats - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Jan 14, 2026 00:41:38 Episode 20 - Cats have been a part of photography since its beginnings. As early as the 1870s, people have been taking silly photos of cats in costumes or staged scenes.In this episode, we look at the beginnings of cat photography, technology that was developed from a scientist studying cats, and some very commercially successful cat photographers. We even bought a photo book expressly for this ep

Indiana University - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Jan 7, 2026 01:06:37 Episode 19 - Indiana University is our alma mater and we love it! After IU football's Rose Bowl victory over Alabama, we decided to talk about our love for the school on this week's episode.In addition to football, we talk basketball (of course), soccer, Little 500, plus architecture, school history, and famous programs like the Kinsey Institute.“Photography is nothing–it's life that i

Football - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Dec 31, 2025 00:53:09 Episode 18 - In this episode Zach & Courtney talk about how football and photography came up together since the late 1800s. We can see how as the technology advanced, the style of photography changed as well.“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson Index0:00 - Film becomes the subject of the photo.0:51 - Welcome to Photography is Nothing! Today we talk

Snow & Science - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Dec 24, 2025 00:36:43 Episode 17 - In this episode Zach & Courtney talk about two photographers with opposite approaches of photographing the science of winter.Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley photographed closeup images of single snowflakes in the early era of photography (1885-1931). Esther Horvath is a photographer working today documenting climate science research, taking a broad view of the planet that spans its ent

Photography by Candlelight - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Dec 10, 2025 00:39:39 Episode 16 - It’s that time of year when the sun sets early and we photographers are forced to practice our low light skills. Candlelight is not very bright and often inconsistent, but it’s one of the best sources for creating warm, cozy, moody, contrasty light. In this episode Zach & Courtney talk about how to photograph with candlelight and what makes it effective.Zach has lots of practice w

Bokeh - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Dec 4, 2025 00:36:53 Episode 15 - Photographers love to talk about bokeh. So let's get into it. We talk about the origins of the word and just how recently this came into the photography lexicon.Also, more important to us than how it works from a technical standpoint is how it's used in photos to direct a viewer's eye or tell a story.“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier

Cars & Cameras - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Nov 26, 2025 00:54:05 Episode 14 - Zach has always enjoyed photographing cars. Going to the occasional car shows and gatherings has been a regular part of our family life since the beginning.Today we welcome our boys to the podcast who also enjoy photographing cars with their dad. We talk through their images as well as some of our favorite car photos by other photographers.Cars & Coffee, Carmel Artomobilia, and th

Taylor Swift Album Art - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Nov 19, 2025 01:26:04 Episode 13 - For any household with Swifties, the number 13 has special meaning. So for this 13th episode of Photography is Nothing, Zach & Courtney invite their daughters to discuss the meaning and evolution of Taylor Swift's album art through the eras.As Taylor Swift worked her way from teen country artist to international pop phenomenon, her album photography changed, too. It's no s

Tennessee - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Sep 17, 2025 00:51:33 Episode 12 - This week Zach & Courtney visit Tennessee, both literally and photographically. They discuss Zach’s photos from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, view historical images from the Tennessee Valley Authority, and learn about the incredible Tennessee-based photographer Stacy Kranitz.“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson Index0:00 - In

Road Trip! - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Sep 3, 2025 00:37:18 Episode 11 - This week Zach & Courtney discuss photographing road trips, including Zach’s photos on the road and in the Florida Keys, plus Joel Sternfeld’s project from the 1970s and 80s, American Prospects.“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson Index0:00 - Intro - Missing a great moment because he ran out of film0:45 - We loved road trips growing up3

State Fair - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Aug 20, 2025 00:31:45 Episode 10 - This week Zach & Courtney discuss their visit to the Indiana State Fair plus Zach’s project documenting fairs & festivals around the state of Indiana over the last 15 years. They also look at some photography of fairs by some of the all time greats like Danny Lyon, Inge Morath, Garry Winogrand, and others!“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Br

Backstory - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken Aug 7, 2025 00:46:56 Episode 09 - This week Zach & Courtney discuss starting a photography business and a family at the same time and how they work to fully integrate their lives together.“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson NotesWhere it says, “Photo stories with the family,” on the screen from 35:31 until the end, what that means is for every one of those images, we w

Iconic Album Covers Part Two - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Jul 30, 2025 00:43:08 Episode 08 - This week Zach & Courtney follow up with comments from last week’s album choices and discuss everything from lawsuits to successful collaborations between photographers and musicians.“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson INDEX0:00 - Intro - Be more interesting!2:30 - Following up on comments about The Beatles Abbey Road conspiracies.6:57

Eight Iconic Album Covers - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Jul 23, 2025 00:47:04 Episode 07 - This week Zach & Courtney discuss 8 iconic album covers and the stories behind them. They define what makes an “iconic” album cover, analyze the photos, tell how they were made, who the photographers were, and some of the myths that formed around the images.“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson Index0:00 - Intro - Zach’s brush with Free Jazz

Photo Stories That Went Too Far - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Jul 16, 2025 00:45:20 Episode 06 - This week Zach & Courtney discuss photography projects that became obsessive, including Japanese photographer Masahisa Fukase’s Ravens, Catherine Leroy’s coverage of the Vietnam War, W. Eugene Smith documenting Pittsburg for two years, and Zach’s own project of photographing lost golf balls in the woods and the creek.**NOTES**- W. Eugene Smith’s Country Doctor story was photograph

The Only Revolution is Within - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Jul 10, 2025 00:53:19 Episode 05 - This week Zach & Courtney discuss everyday photography, Zach’s 180 on fireworks photos, an important quote that influenced Courtney, and the work of photographers Sally Mann and Larry Fink.“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson Index0:00 - Showing after every trip to the grocery store.0:19 - This is a podcast about photography and everyth

You Should Monetize Your Hobbies - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Jul 2, 2025 01:10:55 Episode 04 - This week Zach & Courtney discuss monetizing hobbies, the importance of consent, taking photos when we travel as a family, drawing people in public, and more!“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson Index 0:00 - This is a VIDEO podcast. 0:47 - We lost some video last week.2:21 - Shoutouts to Erik and LeAnn3:35 - You should monetize your hobbies

Your Purpose is to Create - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Jun 26, 2025 00:50:03 This week Zach & Courtney discuss how every single person is meant to create, a Pacers game 7 loss, what makes for a great summer photo, and more!“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson Index0:00 - Indiana is subtropical0:59 - Indiana is SAD1:46 - We love the Pacers3:45 - We went to a Pacers watch party + life in a midsize city4:38 - This is Photograph

AI is Getting Dumber - Photography Is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Jun 18, 2025 00:42:12 This week Zach & Courtney discuss how AI is eating itself, photographing kids in the style of a war photographer, how famous women are remembered for their trauma, and more!“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson Index0:00 - Courtney & Zach debate how to pronounce "moire"0:26 - Zach thought he didn’t get any good photos but he did2:05 - Courtney thew a

It's Easy to Start a Podcast - Photography Is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken Jun 18, 2025 00:36:22 Welcome to our very first episode of Photography is Nothing! This week Zach & Courtney discuss starting a podcast, literally dropping a $5000 camera, attending & photographing the Indy 500, documenting the neighborhood swim team, and more!"Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson Index0:00 - Intro: Talking photography at you is boring 2:22 - Cou

Episodes

Recommended