Photography is Nothing

Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken
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Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken is a weekly conversation about photography and all its impact. Each week Zach and Courtney discuss their latest adventures, life lessons, and anything else that sounds interesting. Photography is Nothing invites you into the conversations they were already having as a married couple running a photography and media company in the current world. “Photography is nothing—it’s life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    Photography Q&A - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken

    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 retiring the Mystery Zine. We also address some of the most common questions we’ve received in the 4 years of printing our quarterly magazine.  “Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson  Index 0:00 - What happens when your camera gear damages property? 0:16 - Want to learn about photography? Ask us your questions! 3:05 - What do people think of Martin Parr’s The Last Resort? 9:30 - Should I use “silent shutter” mode on a DSLR? 11:16 - What is “rolling shutter effect”? 14:08 - What focal length to use when you’re close to people? 18:25 - Film vs Digital 21:06 - How important is the camera lens? 23:19 - Should I use the same brand camera & lens? 24:53 - Camera & general liability insurance for photographers 28:00 - What happens if I damage on a photoshoot (a story) 29:47 - Is a laptop or desktop better for photographers? 32:22 - What the sigma? 35:01 - How to start publishing a photography zine Find the Mystery Zine https://zachdobson.bigcartel.com/product/mystery-zine-17 Find Zach Website: https://zachdobson.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachdobsonphoto/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachdobsonphoto Threads: https://www.threads.com/@zachdobsonphoto Find Courtney Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneymccracken_/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessons Threads: https://www.threads.com/@courtneymccracken_ About the Podcast Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken is a weekly conversation about photography and all its impact. Each week Zach and Courtney discuss their latest adventures, life lessons, and anything else that sounds interesting.  Photography is Nothing invites you into the conversations they were already having as a married couple running a photography and media company in the current world. Fair Use Statement This document contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I have determined this to be "fair use" of the copyrighted material as referenced and provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you wish to use any copyrighted material from this document for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain express permission from the copyright owner.

    55 min

  2. 28 JAN

    Backstage - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken

    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 backstage photography of concerts, comedy shows, dance performances and more. We also look at the work of photographers Sasha Gusov (ballet), Jim Marshall (music), and Marsha Bernstein (fashion). “Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson  Index 0:00 - Garry Winogrand’s wife was married to a lens. 0:25 - Today’s subject is backstage photography. 1:35 - Courtney says why it’s important for kids to perform. 6:49 - Why we’re talking about backstage photography. 10:14 - Zach’s first big behind-the-scenes opportunity: a comedy festival in LA. 15:42 - What Zach learned photographing Mel Brooks backstage. 20:46 - The kids got into dance, so now we are, too. 32:32 - Photographing our kids in Bye Bye Birdie. 37:10 - A photographer’s photo. 46:50 - Russian photographer Sasha Gusov photographs the Bolshoi Ballet. 50:55 - Iconic rock & roll photographer Jim Marshall. 54:32 - Fashion photographer Marsha Bernstein. 57:37 - Courtney’s opening night performance. Find Zach Website: https://zachdobson.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachdobsonphoto/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachdobsonphoto Threads: https://www.threads.com/@zachdobsonphoto Find Courtney Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneymccracken_/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessons Threads: https://www.threads.com/@courtneymccracken_ About the Podcast Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken is a weekly conversation about photography and all its impact. Each week Zach and Courtney discuss their latest adventures, life lessons, and anything else that sounds interesting.  Photography is Nothing invites you into the conversations they were already having as a married couple running a photography and media company in the current world. Fair Use Statement This document contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I have determined this to be "fair use" of the copyrighted material as referenced and provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you wish to use any copyrighted material from this document for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain express permission from the copyright owner.

    59 min

  3. 21 JAN

    Martin Parr - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken

    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 said… “I want to try and leave a set of images that sort of tell us about the times we live in and my relationship to it. My pictures are fictional in the sense that i'm often using flash so it's not something you would see with the human eye. I’m trying to ally it to my … feelings but it is still based on the reality that's out there so it's not lies, it's just an interpretation. So it's my personal interpretation of what i see in front of me, which is somewhat exaggerated.” Zach & Courtney go through some of Parr’s most famous, and lesser known, works to talk about his influence on the photography world and on them personally. They also talk about the Martin Parr Foundation and its mission to give back to the photographic community at large. “Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson  Index 0:00 - “A dedicated enemy to everything I believe in.”  0:35 - An introduction to photographer Martin Parr. 4:50 - I really love your early work. 9:36 - Prestwich Mental Hospital. 1972. 11:28 - The Non-Conformists. 1975-79. 19:47 - Why Martin Parr switched to color photography. 1982. 20:40 - The Last Resort. 1983-85. 27:27 - The Cost of Living. 1989-92. 29:47 - Photojournalist Philip Jones Griffiths doesn’t want Parr in Magnum Photos. 36:23 - Tourists at the Leaning Tower of Pisa. 1990. 38:26 - Documenting leisure pursuits of the Western World. 40:05 - Tourists at the Grand Canyon, Arizona. 1994. 41:18 - Martin Parr photographed a lot of cell phones. 46:28 - A photo that Martin Parr regretted missing. 48:48 - How Martin Parr influences Zach today. Interviews The World According to Parr. 2003. https://youtu.be/MCRyB2SFQZ4?si=JO_GUTdlclHZb5Rq "First priority is to make an entertaining picture." | Photographer Martin Parr | Louisiana Channel. 2022. https://youtu.be/ibqDOm3i0eA?si=he49WecFDjp-qR_3 Framelines: A Conversation with Martin Parr. 2025 https://youtu.be/S7ULlEIwqTs?si=CXHsz_3FBVJkyO2S Find Zach Website: https://zachdobson.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachdobsonphoto/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachdobsonphoto Threads: https://www.threads.com/@zachdobsonphoto Find Courtney Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneymccracken_/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessons Threads: https://www.threads.com/@courtneymccracken_ About the Podcast Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken is a weekly conversation about photography and all its impact. Each week Zach and Courtney discuss their latest adventures, life lessons, and anything else that sounds interesting.  Photography is Nothing invites you into the conversations they were already having as a married couple running a photography and media company in the current world. Fair Use Statement This document contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I have determined this to be "fair use" of the copyrighted material as referenced and provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you wish to use any copyrighted material from this document for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain express permission from the copyright owner.

    52 min

  4. 14 JAN

    Cats - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken

    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 episode! “Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson  Index 0:00 - Intro - Hemingway’s cats lounge around the house 2:50 - Our cat wants to be on the podcast 3:20 - Meet our cats  7:29 - John P. Soule - Stereoscopic cat photography in the 1870s 8:56 - Some internet cats we love 10:12 - Harry Whittier Frees posed cats in costumes in 1914 14:38 - Étienne-Jules Marey & the chronophotographic gun in the late 1800s 18:10 - Walter Chandoha was the preeminent cat photographer of the 20th century 22:17 - Julian Assange used his cat Michi for good PR 23:38 - Cats in the Sun, a photo book by Hans Silvester (1993) 28:05 - Single cat images by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Sabine Weiss, Danny Lyon, and others 30:48 - Photographing Hemingway’s polydactyl cats 31:58 - Baby the seeing eye cat by LIFE photographer Loren F. Smith 35:37 - Cats do what they want and we accept that 40:15 - Things NOT to do when photographing cats Find Zach Website: https://zachdobson.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachdobsonphoto/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachdobsonphoto Threads: https://www.threads.com/@zachdobsonphoto Find Courtney Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneymccracken_/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessons Threads: https://www.threads.com/@courtneymccracken_ About the Podcast Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken is a weekly conversation about photography and all its impact. Each week Zach and Courtney discuss their latest adventures, life lessons, and anything else that sounds interesting.  Photography is Nothing invites you into the conversations they were already having as a married couple running a photography and media company in the current world. Fair Use Statement This document contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I have determined this to be "fair use" of the copyrighted material as referenced and provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you wish to use any copyrighted material from this document for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain express permission from the copyright owner.

    42 min

  5. 7 JAN

    Indiana University - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken

    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 interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson  Index 0:00 - Zach likes the tuba part from IU's fight song. 1:18 - Indiana Football wins the Rose Bowl. And our hearts. 2:53 - What’s great about Bloomington, Indiana 6:29 - IU Footbal in the late 1800s 8:25 - Early IU basketball and Branch McCracken 9:01 - Courtney MCCRACKEN has a family connection to IU. 10:12 - Branch McCracken and John Wooden 17:13 - Indiana University soccer is an elite program 19:30 - Learn about the Little 500 bike race 26:05 - Nick’s English Hut is a Bloomington institution 30:56 - The history of the Sample Gates at IU 34:28 - A building by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe at IU 35:31 - Buildings and landmarks around the Indiana University campus 49:45 - The Lilly Library continuing education as adults 59:06 - A brief intro to The Kinsey Institute Find Zach Website: https://zachdobson.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachdobsonphoto/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachdobsonphoto Threads: https://www.threads.com/@zachdobsonphoto Find Courtney Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneymccracken_/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessons Threads: https://www.threads.com/@courtneymccracken_ About the Podcast Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken is a weekly conversation about photography and all its impact. Each week Zach and Courtney discuss their latest adventures, life lessons, and anything else that sounds interesting.  Photography is Nothing invites you into the conversations they were already having as a married couple running a photography and media company in the current world. Fair Use Statement This document contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I have determined this to be "fair use" of the copyrighted material as referenced and provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you wish to use any copyrighted material from this document for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain express permission from the copyright owner.

    1h 7m

  6. 31/12/2025

    Football - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken

    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  Index 0:00 - Film becomes the subject of the photo. 0:51 - Welcome to Photography is Nothing! Today we talk football. 2:34 - Watch the podcast for the full experience. 3:51 - The oldest football photo I could find. Old division football. 5:06 - Earliest football photos were mostly posed & portraits. 7:29 - Early action photos, college and professional football. 11:10 - A photo from the first football game at University of Oregon - 1905. 13:12 - 📷 Neil Leifer “The Greatest Game Ever Played” - 1958 NFL Championship . 16:01 - Neil Leifer’s contact sheet from the 1958 NFL Championship. 18:21 - 📷 Neil Leifer 1962 - Close up wide angle of game action. 19:43 - 📷 Neil Leifer and remote cameras. 20:46 - LIFE Magazine photos of the first Super Bowl. 1967. 26:30 - Walter Iooss, Jr. and manual focus on a telephoto lens. 28:29 - 📷 Walter Iooss, Jr. - Joe Namath, Poolside, Galt Ocean Mile Hotel, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 1969. 31:52 - Photography is intertwined with our culture. 33:11 - How camera technology changed in the second half of the 20th century . 34:17 - 📷 Michael Zagaris behind the scenes photos of the 49ers. 36:56 - The portraits of Walter Iooss Jr. make athletes look historic. 38:32 - 📷 Richard Noble - Bo Jackson with football pads and baseball bat. 1987. 40:28 - 📷 Walter Iooss, Jr. - “The Catch” 49ers vs. Cowboys. 1982. 41:44 - How camera tech of today affects sports photography. 43:16 - Gear is a different conversation than the photos themselves. 46:52 - How to set yourself apart as a sports photographer in 2026. 48:52 - Documentary photography always has value. Photos by Magnum photographers. 50:51 - It’s a tough year to be an Indianapolis Colts fan. 52:00 - Zach borrowed a Colts Super Bowl jacket for filming. Find Zach Website: https://zachdobson.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachdobsonphoto/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachdobsonphoto Threads: https://www.threads.com/@zachdobsonphoto Find Courtney Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneymccracken_/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessons Threads: https://www.threads.com/@courtneymccracken_ About the Podcast Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken is a weekly conversation about photography and all its impact. Each week Zach and Courtney discuss their latest adventures, life lessons, and anything else that sounds interesting.  Photography is Nothing invites you into the conversations they were already having as a married couple running a photography and media company in the current world. Fair Use Statement This document contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I have determined this to be "fair use" of the copyrighted material as referenced and provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you wish to use any copyrighted material from this document for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain express permission from the copyright owner.

    53 min

  7. 24/12/2025

    Snow & Science - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken

    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 entire history. “Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson  Index 0:00 - Photographers contributing to winter and snow research. 2:26 - Introduction to photographer Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley. 6:14 - Wilson Bentley gets his first camera and modifies it with a microscope. 9:03 - Creating an aperture was the missing component. 10:54 - Bentley creates a custom focusing system for his camera. 11:57 - Wilson Bentley employed a similar method to Edward Weston. 13:14 - Bentley donates photos to the Smithsonian in 1904. 17:00 - How did Wilson Bentley contribute to scientific research on snow? 20:55 - “Snowflake Bentley” is an award-winning children’s book from 1999 22:44 - William Bentley’s book “Snow Crystals” was published in 1931. 25:10 - Introduction to photographer Esther Horvath. 27:13 - Photographing the climate research ship Polarstern. 28:06 - Photos in the arctic at night. 29:38 - Brilliant colors in the polar regions. 30:26 - Photos of life doing climate research. 33:09 - Photographing women doing climate research. 35:02 - Photography is used to take everything from a microscopic view to a global view of our world. Find Zach Website: https://zachdobson.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachdobsonphoto/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachdobsonphoto Threads: https://www.threads.com/@zachdobsonphoto Find Courtney Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneymccracken_/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessons Threads: https://www.threads.com/@courtneymccracken_ About the Podcast Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken is a weekly conversation about photography and all its impact. Each week Zach and Courtney discuss their latest adventures, life lessons, and anything else that sounds interesting.  Photography is Nothing invites you into the conversations they were already having as a married couple running a photography and media company in the current world. Fair Use Statement This document contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I have determined this to be "fair use" of the copyrighted material as referenced and provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you wish to use any copyrighted material from this document for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain express permission from the copyright owner.

    37 min

  8. 10/12/2025

    Photography by Candlelight - Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson & Courtney McCracken

    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 with candlelight while photographing events like A Merry Prairie Holiday at Conner Prairie in Fishers, Indiana. Zach & Courtney also look at some examples from photographers around the world. “Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson  Index 0:00 - How to make artistic photos. 0:28 - Today’s topic: Taking photos by candlelight. 3:26 - Photographing in low light without flash. 6:31 - New camera technology for low light photography. 7:36 - Using the LCD screen on a camera to manually focus in low light. 10:02 - Taking better photos in low light with your phone. 12:48 - It’s okay to use high ISO in low light. 14:26 - Examples of candlelight photography - Merry Prairie Christmas. 15:54 - Available light photography captures the ambiance of the scene. 18:00 - RAW files give you better image quality in low light. 20:45 - The people of Conner Prairie. 22:28 - Putting reflective surfaces next to candles for more light. 23:04 - Photographing candlelight Mass. 24:23 - How to get sharp photos without a tripod. 26:43 - Get sharp photos in low light by shooting in bursts 27:49 - High contrast photos in low light 29:38 - Kamakura festival in Yokote, Japan. 📷 Peter Essick 31:51 - The Miracle of the Holy Fire. 📷 Simon Norfolk 34:00 - Los Crucificados. 1990. 📷 Flor Garduño 34:55 - Day of the Dead. Brazil. 1966. 📷 Bruno Barbey 36:11 - Elsa Maxwell's Toy Ball at the Waldorf, New York (3 Cigarettes), 1955. 📷 William Klein. 37:26 - Catholics in China. 1993. 📷 Lu Nan. 38:15 - Share with us your candlelight photography. Find Zach Website: https://zachdobson.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachdobsonphoto/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachdobsonphoto Threads: https://www.threads.com/@zachdobsonphoto Find Courtney Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneymccracken_/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessons Threads: https://www.threads.com/@courtneymccracken_ About the Podcast Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken is a weekly conversation about photography and all its impact. Each week Zach and Courtney discuss their latest adventures, life lessons, and anything else that sounds interesting.  Photography is Nothing invites you into the conversations they were already having as a married couple running a photography and media company in the current world. Fair Use Statement This document contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I have determined this to be "fair use" of the copyrighted material as referenced and provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you wish to use any copyrighted material from this document for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain express permission from the copyright owner.

    40 min
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About

Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken is a weekly conversation about photography and all its impact. Each week Zach and Courtney discuss their latest adventures, life lessons, and anything else that sounds interesting. Photography is Nothing invites you into the conversations they were already having as a married couple running a photography and media company in the current world. “Photography is nothing—it’s life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson

Information

  • Creator
    Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken
  • Show Website
    Photography is Nothing

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