Photography is Nothing Podcast Summary — Free Daily Recap

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5 days ago58 min
Interview with Tajette O'Halloran
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 incorporating both film & digital into her work.Based in Lismore, New South Wales, Australia, Tajette’s photography 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 portraits of young people at a local swimming spot. Her most recent project is Regional Rituals, commissioned by Powerhouse, a museum in Sydney, Australia.“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson Index0:00 - Introduction to photographer Tajette O’Halloran1:52 - Tajette’s photo series In Australia 10:35 - How In Australia started13:59 - Tajette’s narrative approach to In Australia17:08 - Growing up in Lismore, NSW, Australia17:55 - Regional Rituals, a new photo series22:36 - Tajette knew as a kid her childhood wasn’t typical26:02 - Processing difficulty though photography29:01 - Tajette’s photos remind Zach of Sally Mann34:18 - Mixing black & white and color in a series36:55 - How COVID affected photographers40:26 - Tajette’s Earth and Water photos feel like parenthood43:48 - Does Tajette feel like she’s rejecting mainstream society?46:48 - Growing up in a mix of cultures in Lismore, Australia48:40 - How Regional Rituals came to be54:54 - The Quarry is an ongoing series of portraitureFind TajetteWebsite: https://www.tajetteohalloran.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tajette.ohalloranFind ZachWebsite: https://zachdobson.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachdobsonphoto/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachdobsonphotoThreads: https://www.threads.com/@zachdobsonphotoFind CourtneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneymccracken_/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessonsThreads: https://www.threads.com/@courtneymccracken_About the PodcastPhotography 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 StatementThis 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.
1 weeks ago27 min
The Photography of Tajette O'Halloran
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 portraits of young people at a local swimming spot. Her most recent project is Regional Rituals, commissioned by Powerhouse, a museum in Sydney, Australia.This episode is an introduction to Tajette’s work leading up to our interview with her next week.“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson Index0:00 - Meet photographer Tajette O’Halloran3:30 - În Australia - Tajette examines her adolescence 5:15 - The photo that first caught Zach’s attention14:00 - The Quarry - An ongoing series of portraits and observations17:23 - Earth & Water - photographing childhood23:20 - When are you a part of the story?24:53 - Regional Rituals - Project commissioned by Powerhouse MuseumFind TajetteWebsite: https://www.tajetteohalloran.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tajette.ohalloranFind ZachWebsite: https://zachdobson.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachdobsonphoto/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachdobsonphotoThreads: https://www.threads.com/@zachdobsonphotoFind CourtneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneymccracken_/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessonsThreads: https://www.threads.com/@courtneymccracken_About the PodcastPhotography 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 StatementThis 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.
2 weeks ago1h 9m
What We've Learned So Far
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 idea5:57 - Starting a life after college12:46 - We had abandoned our intuition17:04 - Starting our own business worked23:50 - You have to do other things to support the Big Thing25:40 - Would Zach recommend this lifestyle?33:04 - Dealing with ego death40:35 - Getting back to the original vision45:45 - Choosing joy49:53 - Unexpected skills Zach has learned54:42 - Learn to photograph the everyday & make it interesting57:00 - Courtney is here to go beneath the surface1:03:56 - Learn and change and grow or dieFind ZachWebsite: https://zachdobson.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachdobsonphoto/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachdobsonphotoThreads: https://www.threads.com/@zachdobsonphotoFind CourtneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneymccracken_/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessonsThreads: https://www.threads.com/@courtneymccracken_About the PodcastPhotography 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 StatementThis 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.
3 weeks ago52 min
Football
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 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 .16:00 - Neil Leifer’s contact sheet from the 1958 NFL Championship.18:20 - 📷 Neil Leifer 1962 - Close up wide angle of game action.21:31 - LIFE Magazine photos of the first Super Bowl. 1967.27:20 - Walter Iooss, Jr. and manual focus on a telephoto lens.29:14 - 📷 Walter Iooss, Jr. - Joe Namath, Poolside, Galt Ocean Mile Hotel, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 1969.33:52 - How camera technology changed in the second half of the 20th century .35:02 - 📷 Michael Zagaris behind the scenes photos of the 49ers.37:43 - The portraits of Walter Iooss Jr. make athletes look heroic.41:23 - 📷 Walter Iooss, Jr. - “The Catch” 49ers vs. Cowboys. 1982.42:29 - How camera tech of today affects sports photography.47:37 - How to set yourself apart as a sports photographer in 2026.49:39 - Documentary photography always has value. Photos by Magnum photographers.Buy, Sell or Trade with MPB:https://shorturl.at/Szqs2Find ZachWebsite: https://zachdobson.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachdobsonphoto/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachdobsonphotoThreads: https://www.threads.com/@zachdobsonphotoFind CourtneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneymccracken_/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessonsThreads: https://www.threads.com/@courtneymccracken_About the PodcastPhotography 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 StatementThis 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.
Aug 19, 20261h 0m
Copyright
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 photographers and other artists.Cases discussed include:Photographer Carol Highsmith suing Getty images for a billion dollars for selling 18K of her photos.Photojournalist Daniel Morel sues AFP & Getty for selling his images of the 2010 Haitian earthquakeThe famous “monkey selfie” case with photographer David Slater. Who owns a photo taken by an animal?Architecture photographer Scott Hargis wins perhaps the largest copyright settlement ever.The conversation moves well beyond the lawsuits and gets into topics like:Registered works vs un-registered worksPublic domainFair UseAlways get a contract, even when no money is exchanging handsGetty Images sells photos that are public domain (free to everyone)**NOTE** Zach & Courtney are not attorneys and nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice. Index0:00 - A monkey took the photo4:29 - Why we always retain copyright ownership9:10 - Carol Highsmith sues Getty15:22 - Royalty Free vs Rights Managed20:39 - When you create something, you own the copyright21:51 - Photographer Scott Hargis’s big win28:02 - Why register copyrights30:56 - Setting a precedent that we pursue infringement37:20 - Daniel Morel sues AFP & Getty41:26 - David Slater and the Monkey Selfie dispute55:15 - A little bit about model releasesBuy, Sell or Trade with MPB:https://shorturl.at/Szqs2Find ZachWebsite: https://zachdobson.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachdobsonphoto/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachdobsonphotoThreads: https://www.threads.com/@zachdobsonphotoFind CourtneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/happylifelessons/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessonsAbout the PodcastPhotography 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 StatementThis 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.
Aug 12, 20262h 5m
Interview with Christopher Morris
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 conflicts in the Philippines, Panama, the Persian Gulf War, Yugoslavia, Chechnya, Yemen, Iraq, and more. Largely leaving war photography behind in the early 2000s, Morris covered the Bush and Obama administrations for Time Magazine. He left Black Star in 2001 and was one of the founding members of VII Photo Agency.In recent years, Morris has photographed for fashion magazines & brands, worked as the personal photographer for Princess Charlene of Monaco, and continued to take breaking news & editorial assignments around the world.Index0:00 - Interview with Christopher Morris3:50 - TIME said stop photographing Republicans in black & white7:25 - Going through 40 years of photo archives16:47 - Chris was hired by the Princess of Monaco18:40 - Keeping your copyright 22:30 - Stephen Shore as an influence25:58 - 1981 on the New York Subway28:22 - What he learned from Susan Meiselas30:50 - Don’t stay in hotels as a documentary photographer33:09 - Taking photos behind the handler’s back in Saudi Arabia37:56 - Are photojournalists capitalizing on suffering?44:16 - Winning awards for war photography47:49 - The toll it takes on the family of a war photographer58:05 - Taking portraits & maintaining journalistic integrity1:03:14 - The influence of W. Eugene Smith’s Country Doctor1:23:22 - How does a conflict photographer get to the front lines?1:37:27 - Getting the best seat in the house without a pass1:42:04 - How Morris got to the front lines in Iraq1:47:14 - When photographing the government means you’re one of them 1:57:30 - PTSD: No one asked if he needed help2:02:18 - Israel has killed over 200 journalists in Gaza2:04:50 - Planning a visit to see the archives in personBuy, Sell or Trade with MPB:https://shorturl.at/Szqs2Find ZachWebsite: https://zachdobson.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachdobsonphoto/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachdobsonphotoThreads: https://www.threads.com/@zachdobsonphotoFind CourtneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/happylifelessons/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessonsAbout the PodcastPhotography 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 StatementThis 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.
Aug 5, 202648 min
The Photography of Christopher Morris
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. Largely leaving war photography behind in the early 2000s, Morris covered the Bush and Obama administrations for Time Magazine. He left Black Star in 2001 and was one of the founding members of VII Photo Agency.In recent years, Morris has photographed for fashion magazines & brands, worked as the personal photographer for Princess Charlene of Monaco, and continued to take breaking news & editorial assignments around the world.Index0:31 - The Photography Christopher Morris6:36 - How Christopher Morris got started in photography10:35 - Photographing the conflict in Chechnya - 1990s18:25 - Documenting American politics in the early 2000s23:15 - Books by Christopher Morris: My America and Americans29:24 - Archiving decades of film photos32:00 - Moscow in the 1990s34:01 - Fashion photography paired with war and politics40:00 - New York City subway in 198141:31 - How Christopher Morris’s photos have influenced Zach43:25 - How do you decide to be a war photographerBuy, Sell or Trade with MPB:https://shorturl.at/Szqs2Find ZachWebsite: https://zachdobson.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachdobsonphoto/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachdobsonphotoThreads: https://www.threads.com/@zachdobsonphotoFind CourtneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/happylifelessons/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessonsAbout the PodcastPhotography 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 StatementThis 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.
Jul 29, 20261h 11m
Interview with Kiliii Yüyan
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 people of the world. He spends extended periods with each group of people that he photographs, building relationships and serving as an active member of the communities.Kiliii has photographed Indigenous communities and environments across the globe, such as Mongolia, Palau, and the Navajo Nation. His immersive approach is apparent in all aspects of his work, from the unusual scenes he's able to capture, to the descriptions he writes for each photograph. Kiliii is clearly well versed in the cultures he's documenting.BackstoryYüyan took up photography only in his 30's, when as a traditional kayak builder he began photographing his work. As a visual artist, photography came naturally, and he was photographing for National Geographic in just about 3 years.An award winning photographer, Killiii has also earned 3 covers for National Geographic and his work has also been featured in TIME, Vogue, and WIRED. Yüyan is a keynote speaker through Changemaker Talent with appearances at TEDx, and NatGeo Live, among others.Current WorkIn February 2026, Kiliii published a new book: Guardians of Life: Indigenous Knowledge, Indigenous Science, and Restoring the Planet. Guardians of Life features a decade of of his photos and includes contributions from two dozen Indigenous authors.Yüyan is currently working on project in the arctic, photographing Greenland sharks under the ice. He's famously known for his encounters with polar bears, sharks, and other wildlife where he captures stunning images under intense pressure.Index0:00 - Intro: Indigenous communities are the best conservationists0:52 - Introducing photographer Kiliii Yüyan3:41 - Three years to becoming a National Geographic photographer5:28 - Combining aesthetics and storytelling9:03 - Becoming a part of the community you’re photographing11:24 - How Kiliii finds the stories he tells17:44 - The business of documentary photography: grants, speaking engagements, and more32:35 - Bringing indigenous heritage to documentary photography39:50 - A natural skill for storytelling42:59 - Pushing past your discomfort to find success46:12 - New book: Guardians of Life53:22 - Indigenous conservation: Treating land as a museum vs a home 59:05 - Kiliii explains “solutions journalism”1:06:20 - Book publisher Braided River’s unique approach1:10:26 - Documentary photography is for kids, tooBuy, Sell or Trade with MPB:https://shorturl.at/Szqs2Find ZachWebsite: https://zachdobson.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachdobsonphoto/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachdobsonphotoFind CourtneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/happylifelessons/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessonsAbout the PodcastPhotography 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 StatementThis 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.

About Photography is Nothing

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

By Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken

Arts Visual Arts

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Photography is Nothing: Daily Summaries Delivered

Latest Episodes

Interview with Tajette O'Halloran

The Photography of Tajette O'Halloran

What We've Learned So Far

Football

Copyright

Interview with Christopher Morris

The Photography of Christopher Morris

Interview with Kiliii Yüyan