Photography is Nothing

In Episode 55 of Photography is Nothing, Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken sit down for a wide-ranging conversation with legendary photographer and painter Adger Cowans. At 90 years old, Cowans reflects on a lifetime of making art, following his intuition, and finding meaning in the world around him. Cowans studied photography at Ohio University, assisted Gordon Parks, and built a remarkable career spanning fine art, photojournalism, and motion picture photography. He is also a founding member of the Kamoinge Workshop, the influential collective founded by Black photographers to support one another and expand the possibilities of their work. But this conversation goes far beyond photography. Cowans shares his deeply personal philosophy of creativity, describing the artist as a translator of spirit and emotion. He talks about the importance of courage, the challenges of rejection, the difference between making images with film and digital cameras, and why artists must learn to trust their own vision rather than create work simply to please others. The conversation also explores his love of jazz, his experiences with legendary musicians, the importance of community, and the energy that connects people through art and life. Throughout it all, Cowans offers an inspiring perspective on creativity, purpose, and the freedom that comes from defining your own path. In this episode: Adger Cowans on a lifetime of photography and painting Creativity, spirituality, emotion, and trusting your intuition His experiences assisting Gordon Parks and learning from photography's greats Film, darkroom printing, digital photography, and the changing nature of the medium Overcoming rejection and finding the courage to make your own work The Kamoinge Workshop and the importance of community among Black photographers Jazz, artistic expression, and the energy shared between artists and audiences Aging, staying creative, and continuing to explore new possibilities Why you must believe in yourself and define your own destiny Join us for this inspiring conversation with Adger Cowans. If something in this episode resonates with you, share it with a photographer, artist, or creative person who needs to hear it. Subscribe to Photography is Nothing for more conversations about photography and life. Find Adger Website: https://www.adgercowans.com/ 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/happylifelessons/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessons 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. #PhotographyIsNothing #AdgerCowans #Photography #KamoingeWorkshop #GordonParks #CreativeLife #PhotographyPodcast

In Episode 54 of Photography is Nothing, Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken explore the remarkable photography of Adger Cowans, a pioneering photographer whose work spans street photography, documentary photography, portraiture, jazz, fine art, and more than 30 motion picture sets. From his early days in Columbus, Ohio, to assisting Gordon Parks in New York City, Cowans built an extraordinary career documenting everyday life, capturing cultural icons, and finding beauty in unexpected places. We look at some of his most compelling images, including his evocative street photographs, expressive portraits, experiments with light and abstraction, and behind-the-scenes photographs of legendary actors and filmmakers. Cowans was also a founding member of the Kamoinge Workshop in 1963. The group continues to this day and is dedicated to supporting Black photographers providing a more well-rounded look at the experiences of Black Americans. Cowans has a spiritual approach to making art. His work is a reminder that photography can be about more than documenting events — it can be about expressing how we experience the world. This episode is an introduction to Cowans and his work ahead of our upcoming conversation with him. In this episode: Adger Cowans' early life and photographic beginnings His time assisting the legendary Gordon Parks Cowans' work in street photography, everyday life, and fine art Photographing Hollywood film sets, actors, jazz musicians, and cultural figures His abstract work with light as the subject The relationship between photography, painting, and artistic expression Building a creative life and continuing to explore new possibilities over time *CORRECTION* - Zach said "Serpico" as one of Adger's credits, but the film he photographed starring Al Pacino was "The Panic in Needle Park." Photography is Nothing is a video podcast hosted by photographer Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken, exploring photography, creativity, and life. Subscribe to Photography is Nothing for more conversations about the photographers, ideas, and experiences that shape how we see. Find Adger Website: https://www.adgercowans.com/ 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/happylifelessons/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessons 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. #PhotographyIsNothing #AdgerCowans #Photography #StreetPhotography #DocumentaryPhotography #PhotographyHistory #GordonParks

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 of Natural History, and more! This show is packed with photos from Zach, video clips from Courtney, and some images by the kids, too. “Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson Index 0:00 - Photographing what’s in front of your camera 2:27 - Zach has been leaving his family behind 4:34 - Driving into New York on September 11th 10:26 - Visiting Times Square at night 16:37 - Central Park felt the most “New York” 21:22 - Starting our first day in Battery Park 23:54 - Visiting the 9/11 Memorial 27:39 - Every city has more than you expect 30:04 - Chinatown, NYC 33:13 - Accepting exhaustion 34:12 - Bichon owners meetup 35:39 - Courtney says let the kids pull us forward 39:25 - Kids love climbing rocks in Central Park 45:03 - Courtney’s birthday in New York 46:25 - Visiting the American Museum of Natural History 1:01:02 - Back to Central Park & Belvedere Castle 1:03:06 - Popular spots in Central Park 1:04:49 - 5th Avenue 1:06:03 - Takeaways from visiting New York City for the first time. 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.

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 Index 0:00 - Introduction to photographer Tajette O’Halloran 1:52 - Tajette’s photo series In Australia 10:35 - How In Australia started 13:59 - Tajette’s narrative approach to In Australia 17:08 - Growing up in Lismore, NSW, Australia 17:55 - Regional Rituals, a new photo series 22:36 - Tajette knew as a kid her childhood wasn’t typical 26:02 - Processing difficulty though photography 29:01 - Tajette’s photos remind Zach of Sally Mann 34:18 - Mixing black & white and color in a series 36:55 - How COVID affected photographers 40:26 - Tajette’s Earth and Water photos feel like parenthood 43:48 - Does Tajette feel like she’s rejecting mainstream society? 46:48 - Growing up in a mix of cultures in Lismore, Australia 48:40 - How Regional Rituals came to be 54:54 - The Quarry is an ongoing series of portraiture Find Tajette Website: https://www.tajetteohalloran.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tajette.ohalloran 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.

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 Index 0:00 - Meet photographer Tajette O’Halloran 3:30 - În Australia - Tajette examines her adolescence 5:15 - The photo that first caught Zach’s attention 14:00 - The Quarry - An ongoing series of portraits and observations 17:23 - Earth & Water - photographing childhood 23:20 - When are you a part of the story? 24:53 - Regional Rituals - Project commissioned by Powerhouse Museum Find Tajette Website: https://www.tajetteohalloran.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tajette.ohalloran 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.