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

EPISODE · Dec 24, 2025 · 36 MIN

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

from Photography is Nothing · host Zach Dobson and 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 Index0:00 - 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 199922:44 - 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 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.

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

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