Hi! I'm Annie Cooper and I'm a pixel addict for which there is no cure.
Born in Albuquerque, I've lived here and there and have called Arizona home for a while now. Living in Toul-Rosieres, France, Charleston, South Carolina, Santa Fe, Houston, and Huntington Beach gave me experiences I wouldn't trade for anything.
The addiction started when I was a kid and got a Brownie Instamatic — long before digital. I'd save my allowance to get the film developed and sometimes that was a long wait. When I was a little older, I had the use of a Rolleiflex — such an amazing camera. Developing the film in a darkroom aboard an aircraft carrier, the USS Independence, in Norfolk, VA is something I'll never forget — especially the smell! I most definitely prefer digital photography over those chemicals. But, oh the things I learned! Fast forward to when my two sons became my primary subjects — I have probably a gazillion photos of them.
When I first moved to Arizona and started hiking, I was absolutely enthralled by the Superstition Wilderness. On one hike, right after a rain, the wildflowers bursting with color, the bees and other desert critters buzzing and scurrying about — it was like walking into a giant postcard, so landscape was what I mostly did. I joined a photography group and one day some of them asked me to go to a biker picnic at Papago Park. Since it was raining that day, I said no thanks, but they 'made' me go. I met this guy in the biker group there and we've been together 15 years now. I love riding on the back of his Harley, taking shots of the riders on the beautiful backroads and at motorcycle rallies. A friend dubbed me "Rootin' Tootin' Photo Shootin’ Annie Oakley Outlaw Scooter Shooter." That was a bit long for a patch, so now it's just "Scooter Shooter." And I rode with a group to Tombstone where I shot a wedding at the O.K. Corral!
Along came the grandkids who we call the Mini Coopers, so photographing children became another favorite — again. When people saw the photos, I was asked to shoot their grandkids, families, grads — you name it! I was also hired to shoot several events and galas — too many to mention here. I've shot fashion shows and models — in studios and on boats at Lake Pleasant. Some of my most crazy fun shooting was at themed desert raves. And the bands — oh how I love shooting them! The energy, the lights, the music! I’ve also captured photos at patriotic rallies and events. I was honored to cover the Marines arriving from Camp Pendleton in an AH-1 Huey Cobra attack helicopter and a V-22 Osprey VTOL aircraft. It was quite amazing watching these aircraft land. And — I love to shoot animals — alligators to zebras — and everything in between!
If someone were to ask what I love to shoot the most, they might be sorry they asked because the answer would be quite lengthy. So, I would just pull out my camera and say you — I’d love to shoot you!