Ben R Cooper Photography

08/12/2026

A total is happening today across parts of Iceland and Spain. It was such a bucket-list sort of experience to witness when I got to see it with my wife Patrice in 2024. We left a couple of days early and spent time in St. Louis, figuring we could adapt from there if the weather dictated as far as visibility. Fortunately the weather cooperated and we were able to take in the incredible 4 minutes (give or take) near the town of Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Who else saw the eclipse in 2024?? If so where were you and what stood out to you about the experience?

07/14/2026

“Big Red” - Holland Lighthouse in Holland Michigan, aptly nicknamed “Big Red”, is easily one of my favorite along the Eastern Shore of Lake Michigan. And there are a LOT of great lighthouses along Michigan’s “Gold Coast”.

07/10/2026

Hey Milwaukee area peeps: Come see me in Booth 133! Saturday snd Sunday 10-5.

East Silver Spring Drive in Whitefish Bay is the place to be! Immerse yourself in thousands of paintings, sculptures, photographs, and jewelry from 100 juried artists at the Whitefish Bay Art Fest!

🎨 Whitefish Bay Art Fest
🗓️ July 11-12
⏰ 10AM - 5PM Daily
🎟️ FREE Entry
♿ Completely accessible
📍 E. Silver Spring Dr., Whitefish Bay, WI

07/10/2026

Mikwaukee at Sunset, as seen from Lakefront Park. I’d decided to drive to Milwaukee to take some photos around the city, and after a few delays along the drive, managed to catch this amazing sunset just as it was disappearing below the horizon. This photo looks amazing printed on metal by the way!

Speaking of Milwaukee, I’ll be doing an Art Fair in Whitefish Bay this weekend. Stop and see this and more of my latest work at the Whitefish Bay Art Fest, Booth 133!

06/23/2026

So many of my closest friends were at this event and lost everything. All of it. Art that took months to create, displays, equipment… all gone in moments. Had I not accidentally missed the deadline, I might have been there too. This hits really really close to home for me.

If you are not familiar, a storm popped up quickly and intensely during the Omaha Art Fair, and completely destroyed the tents of many artists, along with their artwork. It was utterly devastating for many. The financial ramifications are beyond huge. Affected artists are not only losing those pieces and the thousands of dollars in display equipment, but for many the ability to continue selling during the busiest part of the art sales season. Insurance often only covers a fraction of the financial turmoil.

The timing of this almost couldn’t have been worse. Please consider donating whatever you can to help these amazing creative artists get back on their feet.

Thank you!! ❤️

On the morning of June 13, 2026, a severe storm swept through… Omaha Art Fair 2026 needs your support for Support Omaha Art Fair Artists & Help Preserve the Fair

06/04/2026

Just call me Ben Harper! Fun to be included for this piece on Fox 9 about the Edina Art Fair. My good friend Heather may have confused my last name a little (wish I could sing like him!), but I appreciate the mention.

Come see me, Ben Harper, I mean Ben Cooper, this weekend in Booth 114, close to the intersection of 50th and France!

05/29/2026

Come see me in Duluth June 27-28th!

05/22/2026

Hey Everyone! Here's a list of the events I'll be exhibiting at throughout June and July for 2026. I'm super excited for the new season and to share some of my new images with you all. I'll even be showing my work in a new market this year (hello Milwaukee/Whitefish Bay!).

Thanks so much for your continued support, and hope to see you soon!

Photo: Bixby Creek Bridge, Big Sur, California Feb '26

05/12/2026

“Warp-Speed L-Train” — Using some new editing techniques to energize this photo of the L-Train from a couple months back in downtown Chicago. What do you think?

On this day, I was hanging with my son and his girlfriend and we were hoping to get some shots of “Chicago-henge” (look it up if you’ve never heard of it!). Grey, thick clouds ruined our chances for that but we had so much fun and finished off a great day with a burger and beer at the infamous Billy Goat tavern (highly recommend!)

05/11/2026

“Celestial Schoolhouse” — The Aurora Borealis over an old schoolhouse near Lowry, Minnesota from the (incredible!) Northern Lights visible November 11, 2025.

Believe it or not, I came across this old schoolhouse completely by accident, and also kind of on purpose?

Let me explain:

I was exploring the area looking for an old structure, an abandoned building… in my mind I pictured an old barn, church or schoolhouse to photograph during the Northern Lights. No pre-planning on this night, just exploring and hoping. I spotted this out of the corner of my eye as I was passing it in near total darkness and my jaw almost dropped. I rarely get so lucky!