Ron Cooper
Photographer Ron Cooper and his wife Penny moved to Salem in 1969 to take a job as photographer at the Oregon Statesman (later the Statesman Journal). Their three children, Monica, Kimberly, and Christopher, attended and graduated from Salem public schools. Cooper retired from the Statesman Journal in 2001 but, has continued his passion for photography in many ways, including as a photographer for the Salem Reporter.
PHOTO GALLERY: Saxons weather a pandemic year, graduate in person
South Salem High School turned its football field into a ceremonial grounds for graduation on Friday, June 11. The school allowed four guests per graduate, breaking the Class of 2021 into three groups for separate ceremonies. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) South…
PHOTOS: For graduating Titans, it’s a shared ceremony to end a pandemic year
Seniors at West Salem High School participate in graduation ceremonies on Thursday, June 10. Last year, high school graduation ceremonies were modified and delayed until August because of the pandemic. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) Seniors at West Salem High School participate…
PHOTOS: Salem Saturday Market kicks off a month early
Customers browse at the Salem Saturday Market on opening day, March 6, 2021 (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) Salem’s market season kicked off over the weekend, an early opening to give vendors a longer season to sell their goods and food. The…
PHOTOS: Salem works to recover from ice storm as temperatures warm
A man works to clear debris on a parked car on Center Street in Salem on Saturday, Feb. 13. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) The sound startled people from one side of town to another: c-r-r-a-c-c-k-k. On street after street, in yard…
PHOTOS: With elbow bumps and lots of masks, the Oregon State Senate gets down to business
Senator Chuck Riley, left, and Senator James I. Manning Jr. greet each other with an elbow bump at the first session of the Oregon Senate the morning of Jan. 22. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, gavels…
PHOTOS: With increased security and doors closed to the public, Oregon Legislature resumes its work
Seats in the Oregon House chamber visitor gallery are marked to enforce social distancing. Only chairs marked in green are available. Since the Capitol building is closed to the public, no one was seated in the visitor’s gallery on Jan.…
PHOTOS: Capitol in Salem remains buttoned up as Legislature postpones
Heavy blocks provide new security at the Capitol on Saturday, Jan. 16. State officials took precautions ahead of warnings from the FBI of possible protests at capitols across the country. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) The Capitol, the scene of repeated protests…
PHOTOS: Ron Cooper’s picks of the most revealing, rewarding scenes of 2020
An employee of 3R’s Construction adjusts a respirator mask in early 2020 while helping with the company’s free disinfection of first response vehicles. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) When I turned in my cameras at the end of my final shift as…
Salem’s water plant ready to handle wildfire runoff, protect drinking water
Situated on an island in the middle of the North Santiam River near Stayton, the Geren Island Water Treatment Facility faces unprecedented challenges in providing clean water to Salem users. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) At 1 a.m. on Sept. 8, Tim…
PHOTOS: Drone images capture fire destruction in Santiam Canyon
The Marion Forks Hatchery and Oregon Highway 22 as seen on Oct. 14 following massive wildfires (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) Marion County Commissioners voted Oct. 14 to waive building and septic permitting fees for homeowners rebuilding following wildfires in the Santiam…