SHOOTER: COOPER BROWNLEE
Name: Cooper Brownlee
Age: 28
Location: Melbourne, Australia
How long have you been shooting?
Probably for abound six years. Like everyone else in BMX, I was just messing around shooting photos of my friends while out riding and it grew from there. And damn it’s addictive!
Film or digital?
I started shooting with film as the digital revolution hadn’t really happened yet. I guess it was harder to learn but it was still fun. I moved into the digital world about four and a half years ago and I haven’t looked back. I know people say that film is the best, and that might be true, but there’s nothing like going out riding with your friends, having a real rad day shooting a few photos then being able to check them out that night and send them straight over to your friends for them to see. I love that! It also makes doing a magazine and website work a lot easier and viable. I probably couldn’t do what I do now if it weren’t for digital.
What is your camera bag looking like these days?
It’s packed full and because I film as well, it’s stupid heavy!
Nikon d700 body
5 Pocket Wizards
Nikkor 16mm fisheye
Nikkor 50mm 1.4
Nikkor 80-200 2.8
4 Vivitar 285 hv Flashes
Sony VX2100
Death Lens
Bescor 50watt light
Cords and Batteries etc…
What’s your dream set up to have?
I am pretty stoked on what I have photography wise, but I would maybe like a 24mm lens for more landscape stuff, and I guess a D3X body but, like I said, I’m stoked on what I have and I can’t see myself changing anytime soon.
Best thing you’ve ever shot?
Wow, this is probably the hardest question ever! It’s possibly impossible to answer it. The photos I have chosen to go with this article are my favourite shots that I have taken but I honestly couldn’t narrow it down.
Favorite rider to shoot with?
This is a hard one too! Anyone that I ride with is easy because they are all keen to shoot photos and the guys also understand the setting up process. In saying that, I love shooting anyone that is keen to get a photo.
Dream rider to shoot with?
There isn’t anyone in particular. Like I said, anyone who is keen to get a photo is fine by me. You don’t have to be shooting the most amazing rider to get a good shot. The surroundings are just as important to me.
What do you tell security when they try to throw you out of spots for taking pictures?
Most of the security in Australia seems pretty switched on when it comes to us shooting near them. They are usually pretty cool with it and will just tell us to move on. The other day I was setting up to shoot a photo of Liam Fahy-Hampton and we were getting hassled. I told them I was just shooting a friend of mine in front of this piece of “art”. Little did they know that he wanted to jump off it. It sort of worked until they decided to hang around and wait, which shut us down.
Favorite BMX photographer?
I like a bunch of guys’ work. Ricky Adam is dialed –I remember back when I was growing up and getting into it all his fisheye shots got me stoked! Dudes like Jeff Zielinski, Rob Dolecki and Walter Peringer also have some rad stuff, then there’s Dan Vojtech from the Czech Republic who does some amazing work also..
You do a lot of work for Colony right? What exactly do you do over there?
I shoot all the photos for Clint, as well as all the art direction for the brand. I’ve been doing it since the start of the year and it’s so fun! Just yesterday I saw a couple of riders at a park with forks that had stickers I had designed on them, then a young kid on a complete also with stickers I had done. That sort of thing gets me so stoked and really appreciated my job. Thanks, Clint!
Focalpoint is an Australian based magazine you produce right? What’s that all about? Is it more of a side project with all the stuff you have going on now days?
It’s a free BMX magazine that we do here in Australia and it’s both printed and online. It’s definitely not a side project though! I probably work on FP more than anything else I do, along with Colony (of course) and a few other projects that keep me super busy. But I enjoy being this busy!
We have a really good scene here and a bunch of good riders. One decent magazine just wasn’t enough to help expose more riders and help to bring our community together.
What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next year or two?
I would like to push forward with a few things over at Colony and to just keep helping the Australian BMX Scene grow. As I said, it’s definitely a rad scene so come check it out!
I’m also keen to keep shooting more than ever! Not just BMX, but a bunch of other aspects. I like to travel and do road trips, which gives me some good opportunities to shoot more and varied things.
Anything else you want to say?
Thanks to Dig! Clint at Colony, all the contributors and readers of Focalpoint, everyone I ride with and my family. Love it!
I guess if you wanted to see more photos that I have shot check out OneLoveOneLife.net and FocalpointBMX.com