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Jessie Cohen, zoo photographer

Jessie Cohen, known around the world as the "panda photographer" for the hundreds of published photos she shot of them at the National Zoo, died Oct. 24 of breast cancer at her home in Silver Spring. She was 57.

Jessie Cohen, known as the "panda photographer," was a photographer with the Smithsonian's National Zoo since 1979.

Jessie Cohen, known as the "panda photographer," was a photographer with the Smithsonian's National Zoo since 1979.

Keri Nicole Ballog-Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian has archived 93 of her images. This photo of Izaak, a fishing cat at National Zoo, was taken in June 2006.

The Smithsonian has archived 93 of her images. This photo of Izaak, a fishing cat at National Zoo, was taken in June 2006.

Jessie Cohen-Smithsonian's National Zoo

Tai Shan, a male giant panda cub born at National Zoo, was photographed by Cohen during his second vaccination against the canine distemper virus on September 30, 2005.

Tai Shan, a male giant panda cub born at National Zoo, was photographed by Cohen during his second vaccination against the canine distemper virus on September 30, 2005.

Reuters

A 2004 photo by Cohen of pandas at the National Zoo: Tian Tian (left) and Mei Xiang (right).

A 2004 photo by Cohen of pandas at the National Zoo: Tian Tian (left) and Mei Xiang (right).

Jessie Cohen-Smithsonian's National Museum

A flamingo with its chick at the National Zoo. "As a kid, I loved nature and spent my summers looking at amphibians, plants and mushrooms," Cohen told Friends of the National Zoo for its 2009 calendar.

A flamingo with its chick at the National Zoo. "As a kid, I loved nature and spent my summers looking at amphibians, plants and mushrooms," Cohen told Friends of the National Zoo for its 2009 calendar.

Jessie Cohen-Smithsonian's National Zoo

This 2005 photo that Cohen shot shows a 390-pound Aldabra tortoise at the National Zoo as it waits in a truck for a trip to the zoo's Conservation and Research Center in Virginia. The tortoise spent most of the summer there while its home at the zoo was renovated.

This 2005 photo that Cohen shot shows a 390-pound Aldabra tortoise at the National Zoo as it waits in a truck for a trip to the zoo's Conservation and Research Center in Virginia. The tortoise spent most of the summer there while its home at the zoo was renovated.

Reuters

Black-footed ferret infants born at the Conservation and Research Center part of Smithsonian's National Zoological Park. "As an animal photographer, I can make something tangible from the natural world," Cohen once said.

Black-footed ferret infants born at the Conservation and Research Center part of Smithsonian's National Zoological Park. "As an animal photographer, I can make something tangible from the natural world," Cohen once said.

Jesse Cohen-Smithsonian's National Zoo

This photo by Cohen shows Joe Proskine, a tree moving specialist, left, and horticulture specialist Preston Burke, moving the historic triceratops statue "Uncle Beazley," to a new exhibit on May 23, 2007, at the National Zoo.

This photo by Cohen shows Joe Proskine, a tree moving specialist, left, and horticulture specialist Preston Burke, moving the historic triceratops statue "Uncle Beazley," to a new exhibit on May 23, 2007, at the National Zoo.

Jessie Cohen-National Zoo via AP

In this photo Cohen shot in June 2006, National Zoo elephant keeper Marie Galloway bathes Shanthi.

In this photo Cohen shot in June 2006, National Zoo elephant keeper Marie Galloway bathes Shanthi.

Jessie Cohen-Smithsonian's National Zoo

A baby crane was photographed by Cohen at the National Zoo.

A baby crane was photographed by Cohen at the National Zoo.

Jessie Cohen-Smithsonian's National Zoo

Cohen photographed Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart helping to feed Happy, a hippo,at the National Zoo on April 7, 2009.

Cohen photographed Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart helping to feed Happy, a hippo,at the National Zoo on April 7, 2009.

Jessie Cohen-Smithsonian's National Zoo

Cohen photographed a recently-hatched green tree python at the National Zoo as it slithered around its egg on March 28, 2008.

Cohen photographed a recently-hatched green tree python at the National Zoo as it slithered around its egg on March 28, 2008.

Jessie Cohen-Smithsonian's National Zoo

A newly hatched kiwi was photographed by Cohen on March 7, 2008. The chick was the third chick to hatch at the National Zoo. The first hatching occurred in 1975 and was the first to occur outside of New Zealand.

A newly hatched kiwi was photographed by Cohen on March 7, 2008. The chick was the third chick to hatch at the National Zoo. The first hatching occurred in 1975 and was the first to occur outside of New Zealand.

Jessie Cohen-Smithsonian's National Zoo

Cohen photographed these Kori bustard chicks that hatched at the National Zoo on June 23 and 24, 2007.

Cohen photographed these Kori bustard chicks that hatched at the National Zoo on June 23 and 24, 2007.

Jessie Cohen-Smithsonian's National Zoo

Cohen is seen in this picture photographing the Asian elephants at the National Zoo. While working at the zoo, she was also responsible for managing the exhibits office, organizing a library of some 500,000 images.

Cohen is seen in this picture photographing the Asian elephants at the National Zoo. While working at the zoo, she was also responsible for managing the exhibits office, organizing a library of some 500,000 images.

J'nie Woosley-Smithsonian's National Zoo

Gallery Credits:
Photo Editor Dan Murano

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This Story 'Panda photographer' found dream job at zoo Article \| Jessie Cohen, known around the world as the "panda photographer" for the hundreds of images she shot of the charismatic creatures at the National Zoo in Washington, died Oct. 24 of breast cancer at her home in Silver Spring. She was 57. Jessie Cohen, zoo photographer		TOOLBOX E-Mail This Save/Share + Digg Facebook Reddit Twitter myspace del.icio.us NewsTrust Stumble It! COMMENT 0 Comments Your browser's settings may be preventing you from commenting on and viewing comments about this item. See instructions for fixing the problem. Discussion Policy CLOSE Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post. Who's Blogging » Links to this gallery		More on washingtonpost.com • More Photo News » washingtonpost.com
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