I can’t back up my phone?

Backing up your iPhone has nothing to do with downloading the iPhone’s photos.

What are you hoping to accomplish? What have you tried? What software (name and version number) is involved? What have you seen? What worked? What failed?

Perhaps this is what you’re trying to do.

Transfer photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your Mac or PC - Apple Support

Can you explain what you meant by, “ I have tried to down load the pictures to get them off but the phone won’t cooperate? “. Thanks.

Axel F.