Pepe Soho

Pepe Soho (born José Askenazi Cohen; 20 October 1971 – 10 October 2025) was a Mexican landscape and nature photographer. At the age of 40 he began to dedicate himself exclusively to photography. In 2017 he won first place in the World Photographic Cup in the Nature (Landscape and Wildlife) category for his image “Believe.” Forbes magazine named him as one of the most creative Mexicans of 2017, and he is widely acknowledged as one of Mexico's most important contemporary photographers.

Early life and musical career Pepe Soho was born in Mexico City on 20 October 1971. His father, Eduardo Askenazi, was a businessman in the textile industry. His mother, Paz Cohen, was a sculptor and painter. Soho expressed an early interest in art, photography, and music. He began taking lessons and playing the drums at the age of 12. Soon thereafter he began designing and selling his own clothing, beginning with printed T-shirts of rock bands. A year later he opened his first clothing store called SOHO, the name by which he became commonly known. By the year 2000, the iconic

Photography Soho credited a near-death experience with revitalizing his childhood interest in photography and a renewed appreciation of the natural world. In 2011, Soho traveled to India to take part in a 3-month meditation retreat. Shortly into the trip, however, he suffered a brutal accident while riding a horse that broke both his knees. The accident forced him to return to Mexico in a wheelchair. Soho underwent numerous surgeries and endured a long recovery. The medical treatments weakened his immune system and he was eventually diagnosed with Systemic Candidiasis, which caused extreme weight loss and pain. Soho battled with severe depression until he began to regain mobility and his overall health in 2013. Upon concluding his studies, he undertook various photography expeditions that would take him to more than 50 countries around the world, starting in Antarctica. His most recent focus was on the landscape of his native Mexico.

Soho participated in projects outside of his own work including NBC's Samsung Galaxy S8 campaign as well as the Festival Internacional de Fotografía FotoMéxico 2017, organized by the Centro de la Imagen.

In 2017, he was a jury member at the photographic contest Reto Foto México organized by the magazine México Desconocido and Canon.

Upon request by the National Tourism Department, he participated in tourist campaigns such as Yo soy mexicano.

Death Soho died from cardiac arrest in Mexico City on 10 October 2025, at the age of 53.

Awards and recognition In 2018 he was listed in Forbes Mexico as one of Mexico's most creative people, an honor that recognizes individuals of significant influence and momentum.

In 2017 Soho's image "Believe," shot in Chile, won first place at the World Photographic Cup in the Nature (Landscape and Wildlife) category. Photographers from twenty-six countries on four continents participated in this category. In his acceptance speech, Soho said, "Photography restored my confidence and my life. After being immersed in the emptiness of depression, capturing images through the lens of my camera was my only motivation. I found in this art form a way of expressing my love for life and the admiration I have for nature ... I am very proud to have been honored with this award, but even more to represent my country and through my work show the world how wonderful Mexico is."

Exhibitions 2018: Vida. la Galería Abierta de las Rejas de Chapultepec, Mexico City.