FoCo Photographer Wins Grammy for Photo of Erica Banks

When we first met Joe Pekara, he was photographing Nappy Roots at the Aggie Theatre.

RELATED: BEHIND THE SCENES WITH NAPPY ROOTS

Now, the Fort Collins photographer is still working with the "Good Day" rappers, along with other high-profile hip-hop artists like Wale and Erica Banks.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pekara, also known as Pharoah 171, accompanied Banks to one of her shows at a strip club-turned venue in Florida.

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There, with lighting challenges leaving him little time to capture the perfect shot, he snapped a photo that won him his second Grammy and a Sony award, one of the most prestigious honors in the visual arts realm.

Despite his success, Pekara remains humble — and close to his Northern Colorado hometown. In fact, he recently stopped by Townsquare Media's studios in Windsor to chat about his award-winning photo, what it's like to photograph the stars, his mom's influence on his work, and more.

Check out our full interview with Joe Pekara below.

Q&A With Grammy-Winning FoCo Photographer Joe Pekara

Joe Pekara is a Fort Collins photographer who spends his time on the road with artists like Nappy Roots, Wale, and Erica Banks. His photo of Banks recently earned him his second Grammy and a Sony award. Read on to learn more about his career — and the inspiration behind it.