A surprising beginning that shaped a vision
Zohaib Anjum’s journey began not with privilege, but with a simple, basic camera the only one he could afford at the time. For years, he clicked photos with little recognition. People would politely say, “Yes, we like it,” but the images never sparked that true wow factor. Determined to change that, Zohaib pushed himself to capture something extraordinary.
When storms hit Dubai, he began experimenting with lightning photography. To his surprise, those images attracted far more attention than anything else he had created. The fascination with storm chasing grew into an obsession, and soon he was driven by a single dream: to capture lightning striking the top of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower.
It wasn’t easy. Storms in Dubai are rare, and every attempt seemed to miss the mark. Yet Zohaib refused to give up. After years of patience and countless failed nights, one evening it finally happened: lightning struck the Burj Khalifa, and he captured the exact moment.
That one photograph changed everything. It went viral overnight, earning him live interviews with radio stations, news channels, and features in magazines worldwide. What began as a personal challenge turned into his defining moment — transforming his passion into his profession.
Today, Zohaib holds the record for the most lightning strike photographs of Burj Khalifa and even expanded that legacy to New York, where he captured lightning hitting the World Trade Center. His path from a basic camera to documenting some of the most iconic towers in the world is a story of patience, passion, and persistence.
Building a name: cityscapes, storms and real estate
Zohaib didn’t confine himself to one specialty. He blended architectural and real estate photography with landscape and storm work, which gave him a unique professional edge. His experience shooting interiors and exteriors for property portfolios taught him precision, attention to detail, and how to present spaces in the most flattering light. Those skills proved invaluable when he moved into cityscapes and storm photography — where framing, timing and technical mastery are essential.
Today, he is known both for dramatic skyline images and for commercial work for real estate clients, a dual vocation that supports his personal projects and keeps him on rooftops where storms are often best viewed.
Recognition, reach and the Golden Visa
Over time Zohaib’s photographs were published across the world, and his work began to appear in newspapers, magazines and online outlets. That global exposure, combined with a professional reputation built on years of consistent output, contributed to his recognition in the UAE, where he secured a Golden Visa a milestone many view as official recognition of creative and professional contribution.
The attention also brought collaborations, speaking opportunities, and features in lifestyle and photography platforms that highlighted both his images and the method behind them.
The viral moment and media spotlight
When a single frame captures the world’s attention, it changes the photographer as well as the subject. Zohaib’s lightning images, especially those showing strikes across Dubai’s skyline, circulated widely across newsrooms and social feeds. Journalists and broadcasters reached out for context, and features in regional and international outlets chronicled how he’d spent years waiting for the perfect storm.
His work not only illustrated weather events but also narrated Dubai’s modern skyline in dramatic light a city revealed in thunderstorms rather than in the usual tourist glow. Major lifestyle outlets profiled him for his dedication and the risks he sometimes took to get the shot, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to be a storm chaser in an urban desert.
Technique, courage and the ethics of risky shoots
Zohaib is careful to emphasize that preparation and safety matter as much as creativity. Storm photography in the city is not about flirting with danger for clicks; it’s about planning, understanding where lightning is most likely to strike, and positioning oneself where a camera can capture the drama without crossing lines of safety and legality.
His background in real estate gave him access to rooftops and vantage points that are not always available to casual photographers. He combines that access with careful kit choices weatherproofing, long lenses, sturdy tripods and lightning triggers — and a mindset that puts the crew and bystanders first. Recent coverage describing his close encounters with lightning and high-altitude shoots highlights both his bravery and the precautions he takes.
Turning obstacles into opportunity
The path from a basic camera to international recognition was not linear. Limited resources and little early exposure forced Zohaib to be inventive. He learned through doing: reading forums, watching tutorials, collaborating with other photographers and taking on paid work in real estate to finance personal projects. Each assignment polished a skill that translated into the next opportunity.
The discipline of meeting client briefs for interiors and exteriors sharpened his eye; nights chasing storms taught him patience. Together, these experiences converted early obstacles into a durable foundation upon which a career could grow.
The role of storytelling in his work
At the heart of Zohaib’s photography is storytelling. He doesn’t just aim to document; he seeks to reveal the emotional and cultural currents beneath the surface of a scene. A storm-swept skyline can show the power of resilience, or a lightning bolt can symbolize sudden transformation.
Each frame begins with a question: What happens if I wait five more minutes? What if I change the angle? What story will the light tell at dawn? That narrative sensibility explains why his images resonate beyond technical merit: they feel lived-in and evocative, and they invite viewers to imagine what came before and after.
What drives him now: landscape, storm and global reach
Today Zohaib splits his energy between commercial projects and personal exploration. He works with leading real estate developers to create polished photography and videography for property marketing, while still hunting storms and pursuing landscape photography that takes him beyond the city.
He has traveled for shoots and found that the language of light translates everywhere — from desert squalls to mountain storms — and his aim is to grow as a global visual storyteller, bringing back images that connect audiences to places they may never visit in person.
Lessons learned and advice to the next generation
Zohaib’s message to young creators is straightforward and human: trust the journey and keep showing up. He believes consistency and passion can outwork early disadvantages, and that humility and craft matter more than overnight fame.
His own trajectory from a basic camera to photographing the world’s tallest and most iconic towers proves that slow work can add up to big results. For photographers and creatives, his story is a reminder: invest in your craft, learn from setbacks, and let your images narrate the courage behind them
The legacy he wants to leave
If asked how he hopes to be remembered, Zohaib offers an image rather than a claim: he wants to be remembered as a photographer who embraced the storm not as a reckless thrill-seeker, but as an artist who saw beauty in violence and light in chaos.
He hopes his work will inspire others to face their own storms with curiosity and courage, and to look for the kind of beauty that often arrives unannounced, when patience and preparation meet a perfect moment.
Closing: more than a photographer a storyteller with a lens
Zohaib Anjum’s journey is a study in persistence. A basic camera was not a limitation but a tool for transformation. Today, his photographs do more than decorate feeds: they archive weather, document a city’s mood and tell intimate human stories through the interplay of light, architecture and sky.
His career — shaped by commercial discipline and personal daring shows how adaptability and craft can create a meaningful life in the visual arts. For readers and aspiring photographers, his story is proof that passion, consistency and humility can build a platform where images become echoes of a life lived to find them.
Do follow him on Instagram.
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