Meet The Dubai Storm Chaser Behind The Viral Burj Khalifa Lightning Shots
Renowned for his captivating stormy skyline images, Zohaib Anjum shares exclusively with Bazaar Arabia his relentless pursuit of these breathtaking scenes
A bright flash engulfed everything in sight. It blinded and deafened him for a few seconds, causing the hair on his head (and eyebrows!) to stand up. A neighbouring tower had just been struck by lightning during the rainy season in Dubai and Zohaib Anjum found himself within close proximity.
This wasn’t the first time the 36-year-old storm chaser saw one of the city’s iconic skyscrapers getting hit, but it was definitely the closest he had been to a strike. The seasoned photographer took cover temporarily before resuming his pursuit of capturing Mother Nature’s most illuminating spectacles — something he never misses every time overcast skies hit the UAE.
How Zohaib Anjum Became A Storm Chaser
The love he has for taking pictures isn’t new. He’s been in the industry as a real estate photographer for over 16 years. His job allows him to access the top of buildings, some as high as 264m tall, where he walks to the edge of the roof to get the best shots.
It was one snapshot that he took in 2011 of the Dubai skyline painted silver during a rainy day that started his journey of chasing and capturing storms.
While the image gathered plenty of attention online and bragging rights in front of his friends and family, Zohaib was not quite satisfied. He had another goal in mind — he wanted to capture the magnificent moment the world’s tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa, got struck by lightning.
“I need to be unique in a world where everyone can take pictures of the storm. When you click a picture of lightning with an iconic tower and the skyline, it represents Dubai,” the Pakistani expat who was born and brought up in the UAE said.
But it didn’t come easy. Zohaib was chasing storms for seven years before he finally reached his dream goal.
He patiently waited for any signs of adverse weather conditions with all his equipment poised and ready to go – tripod, professional camera, raincoat, rubber boots, and even a waterproof tent if his pursuit required an overnight stay.
In 2018, it was a particularly severe storm that left him victorious. Parked on the side of Al Khail Road, he finally captured the precise moment one of the world’s most famous buildings was struck by a lightning.
The next morning, the radio called him, and the image he captured was used by news outlets not only in the UAE, but all over the world.
“It encouraged me a lot. It was my proudest moment and I have never looked back ever since”. From that point onwards, his shots and videos have regularly gone viral on Instagram over the years. With a clip of the region’s torrential downpours this winter garnering over 16 million views.
“Now people know that whenever there is an indication of a storm, I will be heading out and taking pictures and they wait for them to be uploaded,” he said.
The Struggle Behind The Pretty Picture
But behind the scenes, there’s a grind that people don’t necessarily know about.
His day starts with meticulously tracking weather apps and the news to see whether a storm is brewing. “I monitor where it’s coming from, whether it’s the seaside or other parts of the UAE,” he said. This helps him estimate which part of the country will be hit first.
Next, he gets his kit ready and drives to the location, most of the time at odd hours of the day. Sometimes the ‘chase’ can take up to 2 days. His car and trusty tent are his only companions on these expeditions.
He also credits his success to his supportive wife, who helps him with his equipment.
“I return puffy-eyed, sometimes soaking wet and I’ve even had my car completely give up on me multiple times. It’s not always pretty, there’s a struggle behind it,” he said, adding that storm chasing “isn’t for everyone”.
But for Zohaib, it’s all worth it once he gets to retouch his pictures and share them with the world via Instagram.
With no signs of stopping, he is currently training his 11-year-old daughter to become the next storm chaser in the family. Wearing her colourful rubber boots and umbrella, she has been accompanying him on his recent adventures. Will she be Dubai’s youngest, female adventure photographer? We’ll have to wait and see.
Lead Image Supplied