A fighter pilot's love for photography: Shooting in the sky

Aerial photography is no easy task but for photographer and fighter pilot Hamid Faraz, it’s a breeze

The Chinese president’s visit to Pakistan last month set the tone: for ‘all-weather’ friends, the sky is the limit. It was, therefore, befitting for President Xi Jinping’s aircraft to be escorted by eight PAF JF-17 Thunders as it entered Pakistani airspace on April 20. And the man behind the iconic photograph shifts focus to tell The Express Tribune about his profession and passion.

“I am a fighter pilot by profession, but aviation photography is my passion,” says Air Commodore Hamid Faraz, days after he captured the shot of the Chinese head of state’s plane being escorted by fighter jets. Capturing a moment while both the photographer and subject are airborne is no walk in the park, but for Faraz, 50, it is a walk in the clouds. “It was a huge responsibility but the air force trusted me with the job and I prepared extensively. I have done aviation photography earlier. It was the experience that give me the confidence to do this well,” he adds.

Though a fighter pilot by profession, Faraz says his passion is photography. PHOTO COURTESY: HAMID FARAZ

Taking a photo of another plane from a fighter jet is extremely difficult. “The photographer has to keep in mind a number of things when he is sitting in the cockpit. If the angle is not right, the reflection of the cockpit will spoil the photo,” explains Faraz, adding that it was a major challenge and an important occasion. The pilot flying the jet carrying the photographer was also briefed in advance. During the flight, Faraz further guided the pilot to ensure that both of them were on the same page. Being a fighter pilot himself, Faraz is more comfortable compared to many other airborne photographers. But the planning was nevertheless meticulous, he says. “You have to assess the sun’s position, how you will capture the image of the plane and how much distance you will maintain to take a good photograph.”

Faraz has captured several airborne photographs, but this was the first time he took pictures of a Head of State’s plane. For this particular assignment, Faraz took over 100 photographs and also shot a video. “You come to know about the results only once you download the pictures to a computer.” And the results were satisfactory, shares Faraz. “My photographs could be compared with the world’s best photographers,” he says with pride. “The backdrop and lighting were as I had imagined them to be before embarking on the mission.” He eventually settled for a picture with an excellent view of the blue sky and a complete undercast of white clouds, with the aircraft close to the horizon, he shares.

Air Commodore Hamid Faraz.

The photograph is symbolic because the JF-17 programme is a joint venture between Pakistan and China, stated to be the flagship of friendly relations between the two states. The JF-17 is jointly designed and produced at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra, offering a unique opportunity for strategic engagement between the aviation industries of both countries.

Additionally, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has a tradition of welcoming visiting heads of states/governments of friendly countries, says PAF Director Media Air Commodore Syed Muhammad Ali. PAF’s incumbent Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, also had the honour of leading such a formation during his illustrious career, shares the PAF spokesperson. As a wing commander, Aman led a formation of F-16 aircraft escorting the visiting Chinese president Jiang Zemin in December 1996.

Tahir Khan is an Islamabad-based reporter for The Express Tribune.

He tweets @taahir_khan

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, May 17^th, 2015.