“Your photography is a record of your living, for anyone who really wants to see.”Paul Strand
Zafar Ahmad Khan is a humanitarian photographer known for going an extra mile to work in the thick of things. Born in Pakistan, and attaining a degree in IT from the University of Punjab in Lahore, Zafar decided to seek his passion in photography and thus the formation of Zak Studios.
Zafar brings a classic approach to digital photography. His work entails the combination of olden photographic techniques and modern-day technology. With the use of the Carl Zeiss’ Lenses and operating the camera on manual mode, he waits to click the perfect moment. Patience is his greatest tactic!
During the early stages of his career, Zafar found himself privileged to shadow an award-winning, international photographer; Mueen-ud-Din Hameed who also happened to be his relative. He watched as Mueen-ud- Din held his camera like a precious diamond, lifting and balancing the lens the way a painter might work with his brush, with extreme care and focus. From him, Zafar grasped the importance of timing in photography, a necessity to capture intimate moments in a large crowd.
Zafar developed a range of skills in the industry over the course of 20 years. He finds great pleasure in immersing himself in experiences that he has been entrusted with. He has worked with various organizations including; UNICEF, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and The Asian Development Bank (ADB). Zafar has contributed to projects such as the Mountain Areas Conservancy Project, The Pakistan Earthquake Emergency Project and various Children’s’ Education, Children’s Health Care and Protection from abuse and exploitation projects.
Photography comes naturally to Zafar. As a child, the National Geography Magazine pictorials would always intrigue him. His father, who was a teacher, would explain the narrative of arts, the historical and scientific implications of the images and how the story connected to them. With this, he gained the skill for observation. Groomed by his father, Zafar gained the confidence to portray memories in black and white – he adores the texture,nuance and definition it brings out when you’re not getting lost in the color.
Zafar continues to live by his dream of making the world a better place by displaying the struggles of human life and the role donors and sponsors play to assist the affected people. He aims to become an effective communicator through his art of photography and reach out to international agencies to create documentaries.
