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Fahad, we begin with the usual and trite question ... Who are you? How would you define yourself in three words?

I am based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and I am a self-schooled photographer, versatile in style with a natural eye for color, tone and composition.

My reportage work reflects an inimitable ability to get inside a subject and explore the inner workings and intricate aspects and deliver an accurate interpretation of mood, environment and emotive balance through mr images.

My work been published in a number of local and international publications and has documented a number of high profile events culminating in an exciting and varied body of work. I am actively involved in the local and international photographic, art communities and Charities.

The three words that describe me and photography: Timeless, Emotional and Natural

Live in Dubai, a name that evokes for us Italian exoticism and luxury. How is the creative community in the nation? And the stock has appreciated as art?

Art in Dubai is growing rapidly, Multi Cultural environment provides a good opportunity to many to interact and work with artists from different backgrounds.

For past few years a lot hard work has been put in place by government and artists, may galleries have come up and there is also Yearly Art Dubai event which showcases art from middle east and around the world, which is supported and funded by the government.

It helps people to discover their hidden talents, as well learn from others experiences. Dubai beind a global village draws inspiration and attention from around the world.


3) I state of being ignorant on the subject and then I say nonsense. Many believe that Islam prohibits any form of representing the human figure, such as in painting or sculpture. It’s true? Why this prohibition shall not apply to photography?

Every religion has influenced art since the beginning of human creation, art comes within a human being and its always influenced by their thoughts whether its religious, social or personal. For example you can see the churches and their art incorporated designs in Christianity, in Islam you see calligraphy and Islamic architecture , Hinduism there is painted sculptures and dance, even in ancient times people were influenced by the way they lived art is incorporated in their pottery and walls . I believe all religions have do’s and don’ts, and Islam prohibits anything which is created by humans. Major reason for it is that people start worshiping sculptures and human figures down the years and for Muslims only god has to be worshipped without any shape and size. By Creating sculptures or paintings of humans we tend to forget what do coming generations take them as.

Some scholars in Islam have debated on photography and it’s not conclusive yet, as it only captures what you see and it does not create. We have a major problem in creating something which is not. And for me as long as its done in pure intentions and without hurting any religions or race, I wouldn’t say it’s wrong, but as human beings we break rules and that doesn’t mean rules aren’t in place.

How much of the Arab culture is reflected in your art?

Having grown up in a multi cultural environment like Dubai, I think many cultures of influenced my Art. Only way to excel in photography is not to have boundaries. One should always keep getting influenced by different cultures and people. So I would say it has influenced me at very minimal.



How did you find to be a photographer?

Being a Photographer helped explore myself rather than anything wle and made me see things which I always looked at in the past . It opened my mind to life that exists besides ours and gave me ability to learn from different people. And this is the best anyone could ask for .

Are you a rebel?

Yes, I am rebellious in nature. As I mentioned if you have boundaries, you just cannot succeed in photography.

What is the beauty for you?

Beauty is what one sees it to be beautiful. Everything and everyone is beautiful according to me, a popular quote says “beauty lies in the eye of beholder” I would second that.

In your work you have devoted to various genres such as landscape, fashion photography and reportage. What type of photography you feel closer to your soul?

Portraits and Street Photography are very close to me. It gives me ability to interact with people personally and learn about their lives.

I think I can capture real emotions that way, closer you get to people, more they open up to true emotions. And there is nothing like a honest photograph.

It 's more difficult to find beauty in a landscape or a model?

I think none, if you have an eye to capture it then everything is perfectly available to you to capture it. Most difficult photography for me is to capture real emotions and real people, as you only get only one opportunity and you have to be best at it or you miss it.

The Fashion Photography, or Light of the futility of praise?

I believe noting is futile, everything has a purpose. It all depends on priorities of every individual and artist.



Do you love art? Believe you have been influenced by any artist, ancient or modern?

I love art, I think it’s the only way a human can fully express themselves. Da Vinci, Rembrandt influenced me as painters. I love the work of ansel adams, Alfred Eisenstaedt and John McNally as some of the photographers. All photographers and painters have their own unique styles and they all influence me in a way of their own.

There is only you and your Camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are. Why did you choose this phrase as a cultural manifesto Haas?

When you have a camera in your hand, you capture what you see and think. The things you envision are your visions, and if they are limited then you don’t grow beyond a point. You become limited, and once a photographer is limited in his ability then it’s the end of his art.

The quote by Haas Highlights the issue very well, we photograph according to our limitations. So knowledge and experiences should expand your limitations to move further in you art.

The Art Philosophy and without experience of life that the feed is reduced to mere decoration. What do you think?

Art as I said comes within the artist itself and is influenced by his or her imagination, and imagination expands from experience. Experiencing life is important to understand the art by an artist and also for people who appreciate art.

Art and Life are both interconnected, and both complement each other. Without understanding and experiencing life , art is a mere decoration.

Nothing is more difficult to portray a person, because to rip his mask, to understand who he is, you must give him a part of themselves. What do you think? It can be applied to your photo?

Human beings are complex organisms. You cannot fully explore a person while portraying him as your subject. Interaction at their level is very important to get a honest emotion, as a photographer you should have ability to become one of them for a moment and get your shot. I believe every human has a animal instinct , as soon as they sense danger they go back into the shell.

Mutual comfort at human level is very important for great photography.

In a world poisoned by bad, even the decoration may have utility? And this is what is reflected in the picture?

Well for some it’s a fashion statement and decoration, but nothing goes to waste. For some it may be useless but for some it can be a life changing experience. Art is never wasted.



What books do you read? What music are you listening?

I am not great fan of reading books, but I have interest towards History, Travel and Photography. So any books on those subjects are good enough for me. I love music and I listen to whatever is easy on my ears and has a meaning to it. Lyrics with good music is very important to me. Music that touches your soul.

For me writing is to travel in my inner depths, to exorcise my nightmares. For you, however, what value does the photograph?

A photograph for me is part of my soul, it is what I see , it is what I feel and it is how I want to make a difference.

Your favorite movie? The dish you love most?

My favorite movie is AT FIRST SIGHT , its an American Film based on a true story of Shirl Jennings who regained sight after a lifelong blindness.

The film portrays importance of sight and how to see things rather than just look at them. I think every photographer should watch it. And I love italian Food, it’s my all time favorite.

What are the photographers you admire most? Observe their work, what did you learn?

Ansel Adams, Alfred Eisenstaedt and John McNally to name a few. I have learnt a lot from their photography specially nothing is impossible if you have vision and you have to create opportunities on your own.

Some of their works also inspired me to see things rather than look. It also thought me a good photography will not come to you, you have to go to a good photograph.



Can you describe your creative process?

Fact Finding: Where you do research and collect data about your surroundings. You notice a subject that you’d like to photograph and note the different elements of the environment that attract you to the scene. Or you imagine a subject and how you’d like to portray it your imagery.

Problem Findings: Where you pinpoint specific problems in the current method or areas that could be made more efficient. You evaluate the lighting conditions, shadows, backgrounds and anything that might conflict with the way you’d like your final image to look.
Idea Finding: Where you mull over your collected data from the first two stages and brainstorm new ideas for success or originality. You come up with ideas such as angles of view or directions and quality of lighting that might better emphasize your subject.

Solution Finding: Where you come up with specific solutions to the problems or barriers in your process. You consider exactly what equipment you’ll need, which lens to use and where you’ll need to stand in order to effectively capture the scene as you imagine it.

Plan of Action: Where you carry forward and implement your new ideas to achieve something brand new. You plug in your lights, grab your camera, move around, reposition the subject and actually take the photograph. And most of the time plan of action changes and you find a photograph where you expect the least.

Among the Italian photographers there is a big debate about using Photoshop to rework the image, seen as a betrayal of Photography. What do you think?

Well, I think as long as you use Photoshop as a replacement for dark room then it is fine, other that it will fall into photo manipulation. 90% of the photographers have migrated from film to digital format and if they post process the picture in Photoshop the same way they used to do back in the day than I don’t see why is every debating.

People who manipulate photographs can be classified as digital artists rather than photographers. Everyone should accept change, before camera there was a pin hole camera before that people use to paint. No one can stop evolution, why not embrace it .

Your best photo?

My favorite Photo till now is Sleep Hollow it’s a picture of a heroin addict lying on a bench with his head hidden from the world. It is also selected for national geographic stock photography. The caption of the pictures says :

I lie on the wooden surface waiting for the thick crowd to get meager…… so I may be able to breath for a while ... and then hide from the people around...the people who belong to this world…… the world which has given me nothing……….the world which laughs at me….the world which looks at me as a man with no desires….. Wrong……I do have desires……..but I wish to live in an escapism of my own ….. Where I could hunt for relief and pleasure….. And…..construct my own boundaries to remain at a distance from the world which has been so cruel to me…..



How would you explain to a child the meaning of photography?

one word: vision.

Call it vision, imagination, or seeing; it all comes down to the same thing: the ability to envision a final result in your mind's eye, and then to make it so with your tools at hand.
So start with capturing what you see, tools come later. Vision is the priority.

Are you fascinated by nature the most photographed, with its majestic grandeur, or the City, with History, testimoianza the grandeur and misery of man?

I don’t limit myself and I have no boundaries, and I am willing to be amazed and fascinated by everything that you have mentioned. Everything has its own experience and aura to learn.

In addition to fashion photography, you have dedicated to social reportage. There is a possibility that photography could help change the world?

Photography has become part of the media for a long time now , it’s the only art other than cinema and music that can reach masses. And people change the world, photography for sure can highlight plight of people. Photographs can hit the minds of the views hard and one photographs has the ability to tell the whole story.

What are the projects that you have marked social Photography more spiritually?

My projects with Heroin addicts and People of Swat (Pakistan) changed me spiritually. It made me thankful for what we have and it also made me aware that we can change the world if we have the will to do it.

In the photo reportage, are more important than the instinct, the eye or the right?

In photo reportage the most important thing is timing, you have to be at the right place at the right time. And you should than have an eye to capture the truth and make sure that the photograph tells the honest story.

You were also a war photographer in the campaigns against the Talibaan. What can you tell us about this experience?

My trip to war torn Swat region of Pakistan, and largest internally displaced people on earth, I lived inside the warzone for six days. The fight was between Islamist Talibaan (Islamic Students) and Pakistan army, and millions of people were caught between the crossfire. It changed me spiritually, seeing children suffer for no fault of theirs was heart trenching.

And it also thought me that what we see on most of the media is not the truth, governments shows us only what they want us to see. And it was amazing to meet the local population who with all hardship had will to help each other and live bravely through it. Even with all that was going on they made sure I was safe and I was well kept.



Photographing children is to find the innocence and hope hidden within each of us?

Children are innocent and away from all the negative influences. And child will always emote something which is natural, while adult emotions are influenced by their own thoughts and personality either negative or positive.

Expectations for the Future? New Projects?

I expect to learn further about art and emotions. I expect my new projects to be closer to life and people. My next project will be something to do with charity work in Africa and Pakistan.

The Beauty will save the world?

Nothing is eternal, especially beauty. Let it be in the form of nature or a person, everything wither. The true beauty lies in the moment, if you have captured it great enough as there cannot be any guarantee of it to be there again.

The world has to end one day, therefore we should all spend our time to explore the beauty within and do our best to preserve it in our photographs.