ABOUT
My name is Baqir Kazmi and I’m an aviation photographer from Islamabad, Pakistan. From watching jets in the sky as a kid to chasing them through a lens, this is the story of how aviation shaped my world and made me who I am today. What started as simple fascination evolved into a purpose and a calling rooted in a deep, unshakable love for the beauty of flight.
Go through the different phases of my life below where I explain my journey through aviation, from childhood wonder to a lifelong pursuit.
THE SPARK
It started in the early 2010s, during weekend drives with my father to the old Islamabad Airport, now known as Nur Khan Air Base. I was just a kid back then, standing at the edge of the runway with a basic camera in hand and eyes fixed on the threshold of the runway. Spotting wasn’t easy. There were always airport security officers watching, and I’d get questioned almost every time. But none of that really mattered to me. I wasn’t there to cause trouble, I was just in love with the sight and sound of aircraft. The roar of engines, the sudden burst of motion, the thrill of seeing something powerful take off right in front of me. That’s where it all began.
THE OBSESSION
As my love for aviation grew, I started a YouTube channel and posted whatever I could – Rooftop clips of passing planes, flight sim videos, even recordings my dad took while flying out of town. The quality didn’t matter. I just wanted in.
At school, I’d watch PAF C-130s fly low circuits over and over again. And every March, when Parade rehearsals kicked off next door, I’d wait for the jets. The roar would reach us before the planes did, and I’d rush to the corridors just to catch a glimpse. That sound meant everything.
THE CRAFT
In 2017, everything changed when I got my first camera. I went from just watching planes to chasing them with a lens. I explored every spot around the airport, capturing anything that flew.
That same year, I launched a Facebook page called Baqir’s Aviation. No strategy, no audience, just raw passion and a name that felt like mine. With every shot, I started learning the craft. It wasn’t just about taking photos. It was about making people feel the moment.
THE MISSION
As my work grew, so did the opportunities. I was invited to capture moments most only dream of. From the inauguration of Islamabad International Airport to the arrival of Pakistan’s first Airbus A380, and major milestones like Air Sial’s launch and AirBlue’s first flight to Skardu.
These weren’t just milestones. They were reminders that the passion I started with had found purpose, connecting people to aviation through my lens.
"Home is wherever the flying machines are!"
THE JOURNEY AHEAD
I couldn’t pursue aviation in the conventional way, not as a pilot, not through a uniform or license. But that never changed how deeply it lived within me. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that you don’t need to be in the cockpit to belong to the skies. Through my camera, my work, and every story I tell, I’ve found my own path.
This passion has shaped how I see the world and how I move through it. No matter where life takes me, whatever city, whatever career, the spirit of flight will always burn within. It’s more than a hobby. It’s a promise I’ve made to myself — to keep aviation a part of my journey, always.
