David Yarrow
Purgatory
Durango, CO - 2024

About the Item

Available in the following sizes: 52 x 63 inches, Edition of 12 71 x 87 inches, Edition of 12 “My plan was to build a set around an old Wild West railway line and go back 100 years. Perhaps we could then celebrate life on the final frontier with a photograph that could be printed large and benefit from the extraordinary resolution of modern-day cameras. I wanted a vignette with picturesque sentimentality. The community of Durango, Colorado was so supportive of the plan that 80 extras were sourced with no difficulty and there was warm approval to build the set near the main ski area in the region; the wonderfully named Purgatory. The challenge was to find compositional balance between all the extras and the wider contextual narrative. I was most reluctant to crop too much of the smoke plume as it gave such a sense of scale. The X factor prop at my disposal was the train and I wanted to celebrate its beauty and timelessness. My leaning was also to very much play on the idea of scale. This was a time when humans were made to feel small, both by the grandeur of the untamed scenery and the scale of the challenges of life. I therefore set up this historical tableau with the intent of glorifying the steam train and the backdrop without necessarily deprioritising the cast. I didn’t see it as a one way or the other trade. Anyone there that day can very much see themselves. It was a fun morning and the essence of participation art. I could not have done this without the help of the good folk in the San Juan mountains and they certainly dressed as directed.” – David Yarrow

Creator:
David Yarrow (1966, Scottish)
Creation Year:
Durango, CO - 2024
Dimensions:
Height: 52 in (132.08 cm)Width: 47 in (119.38 cm)
Medium:
Archival Pigment
Movement & Style:
Contemporary
Period:
2010-
Condition:
Gallery Location:
Los Angeles, CA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU383313862602
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David Yarrow

David Yarrow, born 1966 in Scotland, took up photography at an early age, as a 20-year-old he found himself working as a photographer for The London Times on the pitch at the World Cup Final in Mexico City. On that day, he took the sensationalized picture of Diego Maradona holding the World Cup and, as a result, was subsequently asked to cover the Olympics and numerous other high profile sporting events.

Many years later, Yarrow established himself as a fine art photographer by documenting the natural world from new perspectives and recent years have been career-defining for his mark on the world of contemporary fine art photography.

Yarrow’s evocative and immersive photography of life on earth is most distinctive and has earned him an ever-growing following among art collectors and celebrities. His distinct large monochrome images made in Los Angeles are on display in leading galleries and museums across Europe and North America. Yarrow is now recognized as one of the best-selling fine art photographers in the world and his limited edition works regularly sell at high prices at Sotheby’s and other auction houses.

In September 2019, Rizzoli published their second book by Yarrow, with a personal foreword written by global NFL star Tom Brady and thoughtful afterword written by American cultural icon and supermodel Cindy Crawford. All royalties from the book have been donated to conservation charities Tusk in the UK and WildAid in the US.

Yarrow's position in the industry has been rewarded with a wide range of advisory and ambassadorial roles. He is an ambassador for WildArk and The Kevin Richardson Foundation and is the European ambassador for Nikon. Yarrow has been integral to Nikon's most anticipated camera release of the last decade. In December 2017, he shot LVMH’s latest “Don’t Crack Under Pressure” campaign with Cara Delevingne. In January 2019, he was appointed as a global ambassador for UBS. In the spring of 2020, Yarrow was appointed a global ambassador for Best Buddies – one of America’s most established children’s charities.

Yarrow became an ambassador for the African Community and Conservation Foundation and presented his work in the Endangered Rangers virtual fundraiser. At the start of 2020, Yarrow was in Australia documenting the devastating bush fires that have destroyed communities, wildlife and wildlands. Using the striking images that he captured of the effects of the fire, he launched the #KoalaComeback Campaign to support the recovery efforts in Australia. The campaign raised over $1.4 million, and as Yarrow continues to work for humanitarian causes, his steadfast determination continues to make positive change for the benefit of global awareness. Currently, Yarrow continues to create stunning imagery with lasting global impact and archival quality that speaks to his reverence for the art of photography in capturing the wonders of the world.

Find a collection of original David Yarrow photography on 1stDibs.