David Yarrow
The Walk of Life
2018

About the Item

Amboseli, Kenya 2018 Archival Pigment Print on 315gsm Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta Paper Each is signed, dated and numbered on the front. Edition Size: 12 Available sizes: 48 x 55 inches 67 x 78 inches All prints are on 315gsm Hahnemühle photo rag Baryta paper and varnished after processing to give both endurance and sheen. Each is signed, dated and numbered on the front. Price includes David Yarrow's custom black ash frame, white archival matting and protective UV acrylic. For unframed, $1,500 will be deducted from the price. David Yarrow has built an unrivaled reputation for capturing the beauty of the planet’s remote landscapes, cultures and endangered animals. Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1966, he is an internationally acclaimed fine art photographer and Europe’s best selling wildlife photographer. "It was sometime after I took this evocative image, that I was able to check whether I had nailed it. It was my very last frame before I got off the ground and ran behind my jeep and there was no time to think, never mind look at the LCD screen. The mother was a colossus of an elephant and I cut it fine in terms of the narrowing distance between us - I guess I was just intoxicated by the sensational imagery I was seeing through the lens. To have been another two seconds on the ground, would have been to take unnecessary risk. I knew I had something very major and it was a relief to find out from the safety of the jeep that my focus was bang on. Before this privileged moment in Amboseli, I had never come close to a taking a decent portrait of a baby elephant. Babies are skittish, clingy and always well protected - most images tend to be messy with a cocktail of legs - some large, some small and I have also struggled to convey the height differential with a giant adult. The lack of clear opportunities should be no surprise - elephants have great emotional intelligence and no more so than in protecting their young - they are rarely physically detached from their mothers or herd. It is rare to even see them fully exposed to day light, unless they are running between adults. I want my work to be full of emotion - without this, there needs be a great number of compensating factors for a photograph to be transcendental. I think The Walk of Life will connect emotionally with people on a wide number of levels and provoke the odd goosebump and maybe even a tear. Its strength comes from the deep symbolism of the narrative - there is no more important job in the world than being a mother. 22 months is a long time to be pregnant and it seems to harbour the deepest of loves. I hope that the serenity and power of this image will allow it to stand the test of time. If that is the case, give the credit to the elephant not me. To quote John Donne; ”Nature's great masterpiece, an elephant; the only harmless great thing.” Look at this photograph and one can only find accord. I don’t tend to use long lenses and did not take one to Africa, but I knew from earlier failures in the week that if the elephant herd continued on their path towards me, I needed magnification for an image to work. A 105mm lens would have been too loose as I knew I would never be allowed to get close to the baby. The grass was too high for remotes with wide angles so I was stuffed with my preconceived and default position approach. Luckily, I was able to borrow a longer lens from the team. I guess it proves there are no rules in photography other than to adapt to circumstances as you find them." -David Yarrow

Creator:
David Yarrow (1966, Scottish)
Creation Year:
2018
Dimensions:
Height: 48 in (121.92 cm)Width: 55 in (139.7 cm)
Medium:
Archival Pigment
Movement & Style:
Contemporary
Period:
21st Century
Condition:
Gallery Location:
Chicago, IL
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU38832662001
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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.