David Yarrow

Renowned for his impactful, close encounter photography of wildlife and the environment, David Yarrow’s work has demonstrated the ability to capture wild animals in their natural habitat to create images full of passion, drama, and empathy. David Yarrow is distinguished for his resilience in the field. Whether his pictures require setting up camp in the wilderness of Alaska or being locked in a cage surrounded by Siberian Tigers, it is Yarrow’s determined focus and commitment to excellence that allows each of his pictures to have a life and story of their own. Indeed, Yarrow’s final images take patience and technical skill. He thoroughly researches his photography’s logistics before embarking on an adventure and beginning the physical process of locating and executing the perfect shot. Equally popular are the constructed photographs David elaborately stages, which often nod to great American cinema. These pictures are full of surprises and become visual adventures involving celebrities and trained animals.

David Yarrow was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1966. He 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, David took the famous picture of Diego Maradona holding the World Cup and, as a result, was subsequently asked to cover the Olympics and numerous other sporting events. Many years later, David established himself as a photographer by documenting the natural world from new perspectives.

David’s evocative and immersive photography of life on earth is distinctive and has earned him an ever-growing following amongst art collectors. He is now recognized as one of the best-selling photographers globally.

African imagery is at the heart of the project Encounter, exhibited in November 2013 in Hong Kong, New York, and London’s Saatchi Gallery. He is the author of four photography books: Nowhere (2007,) Encounter (2013,) Wild Encounters (2016,) and David Yarrow Photography: Americas Africa Antarctica Arctic Asia Europe (2019.)

David’s latest book Storytelling features over 130 of David Yarrow’s images taken since 2019. The book features a foreword written by American cultural icon Cindy Crawford. David and Cindy’s collaboration has allowed them to raise over $3 million so far for the UW Health Kids Cancer Care Charity.

David was shortlisted for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award for 2013. His photographic travels have given him genuine insights into key environmental and geopolitical issues. This knowledge is put to practical use in his long-term commitment to Tusk, a leading African conservation charity, and other charities where, overall, he has raised $10million of donations.

Yarrow continues to travel throughout the world, photographing many of the planet’s most remote and beautiful locations.