Open Water

Alaska, USA 2018

Available Sizes (Framed Size)
Large: 71” x 92”. Edition of 12
Standard: 52” x 66”. Edition of 12

This “once in a lifetime” encounter with an adult polar bear in the choppy Beaufort Sea was a real test to capture. Keeping the camera and its long lens steady in this situation is close to impossible. My frame would move as the small boat moved - sometimes quite violently.

When the light is poor, the photographer has no chance with these moments, but on this glorious morning I did have a chance as the light was so strong that I could work with a very fast shutter speed. That way the impact of the movement of the camera and the boat could be nullified.

It is moments like this that make the job so rewarding - but they are few and far between. It is imperative to put in the hours. What a majestic mammal.

David Yarrow is recognized as one of the world’s best-selling photographers. He has found his true comfort zone in capturing the animal and human world in a fresh and creative way. A key part of his success has been creating art through partnerships with a philanthropic objective and this has enabled him to work with leading figures in sports, fashion, and Hollywood, such as Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne, Ciara and Russell Wilson, and Alessandra Ambrosio. Since 2019, charitable donations from the sale of Yarrow’s images have exceeded $10 million.

Yarrow was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1966. He took up photography at an early age and as a 20-year-old 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. His distinctive work in recent years has earned him an ever-growing following amongst art collectors. Yarrow is now represented by some of the top contemporary galleries around the world. In the Autumn of 2022, Rizzoli published David’s third book, Storytelling.