The Art of Storytelling: By David Yarrow

"The cowboy is one of the most enduring symbols of America, and in many ways the history of the cowboy is joined at the hip with modern American history. It is a culture integral to the lore of the American West. Hollywood has long had a fascination with the cowboy and the Wild West, which is why the Western became a genre in itself. In my opinion, 19th-century Britain did not merit that same exclusive treatment because, for all its period drama, there was not the scale, the relevance, the locational grandeur, or the smorgasbord of characters. Jane Austen had many types to call upon in her novels but she never had a John Wayne.

I remember the first lime I was old enough to understand why the film The Searcher is lauded by film critics, in fact, I think it was probably only two years ago. As a storyteller and filmmaker, I appreciate so much more as I get older and recognize how difficult the art really is.To me, cinematic storytelling is about layer–it was not only about finding the angle for a close-up of John Wayne, but also about finding the location with Monument Valley behind him to give contextual narrative. If this is important in a Western, It is even more important in a still, as there is more of a need to inform in a single frame."

"Several years ago, I was invited over to a friend's house to meet a famous photographer. It was there, on a deck overlooking the Pacific Ocean, that I met David Yarrow. My first impression was that he was a tall man with a booming voice, Scottish accent, and huge grin. He had charm in spades, and we easily fell into conversation about different photographers and other topics. David contacted me in January and said he had an idea. He wanted to shoot me in a car with a Tamaskan dog and possibly try a few other setups as well. Since David's work is primarily sold as prints to galleries, he presented me with a unique offer. He and I would split the proceeds from any images of me that were sold, and my half would go to the charity of my choice. Since that first cold day in Montana, David and I have collaborated several times and raised more than $3 million for the American Family Children's Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. Each shoot has been thoughtful and unique. David doesn't call until he is personally excited about his next idea for me. He makes it such a pleasant and fun experience that it's always easy to say yes. 

David, thank you for this opportunity to put our talents to great use. Your creativity and excellence inspire me and many others, and your generosity is infectious." -  Cindy Crawford

"This is not just any ski resort; this is the unmistakable playground of Aspen - the most famous ski resort in the world and one where the slopes and the old silver mining town fuse as one. Aspen is the crown jewel of Colorado mountain resorts, and there is formidable competition for that accolade.

The once silver mining town, became an unlikely Rock & Roll town drawing established and aspiring creatives from every corner of the U.S. It may have been a growing haven for the Hollywood elite, however it welcomed talent and bad behaviour more than it did wealth. I have a sense that in the 1970s Aspen was as loosely governed as it was back in 1880 when it was a frontier mining town, that would be quite an achievement.  In my career, I have had the privilege of showing my art in some of the world's leading ski resorts: Courchevel, St. Moritz, Gstaad, and Kitzbühel in Europe, and Vail, Beaver Creek, and Big Sky in America. These are all high-end resorts with so much to offer the visitor, but none have the cultural breadth, the variety of nightlife, or indeed as extensive a ski lift system as Aspen, which spreads over four mountains."

"The best relationships have trust as a cornerstone, and because trust has to be earned by both sides, good relationships take time to evolve and mature. I started working with Kevin Richardson–known as the Lion Whisperer–in 2014, and since then a deep-rooted friendship has developed. Initially, the goal was simply to take photographs to glorify the magnificent lions in his care, but over time, as trust has built, I have been able to push boundaries creatively.

In the early days, our work together was straight-forward, though we did explore ways in which I could work immersively, either through the use of cages or remote-control units. The intent was always to be as close to the lion as possible without taking any risks. There was a default position of being lower than the lions in order to showcase their size. More recently, Kevin and I have become more ambitious and looked to create sets to help tell a story rather than simply take a portrait. It's incumbent on artists to always push forward creatively, and our relationship has offered a platform to positively discuss and explore ideas without dismissing anything as being impossible. With Kevin, a culture has developed whereby almost anything is possible."

"In 2022, we undertook a Wild West shoot at the old Marlboro Ranch, which was previously owned by Philip Morris. Nestled below the Crazy Mountains, the place is now called the Crazy Mountain Ranch. There are only a handful of these private Wild West locations in America that work for filmmakers, and, to the best of my knowledge, the most authentic and practical are in New Mexico and Montana. The 1,000-mile distance between the two is a helpful insight into the breadth of the push west in America.This was no local affair; it consumed the entire length of the country from the Mexican border to the Canadian border. I scouted locations in New Mexico, and one, Bonanza Creek Ranch is now infamous for the shooting tragedy on set in 2021. The Wild West required fortitude, and the snow levels of Montana give a guaranteed nod to that. I knew that in March in the Crazy Mountains snow cover was a given, even if we were five days behind the most recent snowfall. So we chose Montana for the shoot rather than New Mexico. I have made mistakes in shoots like this one in the past, and one lesson I have learned is to always have optionality and not start a day being too rigid. I therefore bring more than we need: more people, more horses, more wagons, and more props, such as lumber and barrels. The only fixed variable is that I have conviction on which lenses I will be using, in particular with the panoramic street shots."