David Yarrow
The Barber Off Fairfax
2018

About the Item

Los Angeles, USA 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 83 inches 59 x 109 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. "About a month ago when I was working out of our studio in Los Angeles, I was in need of a serious haircut. It was a baking hot day and in the interests of time, I thought I could combine it with a supply trip to Samy’s Camera in West Hollywood, which is located on Fairfax. Google quickly threw out a good number of suggestions as to who could undertake the 20 minutes of perfunctory scissor work - which was no real surprise as Fairfax is the embodiment of contemporary hipster culture and barbers are very “now”. I found myself being directed to an established called “The Proper Barbershop” five minutes from Samy’s. Google has never done me such a big favour. As soon as I arrived, I realised that I had been directed to a jewel of a location. The shop was a museum to LA popular culture from the last 40 years - almost no wall space had been spared - the 1920’s barber chairs from Chicago were surrounded by a visual palette as strong as I had seen in any room for some time. The commercial proposition of dudes cutting the hair of people that aspire to be dudes has legs in 2018 and here in front of me - by pure chance - was a category killer barber. The chairs were all full and they had no room for me - indeed, they are full every day and so it become clear that The Proper Barbershop is a West Hollywood institution. Just like the leading restaurants on Melrose a mile to the west, walk in customers are almost always turned away. The destination is hard core - half empty whisky and tequila bottles fight for space with hair product (and generally win that battle). Meanwhile, most of the stylists are covered from the head down in tattoos, whilst the loo is decorated exclusively in heterosexual porn photos. One of the prominent artists in the shots is indeed the wife of the senior stylist - something good customers find out. The barber is something of a monument to the intense liberalism that is integral to the West Hollywood way of life. It may only be 20 minutes from Beverly Hills, but this part of LA, dances to a very different beat. I came home with no change to my middle-aged hair, but the seeds of an idea that evolved with every glass of scotch that night. There was a chance, if I could persuade Vinnie, the owner, to give me access, to capture a powerful staged image of this authentic and symbolic location, but it would need a great deal of planning for me not to let the location down. Earlier this year, I took the shot “The Usual Suspects” in a bar in Montana, and the success of the image fuelled my creative courage. The two venues shared similarities not just in the shape and low lighting of the room, but also in that they were both home to people that lend themselves to stylisation. The next day, I took my production team and my daughter - Jade - to the location (although I spared her a tour of the loo). They all immediately recognised the opportunity and I knew then I had no choice but to cancel existing plans to focus on this project. That’s the way this gig goes, I guess. It’s like a dog with a bone - you see something that is visually transcending and there is an urge to act immediately - not to wait six weeks or even six months. I am not sure whether spontaneity is always a good thing, but when it happens, it tends to be a very powerful emotion. Happily, Vinnie was keen to collaborate - although it was clear that we would have to close the barbers down for a day and that this would not be cheap as his stylists can each take over $600 a day. I knew I needed characters in the image that would highlight the vibrant culture of LA and the hipster vibe of Fairfax. The Compton Cowboys were a starting point - and I knew from the huge success of the 2017 Guinness advert, that they could work with the camera. I thought a 1970’s roller blading disco girl was a great additive especially if I could find another Boogie Nights type character to endorse that angle. Then I just wanted some bad ass characters and finally - of course - a gay cop. The best image from that day is a cracker. From a technical perspective, it was the toughest day’s photography all year - there was so little light coming into the shop and I didn't want to destroy the sense of place by using too much LED panel lighting. We were working on long shutter speeds and wide-open apertures. Getting that crowd and the horse to stay still was no easy task. What am I trying to say with the image? Nothing - it’s just the “Barber off Fairfax”." -David Yarrow

Creator:
David Yarrow (1966, Scottish)
Creation Year:
2018
Dimensions:
Height: 48 in (121.92 cm)Width: 83 in (210.82 cm)
Medium:
Archival Pigment
Movement & Style:
Contemporary
Period:
21st Century
Condition:
Gallery Location:
Chicago, IL
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU38833398601
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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.