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        • DAVID YARROW, HELLO
        • DAVID YARROW, HOKKAIDO
        • DAVID YARROW, SWAN LAKE
        • DAVID YARROW, LION KING
        • DAVID YARROW, THE PUZZLE
        • DAVID YARROW, NO NEARER
        • DAVID YARROW, THE CIRCLE OF LIFE
        • DAVID YARROW, THE CROSSING
        • DAVID YARROW, THE KILLER
        • DAVID YARROW, THE KING AND I
        • DAVID YARROW, THE PRIZE
        • DAVID YARROW, THE SIBERIANS
        • DAVID YARROW, JAWS
        • DAVID YARROW, THE SILVERBACK
        • DAVID YARROW, WILD
        • DAVID YARROW, WHITE RUSH
        • DAVID YARROW, LORD OF THE RINGS
        • DAVID YARROW, The Prize
        • DAVID YARROW, BEAR WALKS INTO A BAR
        • DAVID YARROW, DETROIT
        • DAVID YARROW, THE WOLF OF MAIN STREET
        • DAVID YARROW, THE WOLF OF MAIN STREET III
        • DAVID YARROW, A SHIP CALLED DIGNITY
        • DAVID YARROW, 78 DEGREES NORTH
        • DAVID YARROW, AFRICAN TAILS
        • DAVID YARROW, MYSTIC RIVER
        • DAVID YARROW, THE OLD TESTAMENT
        • DAVID YARROW, CONTENTMENT
        • DAVID YARROW, THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE ASS
        • DAVID YARROW, THE WILD WEST
        • DAVID YARROW, OVER THE SEA TO SKYE
        • DAVID YARROW, THE FULL NINE YARDS
        • DAVID YARROW, PRIMEVAL
        • DAVID YARROW, THE FISHER KING
        • DAVID YARROW, LUGARD
        • DAVID YARROW, WILD
        • DAVID YARROW, THE LONG MARCH
        • DAVID YARROW, MEMBERS ONLY
        • DAVID YARROW, BAGHEERA
        • DAVID YARROW, MANKIND II
        • DAVID YARROW, EXODUS
        • DAVID YARROW, GROUND ALERT
        • DAVID YARROW, MOTHER'S DAY
        • DAVID YARROW, SILENT WITNESS
        • DAVID YARROW, THE FAIRYTALE
        • DAVID YARROW, TSAVO EAST
        • DAVID YARROW, THE LAST SUPPER
        • DAVID YARROW, ROCK STAR
        • DAVID YARROW, NKOSI SIKELEL LAFRIKA
        • DAVID YARROW, DESERT FLIGHT
        • DAVID YARROW, LETS CATCH THE LAST TRAIN HOME
        • DAVID YARROW, THE USUAL SUSPECTS
        • DAVID YARROW, KAKTOVIK
        • DAVID YARROW, SHACKLETON
        • DAVID YARROW, A STREET CAR NAMED DESIRE
        • DAVID YARROW, THE WALK OF LIFE
        • DAVID YARROW, GO AHEAD PUNK, MAKE MY DAY
        • DAVID YARROW, WONDERWALL
        • DAVID YARROW, THE CUBS
        • DAVID YARROW, ANTZ
        • DAVID YARROW, ROYAL ASCOT
        • DAVID YARROW, THE HUNGER GAMES
        • DAVID YARROW, LUNCH
        • DAVID YARROW, THE WATERBOYS
        • DAVID YARROW, WHITE HORSES
        • DAVID YARROW, SWEET HOME CHICAGO
        • DAVID YARROW, ETHEREAL DUNE
        • DAVID YARROW, THE AMERICAN IDOL II
        • DAVID YARROW, COLOSSUS
        • DAVID YARROW, The Garden of Eden
        • DAVID YARROW, BLACK PANTHER
        • DAVID YARROW, DEXTER
        • DAVID YARROW, RISKY BUSINESS
        • DAVID YARROW, THOR
        • DAVID YARROW, DESIGNATED SURVIVOR
        • DAVID YARROW, THE QUEEN OF RANTHAMBORE
        • DAVID YARROW, SWEET HOME CHICAGO
        • DAVID YARROW, THE RIVER MONSTER
        • DAVID YARROW, CRAZY HORSE
        • DAVID YARROW, LAST ORDERS
        • DAVID YARROW, JERSEY LILLY
        • DAVID YARROW, TED
        • DAVID YARROW, PREDATOR
        • DAVID YARROW, DIAMONDS IN THE SKY
        • DAVID YARROW, THE BARBER OFF FAIRFAX
        • DAVID YARROW, ROAD TRIP
        • DAVID YARROW, THE COMPTON COWBOYS
        • DAVID YARROW, THE BREAK UP
        • DAVID YARROW, THE STATESMAN
        • DAVID YARROW, THE NORTH SLOPE
        • DAVID YARROW, PARALLEL LINES
        • DAVID YARROW, BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE
        • DAVID YARROW, FAMILY TREE
        • DAVID YARROW, THE HOUSE OF ORANGE (Color)
        • DAVID YARROW, THE HOUSE OF ORANGE (B&W)
        • DAVID YARROW, THE BREAKFAST CLUB
        • DAVID YARROW, ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE
        • DAVID YARROW, WISE GUYS
        • DAVID YARROW, NAPOLEON
        • DAVID YARROW, OCEAN'S ELEVEN
        • DAVID YARROW, 54 DEGREES SOUTH
        • DAVID YARROW, DADDY'S HOME
        • DAVID YARROW, YOU SAT ON MY HUSBAND
        • DAVID YARROW, CONTENTMENT II
        • DAVID YARROW, AMERICAN HUSTLE
        • DAVID YARROW, CINDY'S SHOTGUN WEDDING
        • DAVID YARROW, THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS
        • DAVID YARROW, KINGDOM
        • DAVID YARROW, FOREST GUMP
        • DAVID YARROW, ICE AGE
        • DAVID YARROW, ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
        • DAVID YARROW, WAKANDA
        • DAVID YARROW, HARRY POTTER
        • DAVID YARROW, HARRY POTTER
    • HISTORY OF THE CHESS QUEEN (or the Advent of Feminine Power) >
      • PAUL NELSON
      • TERRY POULOS
      • SANTINA AMATO
      • KOSTIS GEORGIOU
      • ELIZA MOZER
      • DOUGLAS KIRKLAND
      • SUSAN AURINKO
      • TERRY O'NEILL
      • HUGH ARNOLD
      • BLAKE WARD
      • SØREN THIELEMANN
      • JEFFERY LEVING
      • RICK GARCIA
      • EVE OZER
      • ROBERT FLEISCHMAN
      • PETER N. GRAY
      • REEVES & SUDBRINK
      • RACHELLE ROOS
      • SUZANNE COHAN-LANGE
      • MARCO NEREO ROTELLI
      • Santina Amato
      • JULIE GARDNER
      • TAMMY KOHL
      • SHARON BLADHOLM
      • YASEMIN ASLAN BAKIRI
      • JULIAN WASSER
      • JEANNE VIELLEUX II
      • PATTY CAROLL
      • JOHN CLARK
  • press
    • Classic Chicago Magazine
    • DAVID YARROW PRESS >
      • Picture this post david yarrow
      • WCIU David yarrow
      • Le Bon David Yarrow
      • ABC7 Roz Varon David yarrow
    • THE NEW ART EXAMINER: DAVID YARROW
    • WALL STREET INTERNATIONAL: History of the Chess Queen
    • DAVID YARROW - HELLO MAGAZINE PRE
    • DAVID YARROW: "North Korea’s Kim Jong Un’s popularity has never been higher"
    • ROBERT FLEISCHMAN ABC7 INTERVIEW
    • ARICA HILTON - WOMANSCAPE
    • LA FEMME - Michigan Avenue Magazine
    • BLAKE WARD - Art Diversions
  • VIDEOS
    • Yarrow, David VIDEOS
  • Photo Gallery
    • SINATRA: MY KIND OF TOWN Private Dinner
    • DAVID YARROW WILD ENCOUNTERS
    • HISTORY OF THE CHESS QUEEN- 09/08/17
    • LA FEMME: BEAUTY & FORM - 06/30/16
    • Ana Castillo Book Signing - 06/10/16
    • EXPLORING STONE (Dialogue Between Susan Aurinko & Jyl Bonaguro) - 06/02/16
    • John Perkins Book Signing - 05/06/16
    • BLAKE WARD "Inner Perceptions, Outer Reflections" 4/7/16
    • An Evening with Eve Ozer - 03/11/16
    • Ann Catherine - Fashion Event - 02/05/16
  • blog
Picture

A SHIP CALLED DIGNITY

Lagos, Nigeria 2017

Great photographs should implicitly be rare - they tend to be moments in time that can never be repeated. I have said - on occasion - that an affirming year for me would be 3 or more cracking images, but I recognize that this is actually still a demanding target  because for an image to transcend at every level requires a material amount of luck as well as creative courage and technical fluency. I cannot judge my own work,  but equally I always know what is mundane and I will always remain my greatest critic. Many photographer’s find a reluctance to recognize how boring much of their work can be,  but this is an area where I have learnt.
 
In my mind, if a photograph is sufficiently powerful in content and evocative in light and line to be looked at for a long time. there is a chance that it has something which is art - not reportage. But there is a third variable that is often needed to  elevate an image to a higher pantheon - the dynamic of relevance. This is the most elusive of this “Holy Trinity” of factors I strive to attain. Wildlife portraits for instance - no matter how threatened the animal in question is to extinction , often fall down on this criteria. Such images maybe immersive and visually compelling on the one hand - but lacking in a broader contemporary narrative on the other.
 
Last December, inspired by some aerial footage taken by the renowned Canadian photographer Ed Burtynsky, I first started exploring the ground level creative possibilities in Makoko , the largely inaccessible floating slum town aside Lagos. Ground level is actually an oxymoron as there is no ground to speak of in what Burtynsky himself called the “hyper-crucible of globalisation.”
 
Further encouraged by a US collector to go into this formibable hotbed of wood stilt shacks and truly test myself, we began our due diligence. To enter Makoko is  emphatically “the road less travelled ” and even the Nigerian Government don’t seemingly have the answer as to how many people live there - it could be 100,000 , but it could be 200,000.  It maybe dubbed the “Venice of Africa” - but with huge irony - there is no wealth or sophistication here, ostensibly just poverty, crime , sewage and waste.
 
As a result of our kid’s schooling in London , a few Nigerians are now family friends and they laid the foundation of access. Makoko is not safe - it is effectively a no go zone for the “Yevo” or white man . On Saturday, I had my audience with Makoko’s Chief Aladaton and my team’s safety was personally guaranteed. It was one of most surreal and humbling hours of my life.
 
And late yesterday afternoon  - we got what we came for . This is an image that can be looked at for a long time - like my Mankind shot from 2014 there is so much going on. Just with that Dinka community, smoke is integral to the way of life in Makako, but for different reasons. In the slum,  they cook on coal and my preconception was that the resultant smoke had to play an integral role in the image.The end result is  better than I could conceivably have imagined when we embarked on the planning in December,
 
But then again what of the aforementioned relevance ? At a time when globalisation is being overun by nationalism and regional eliticism, I think this split second image showcases both the beauty and dignity of black Africa. Of course, I homed in on the 2 central characters in the lead boat - they may have 30 year between them, but both could walk into a Hollywood blockbuster tomorrow. It is my creative right to chose the ideal subjects for the narrative, but they were entirely representative of the physical beauty that personifies many of  the inhabitants of the community.
 
The world may see Makoko as marginalised and irrelevant , but the inhabitants  do not appear to see it that way - I saw no sense of self pity - just pride. Globalisation has not helped the slum, so its faltering premise has no consequence. Of course ,family life goes on for both the rich and the poor in Lagos  irrespective of changible ideological within G7 countries. There is an uncomfortably patronising undertone to much of today’s politics of nationalism and Makoko is a gentle reminder that human dignity is not exclusive to international communites of affluence.
 
Aligned to this is the importance of showing and earning respect in alien cultures. We were safe in Makoko, partly because we visited the chief and showed him respect as well as dollars. Equally, in the build up to this photograph, we showed all the respect we could to the many hundreds of people that surrounded us.
 
I was chest deep in some of the dirtiest water in the world - with unimaginable things floating past my face. With no one of our skin colour ( other than my dry assistant) probably within a radius of 5 miles of our location (and this is second biggest city in the world) it would be excusable to be tense. That never works.  But throughout the day, we kept our dignity and manners and mostly just smiled. It was then that we probably earnt Makoko’s respect - after that, all was good. We were even clapped.
 
I will leave others to decide whether this picture has that “Holy Trinity” but it’s the best I can do. My hunch is that it will stand the test of time.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
​
Back to David Yarrow's
photography collection 


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STANDARD: 37" x 52"

AVAILABLE EDITIONS
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STANDARD: Edition of 12
Picture

Copyright © 2017-2018 Hilton-Asmus Contemporary, All Rights Reserved.
  • welcome
    • about us
    • our team
    • contact us >
      • artist submissions
  • ARTISTS DIRECTORY
    • artists
    • poets
  • EXHIBITIONS
    • SINATRA: MY KIND OF TOWN >
      • THE SINATRA COLLECTION
    • Yarrow, David >
      • David Yarrow Photography >
        • DAVID YARROW, I AM PURE ALPHA
        • DAVID YARROW, ENCROACHMENT
        • DAVID YARROW, IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
        • DAVID YARROW, HEAVEN CAN WAIT
        • DAVID YARROW, THE UNTOUCHABLES
        • DAVID YARROW, ONE FOOT ON THE GROUND
        • DAVID YARROW, THE FACTORY
        • DAVID YARROW, THE AMERICAN IDOL
        • DAVID YARROW, THE BEAST
        • DAVID YARROW, YELLOWSTONE
        • DAVID YARROW, FACE OFF
        • DAVID YARROW, HAIRSPRAY
        • DAVID YARROW, FUNNEL CREEK
        • DAVID YARROW, GLADIATOR
        • DAVID YARROW, FAMILY
        • DAVID YARROW, GRUMPY MONKEY
        • DAVID YARROW, HARBIN
        • DAVID YARROW, HELLO
        • DAVID YARROW, HOKKAIDO
        • DAVID YARROW, SWAN LAKE
        • DAVID YARROW, LION KING
        • DAVID YARROW, THE PUZZLE
        • DAVID YARROW, NO NEARER
        • DAVID YARROW, THE CIRCLE OF LIFE
        • DAVID YARROW, THE CROSSING
        • DAVID YARROW, THE KILLER
        • DAVID YARROW, THE KING AND I
        • DAVID YARROW, THE PRIZE
        • DAVID YARROW, THE SIBERIANS
        • DAVID YARROW, JAWS
        • DAVID YARROW, THE SILVERBACK
        • DAVID YARROW, WILD
        • DAVID YARROW, WHITE RUSH
        • DAVID YARROW, LORD OF THE RINGS
        • DAVID YARROW, The Prize
        • DAVID YARROW, BEAR WALKS INTO A BAR
        • DAVID YARROW, DETROIT
        • DAVID YARROW, THE WOLF OF MAIN STREET
        • DAVID YARROW, THE WOLF OF MAIN STREET III
        • DAVID YARROW, A SHIP CALLED DIGNITY
        • DAVID YARROW, 78 DEGREES NORTH
        • DAVID YARROW, AFRICAN TAILS
        • DAVID YARROW, MYSTIC RIVER
        • DAVID YARROW, THE OLD TESTAMENT
        • DAVID YARROW, CONTENTMENT
        • DAVID YARROW, THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE ASS
        • DAVID YARROW, THE WILD WEST
        • DAVID YARROW, OVER THE SEA TO SKYE
        • DAVID YARROW, THE FULL NINE YARDS
        • DAVID YARROW, PRIMEVAL
        • DAVID YARROW, THE FISHER KING
        • DAVID YARROW, LUGARD
        • DAVID YARROW, WILD
        • DAVID YARROW, THE LONG MARCH
        • DAVID YARROW, MEMBERS ONLY
        • DAVID YARROW, BAGHEERA
        • DAVID YARROW, MANKIND II
        • DAVID YARROW, EXODUS
        • DAVID YARROW, GROUND ALERT
        • DAVID YARROW, MOTHER'S DAY
        • DAVID YARROW, SILENT WITNESS
        • DAVID YARROW, THE FAIRYTALE
        • DAVID YARROW, TSAVO EAST
        • DAVID YARROW, THE LAST SUPPER
        • DAVID YARROW, ROCK STAR
        • DAVID YARROW, NKOSI SIKELEL LAFRIKA
        • DAVID YARROW, DESERT FLIGHT
        • DAVID YARROW, LETS CATCH THE LAST TRAIN HOME
        • DAVID YARROW, THE USUAL SUSPECTS
        • DAVID YARROW, KAKTOVIK
        • DAVID YARROW, SHACKLETON
        • DAVID YARROW, A STREET CAR NAMED DESIRE
        • DAVID YARROW, THE WALK OF LIFE
        • DAVID YARROW, GO AHEAD PUNK, MAKE MY DAY
        • DAVID YARROW, WONDERWALL
        • DAVID YARROW, THE CUBS
        • DAVID YARROW, ANTZ
        • DAVID YARROW, ROYAL ASCOT
        • DAVID YARROW, THE HUNGER GAMES
        • DAVID YARROW, LUNCH
        • DAVID YARROW, THE WATERBOYS
        • DAVID YARROW, WHITE HORSES
        • DAVID YARROW, SWEET HOME CHICAGO
        • DAVID YARROW, ETHEREAL DUNE
        • DAVID YARROW, THE AMERICAN IDOL II
        • DAVID YARROW, COLOSSUS
        • DAVID YARROW, The Garden of Eden
        • DAVID YARROW, BLACK PANTHER
        • DAVID YARROW, DEXTER
        • DAVID YARROW, RISKY BUSINESS
        • DAVID YARROW, THOR
        • DAVID YARROW, DESIGNATED SURVIVOR
        • DAVID YARROW, THE QUEEN OF RANTHAMBORE
        • DAVID YARROW, SWEET HOME CHICAGO
        • DAVID YARROW, THE RIVER MONSTER
        • DAVID YARROW, CRAZY HORSE
        • DAVID YARROW, LAST ORDERS
        • DAVID YARROW, JERSEY LILLY
        • DAVID YARROW, TED
        • DAVID YARROW, PREDATOR
        • DAVID YARROW, DIAMONDS IN THE SKY
        • DAVID YARROW, THE BARBER OFF FAIRFAX
        • DAVID YARROW, ROAD TRIP
        • DAVID YARROW, THE COMPTON COWBOYS
        • DAVID YARROW, THE BREAK UP
        • DAVID YARROW, THE STATESMAN
        • DAVID YARROW, THE NORTH SLOPE
        • DAVID YARROW, PARALLEL LINES
        • DAVID YARROW, BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE
        • DAVID YARROW, FAMILY TREE
        • DAVID YARROW, THE HOUSE OF ORANGE (Color)
        • DAVID YARROW, THE HOUSE OF ORANGE (B&W)
        • DAVID YARROW, THE BREAKFAST CLUB
        • DAVID YARROW, ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE
        • DAVID YARROW, WISE GUYS
        • DAVID YARROW, NAPOLEON
        • DAVID YARROW, OCEAN'S ELEVEN
        • DAVID YARROW, 54 DEGREES SOUTH
        • DAVID YARROW, DADDY'S HOME
        • DAVID YARROW, YOU SAT ON MY HUSBAND
        • DAVID YARROW, CONTENTMENT II
        • DAVID YARROW, AMERICAN HUSTLE
        • DAVID YARROW, CINDY'S SHOTGUN WEDDING
        • DAVID YARROW, THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS
        • DAVID YARROW, KINGDOM
        • DAVID YARROW, FOREST GUMP
        • DAVID YARROW, ICE AGE
        • DAVID YARROW, ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
        • DAVID YARROW, WAKANDA
        • DAVID YARROW, HARRY POTTER
        • DAVID YARROW, HARRY POTTER
    • HISTORY OF THE CHESS QUEEN (or the Advent of Feminine Power) >
      • PAUL NELSON
      • TERRY POULOS
      • SANTINA AMATO
      • KOSTIS GEORGIOU
      • ELIZA MOZER
      • DOUGLAS KIRKLAND
      • SUSAN AURINKO
      • TERRY O'NEILL
      • HUGH ARNOLD
      • BLAKE WARD
      • SØREN THIELEMANN
      • JEFFERY LEVING
      • RICK GARCIA
      • EVE OZER
      • ROBERT FLEISCHMAN
      • PETER N. GRAY
      • REEVES & SUDBRINK
      • RACHELLE ROOS
      • SUZANNE COHAN-LANGE
      • MARCO NEREO ROTELLI
      • Santina Amato
      • JULIE GARDNER
      • TAMMY KOHL
      • SHARON BLADHOLM
      • YASEMIN ASLAN BAKIRI
      • JULIAN WASSER
      • JEANNE VIELLEUX II
      • PATTY CAROLL
      • JOHN CLARK
  • press
    • Classic Chicago Magazine
    • DAVID YARROW PRESS >
      • Picture this post david yarrow
      • WCIU David yarrow
      • Le Bon David Yarrow
      • ABC7 Roz Varon David yarrow
    • THE NEW ART EXAMINER: DAVID YARROW
    • WALL STREET INTERNATIONAL: History of the Chess Queen
    • DAVID YARROW - HELLO MAGAZINE PRE
    • DAVID YARROW: "North Korea’s Kim Jong Un’s popularity has never been higher"
    • ROBERT FLEISCHMAN ABC7 INTERVIEW
    • ARICA HILTON - WOMANSCAPE
    • LA FEMME - Michigan Avenue Magazine
    • BLAKE WARD - Art Diversions
  • VIDEOS
    • Yarrow, David VIDEOS
  • Photo Gallery
    • SINATRA: MY KIND OF TOWN Private Dinner
    • DAVID YARROW WILD ENCOUNTERS
    • HISTORY OF THE CHESS QUEEN- 09/08/17
    • LA FEMME: BEAUTY & FORM - 06/30/16
    • Ana Castillo Book Signing - 06/10/16
    • EXPLORING STONE (Dialogue Between Susan Aurinko & Jyl Bonaguro) - 06/02/16
    • John Perkins Book Signing - 05/06/16
    • BLAKE WARD "Inner Perceptions, Outer Reflections" 4/7/16
    • An Evening with Eve Ozer - 03/11/16
    • Ann Catherine - Fashion Event - 02/05/16
  • blog
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