Cattle and Oil
West Texas, Texas – 2025
“This tableau is an empathic love letter to Texas. The two industries most associated with the Lone Star State are ranching and oil and I wanted these distinct ways of life to coalesce as if Taylor Sheridan had merged two of his visually rich productions into one. Ask 1000 US high school kids which State I am celebrating in this photograph and I would expect that 98% would say Texas. The dissenting 2% may need to get off social media and do some more homework.
We built this 1920s oil boom town set in ranchland in West Texas and over a period of 48 hours I toyed with the most powerful layers of narrative. My default approach is to focus on the foreground and then let the background look after itself. A cattle herd brings dynamism, but also a lack of compositional control; the precise movement of the lead longhorns – even with the most skilled of cowboys – cannot be directed and therefore I am gambling.
Days like these can be frustrating as we are not in a studio and the light is changing all the time. There tends to be just a small timeframe in which the magic must happen. I don’t think there is a formula for success other than employing the very best people and then learning very quickly from mistakes on the day.
The feature closest to the camera is key; a weak first layer often kills a tableau like this. But on this occasion the lead longhorn is strong and glues the composition together. That, of course, is pure luck. We have never met before and he had no idea what I was looking for.
Texas is a unique part of America – it is a State that will always do things its own way and that’s what makes it so special. As a Scotsman who has been made to feel so welcome in Texas, this picture is important to me. It has become a home away from home.“
-David Yarrow
Available Sizes
Large - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 42” x 103" in (107 cm x 262 cm)
- Framed Image: 57” x 118” in (145 cm x 300 cm)
Standard - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 32” x 77” in (81 cm x 196 cm)
- Framed Image: 47” x 92” in (119 cm x 134 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your artwork. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
Cattle and Oil (Colour)
West Texas, Texas – 2025
“This tableau is an empathic love letter to Texas. The two industries most associated with the Lone Star State are ranching and oil and I wanted these distinct ways of life to coalesce as if Taylor Sheridan had merged two of his visually rich productions into one. Ask 1000 US high school kids which State I am celebrating in this photograph and I would expect that 98% would say Texas. The dissenting 2% may need to get off social media and do some more homework.
We built this 1920s oil boom town set in ranchland in West Texas and over a period of 48 hours I toyed with the most powerful layers of narrative. My default approach is to focus on the foreground and then let the background look after itself. A cattle herd brings dynamism, but also a lack of compositional control; the precise movement of the lead longhorns – even with the most skilled of cowboys – cannot be directed and therefore I am gambling.
Days like these can be frustrating as we are not in a studio and the light is changing all the time. There tends to be just a small timeframe in which the magic must happen. I don’t think there is a formula for success other than employing the very best people and then learning very quickly from mistakes on the day.
The feature closest to the camera is key; a weak first layer often kills a tableau like this. But on this occasion the lead longhorn is strong and glues the composition together. That, of course, is pure luck. We have never met before and he had no idea what I was looking for.
Texas is a unique part of America – it is a State that will always do things its own way and that’s what makes it so special. As a Scotsman who has been made to feel so welcome in Texas, this picture is important to me. It has become a home away from home.“
-David Yarrow
Available Sizes
Large - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 42” x 103" in (107 cm x 262 cm)
- Framed Image: 57” x 118” in (145 cm x 300 cm)
Standard - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 32” x 77” in (81 cm x 196 cm)
- Framed Image: 47” x 92” in (119 cm x 134 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your artwork. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
Welcome to Texas (Colour)
Alpine, Texas – 2025
“Much of my work is preconceived and we tend to start a day’s filming with a set of solid ideas in mind. Other filmmakers may prefer a more freewheeling approach and to let the magic happen spontaneously, but that can be extremely risky as ideas don’t tend to come on demand.
Searching for creative ideas is not like ordering room service when the hotel guest asks for food as soon as he or she is hungry. The best ideas for photographs tend to come when the camera and the mind are firmly decoupled.
The premise for this photograph, however, only emerged as the sun started to set at Alpine airport in West Texas.
It was totally spontaneous; I certainly would never have conceived of making a picture with these extreme dimensions. This is a total one off for us.
But the whole image just works and works well. The aesthetic beauty of both the World War II bomber and the West Texas skyline, complement the cowboys who help evoke a sense of place. There had to be symmetry for the concept to work and my cowboys followed my directions with precision. Without the balance and the perfect bookends, there was no picture.
We would like to thank General Ron Fogleman – a decorated Vietnam veteran – for being the driving force behind delivering this aircraft to an unfamiliar airport in a remote part of West Texas. We love filming in this part of America because Texans, by and large, tend to make things happen as opposed to finding reasons why they should not.“
-David Yarrow
Available Sizes
Large - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 27” x 103" in (69 cm x 262 cm)
- Framed Image: 42” x 118” in (107 cm x 300 cm)
Standard - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 21” x 77” in (53 cm x 196 cm)
- Framed Image: 36” x 92” in (92 cm x 134 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your artwork. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
Welcome to Texas
Alpine, Texas – 2025
“Much of my work is preconceived and we tend to start a day’s filming with a set of solid ideas in mind. Other filmmakers may prefer a more freewheeling approach and to let the magic happen spontaneously, but that can be extremely risky as ideas don’t tend to come on demand.
Searching for creative ideas is not like ordering room service when the hotel guest asks for food as soon as he or she is hungry. The best ideas for photographs tend to come when the camera and the mind are firmly decoupled.
The premise for this photograph, however, only emerged as the sun started to set at Alpine airport in West Texas.
It was totally spontaneous; I certainly would never have conceived of making a picture with these extreme dimensions. This is a total one off for us.
But the whole image just works and works well. The aesthetic beauty of both the World War II bomber and the West Texas skyline, complement the cowboys who help evoke a sense of place. There had to be symmetry for the concept to work and my cowboys followed my directions with precision. Without the balance and the perfect bookends, there was no picture.
We would like to thank General Ron Fogleman – a decorated Vietnam veteran – for being the driving force behind delivering this aircraft to an unfamiliar airport in a remote part of West Texas. We love filming in this part of America because Texans, by and large, tend to make things happen as opposed to finding reasons why they should not.“
-David Yarrow
Available Sizes
Large - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 27” x 103" in (69 cm x 262 cm)
- Framed Image: 42” x 118” in (107 cm x 300 cm)
Standard - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 21” x 77” in (53 cm x 196 cm)
- Framed Image: 36” x 92” in (92 cm x 134 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your artwork. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
Take My Breath Away (Colour)
Alpine, Texas – 2025
“Few movies have had such an impact on popular culture as Tony Scott’s Top Gun. Released in 1986, the film became a cultural phenomenon and gave a material boost to both US Navy and Air Force recruitment. It remains Tom Cruise’s biggest box office success, with inflation adjusted sales of nearly $500m against a modest budget of just $15m.
The film is also remembered for the character Charlie played by Kelly McGillis. In a male dominated environment, she ruled the roost. Berlin’s song, Take My Breath Away, which won an Academy award for Best Original Song,
became synonymous with the movie.
Her impact in the movie was central to my thought processing at Alpine Airport in West Texas when I took this photograph. I needed my model – Holly Graves, (who is in fact Texan) – to own the frame, and I think she does exactly that.
It’s not breaking new ground to couple femininity with the contours of a vintage aircraft. Norman Parkinson introduced this creative formula 70 years ago. I think the challenge is to get the composition and the scaling right. There needs to be a balance between the two key subjects.
We would like to thank General Ron Fogleman – a decorated Vietnam veteran – for making this project possible by bringing his A-26 Invader to West Texas. This was no half-hearted Hollywood prop; the plane participated in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944.”
-David Yarrow
Available Sizes
Large - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 45” x 103" in (114 cm x 262 cm)
- Framed Image: 60” x 118” in (152 cm x 300 cm)
Standard - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 34” x 69” in (86.5 cm x 196 cm)
- Framed Image: 49” x 84” in (125 cm x 234 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your artwork. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
Take My Breath Away
Alpine, Texas – 2025
“Few movies have had such an impact on popular culture as Tony Scott’s Top Gun. Released in 1986, the film became a cultural phenomenon and gave a material boost to both US Navy and Air Force recruitment. It remains Tom Cruise’s biggest box office success, with inflation adjusted sales of nearly $500m against a modest budget of just $15m.
The film is also remembered for the character Charlie played by Kelly McGillis. In a male dominated environment, she ruled the roost. Berlin’s song, Take My Breath Away, which won an Academy award for Best Original Song,
became synonymous with the movie.
Her impact in the movie was central to my thought processing at Alpine Airport in West Texas when I took this photograph. I needed my model – Holly Graves, (who is in fact Texan) – to own the frame, and I think she does exactly that.
It’s not breaking new ground to couple femininity with the contours of a vintage aircraft. Norman Parkinson introduced this creative formula 70 years ago. I think the challenge is to get the composition and the scaling right. There needs to be a balance between the two key subjects.
We would like to thank General Ron Fogleman – a decorated Vietnam veteran – for making this project possible by bringing his A-26 Invader to West Texas. This was no half-hearted Hollywood prop; the plane participated in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944.”
-David Yarrow
Available Sizes
Large - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 45” x 103" in (114 cm x 262 cm)
- Framed Image: 60” x 118” in (152 cm x 300 cm)
Standard - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 34” x 69” in (86.5 cm x 196 cm)
- Framed Image: 49” x 84” in (125 cm x 234 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your artwork. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
Sinclair Oil (Colour)
Alpine, Texas – 2025
“In early 2025, I stumbled across a 1942 Sinclair Oil advert featuring a photograph of a cowboy on a horse racing against a low flying American Airlines Douglas DC7. Sinclair supplied American Airlines with engine lubricant and the advert was a simple play on horsepower. Like many of the commercial adverts of that period, the message lent on the contribution to the war effort.
The connectivity between horse and flying machine in the image was visually arresting and told a wonderful story. The creatives behind this piece of advertising art will no longer be with us but deserve great recognition.
We started to spitball a few ideas to make our own version of this photograph. Camera capability may have come a long way in the last 80 years, but the nerve to fly 50 feet off the ground in a decent size plane is still not for everyone and we needed to find a pilot who embraced our ambition and would be game enough to join us in this homage to a piece of World War II history.
We chose Alpine Airport in West Texas as our location for three reasons. Firstly, the airport sits in a stunning amphitheater with mountains to the west and south of the main runway. Secondly, the owners of the airport seemed to be our kind of people, who want to make things happen rather than find reasons why they should not. Thirdly, there would be no shortage of skilled cowboys in the area who could navigate their way through the horse part of the story.
Our pilot – Roger Woolsey – is a gem of a guy and used to low flying. His fabulous 1944 A-26 Invader that we used that day was active in The Battle of the Bulge in World War II, so the story came full circle.
This project would not have been possible without the help of the decorated Vietnam veteran – General Ron Fogleman – who introduced us to Roger and his team.“
-David Yarrow
Available Sizes
Large - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 50” x 103" in (127 cm x 262 cm)
- Framed Image: 65” x 118” in (165 cm x 300 cm)
Standard - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 34” x 69” in (86.5 cm x 175 cm)
- Framed Image: 49” x 84” in (125 cm x 213.5 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your artwork. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
Sinclair Oil
Alpine, Texas – 2025
“In early 2025, I stumbled across a 1942 Sinclair Oil advert featuring a photograph of a cowboy on a horse racing against a low flying American Airlines Douglas DC7. Sinclair supplied American Airlines with engine lubricant and the advert was a simple play on horsepower. Like many of the commercial adverts of that period, the message lent on the contribution to the war effort.
The connectivity between horse and flying machine in the image was visually arresting and told a wonderful story. The creatives behind this piece of advertising art will no longer be with us but deserve great recognition.
We started to spitball a few ideas to make our own version of this photograph. Camera capability may have come a long way in the last 80 years, but the nerve to fly 50 feet off the ground in a decent size plane is still not for everyone and we needed to find a pilot who embraced our ambition and would be game enough to join us in this homage to a piece of World War II history.
We chose Alpine Airport in West Texas as our location for three reasons. Firstly, the airport sits in a stunning amphitheater with mountains to the west and south of the main runway. Secondly, the owners of the airport seemed to be our kind of people, who want to make things happen rather than find reasons why they should not. Thirdly, there would be no shortage of skilled cowboys in the area who could navigate their way through the horse part of the story.
Our pilot – Roger Woolsey – is a gem of a guy and used to low flying. His fabulous 1944 A-26 Invader that we used that day was active in The Battle of the Bulge in World War II, so the story came full circle.
This project would not have been possible without the help of the decorated Vietnam veteran – General Ron Fogleman – who introduced us to Roger and his team.“
-David Yarrow
Available Sizes
Large - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 50” x 103" in (127 cm x 262 cm)
- Framed Image: 65” x 118” in (165 cm x 300 cm)
Standard - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 34” x 69” in (86.5 cm x 175 cm)
- Framed Image: 49” x 84” in (125 cm x 213.5 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your artwork. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.