Table of Contents
David Yarrow's works in Switzerland
A New Chapter in Swiss Photography: Furka Pass & Berner Oberland
David Yarrow, world-renowned for his evocative wildlife photography and cinematic storytelling, unveils two extraordinary new works in the Swiss Alps: Bond Hotel at the Furka Pass and The Eiger, Switzerland, photographed at Kleine Scheidegg beneath the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
These compositions mark a new chapter in his ongoing dialogue with Switzerland — a country that has long inspired artists with its stark contrasts, grandeur, and cultural resonance.
Blending Alpine myth, cinematic memory, and natural majesty, Yarrow’s latest photographs feel both timeless and contemporary.
The Photographer Behind the Lens
Born in Glasgow in 1966, David Yarrow began his career as a sports photographer, capturing Diego Maradona during the 1986 World Cup at just 20 years old.
Two decades later, he stands among the most collected photographers worldwide. His large-scale black-and-white images combine narrative precision with visual depth — equally compelling in wild landscapes and meticulously staged scenes.
His process mirrors film production: stylists, animal experts, and location scouts collaborate to construct images that carry both tension and storytelling power.
Bond Hotel | Furka Pass
Shot in June 2024, Bond Hotel pays homage to one of Switzerland’s most legendary cinematic landmarks: the Furka Pass made famous in the 1964 James Bond classic Goldfinger. The scene’s centrepiece, the iconic Hotel Belvédère, perches dramatically on a serpentine curve of the alpine road, its Art Deco architecture echoed in the tension and elegance of Yarrow’s composition.
To realise this image, Yarrow collaborated closely with the hotel’s private owners and assembled a whole production crew, including actors, stylists, and mountain safety personnel. With cinematic lighting rigs and precise timing, the photograph was captured while snow still blanketed the ridgelines—enhancing the atmosphere of isolation and mystery. The result is a powerful image that fuses memory, fantasy, and architectural decay.
Yarrow has commented, “If there was ever to be a Bond hotel, it would be here.” The phrase speaks to the uncanny realism of the photograph. The image does not merely depict a location—it tells a story. It evokes the glamour, danger, and cool control of Bond himself while engaging with the real, often-overlooked beauty of Swiss alpine culture and heritage.
The Eiger, Switzerland | Berner Oberland
If Bond Hotel represents drama and spectacle, then The Eiger, Switzerland, embodies elegance and narrative subtlety. Set at Kleine Scheidegg in the Berner Oberland, this image centres on the Hotel Bellevue des Alpes, a historic outpost nestled beneath the majestic Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The building, steeped in mountaineering history, provides a powerful contrast to Yarrow’s carefully choreographed scene: a roulette table in the snow, a wolf roaming freely, and two human figures—David Gandy and Nadine Leopold—posed in a composition that echoes both Agatha Christie and Ian Fleming.
Like a frame from a forgotten thriller, the image is rich in suggestion. Is this a moment before something happens—or after? The visual clues prompt the viewer to slow down, explore each element, and ponder. Yarrow’s strength lies in such ambiguity. He invites narrative without dictating it.
Wild Encounters and Global Narratives
Although David Yarrow is often associated with sweeping landscapes and cinematic stagings, his foundation lies in wildlife photography. His ability to photograph wild animals—such as lions, wolves, elephants, and tigers - in extraordinary proximity to their natural habitats is unparalleled. What distinguishes his wildlife work is not just the technical feat, but the feeling of mutual respect and tension between subject and camera. These encounters are staged only after months of research and fieldwork, often in collaboration with conservationists and local trackers.
The Broader Swiss Portfolio
Bond Hotel and The Eiger, Switzerland are the latest additions to Yarrow’s evolving Swiss portfolio, which also includes:
St. Moritz and the Cresta Run – capturing the aristocratic spirit of winter sports and old-world elegance
The Engadine Valley with the Bernina Pass, where light, snow, and silence become compositional elements
Switzerland, with its pristine landscapes and architectural eccentricities, offers Yarrow the kind of layered narrative canvas he seeks—combining history, luxury, isolation, and elemental drama.
Artistic Legacy and Global Impact
Beyond the artistic realm, David Yarrow has also distinguished himself as a committed philanthropist. Through sales of his limited-edition prints, he has raised more than USD 15 million USD for conservation charities and humanitarian organisations. These contributions reflect his belief that photography can—and should—drive real-world change.
His work is represented globally by leading galleries, including Petra Gut Contemporary in Zurich and St. Moritz, and held in major private collections and institutional holdings. With editions typically limited to 12 or 15 prints, David Yarrow's photographs are widely viewed as investment-grade assets - valued for their visual power and their scarcity alike.
Final Thoughts
Bond Hotel and The Eiger, Switzerland, do more than just document places. They transform real locations into stages where fiction and truth converge. With technical mastery and cinematic sensibility, David Yarrow invites the viewer to step into a visual narrative—one that lingers long after the first viewing. His Swiss works are not just photographs; they are stories anchored in landscape but driven by imagination.
These latest images reaffirm Yarrow’s place at the intersection of art, storytelling, and adventure. And they confirm that Switzerland—with its peaks, passes, and poetic solitude—remains one of his most powerful muses. DISCOVER DAVID YARROW'S WORK
🔗 Explore available works by David Yarrow at Petra Gut Contemporary
🔗 Discover more at davidyarrow.photography
FAQs
David Yarrow - what are his works in Switzerland?
Born in Glasgow, 1966, David Yarrow first gained attention at age 20 for his photograph of Diego Maradona at the 1986 World Cup.
Today he’s one of the world’s most collected photographers, celebrated for large-scale black-and-white works that read like movie stills.
His shoots are meticulously staged, often involving full production crews, stylists, actors and even animal experts.
Bond Hotel, shot in June 2024 at the Furka Pass, revisits the legendary Hotel Belvédère from Goldfinger (1964)—a cinematic nod turned fine-art statement.
To capture it, Yarrow worked with the hotel’s private owners and a full mountain crew; snow still lined the ridges during the shoot.
He later remarked, “If there was ever to be a Bond hotel, it would be here.”
The Eiger, Switzerland was photographed at Kleine Scheidegg in the Berner Oberland, featuring Hotel Bellevue des Alpes beneath the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
Models David Gandy and Nadine Leopold join a wolf and roulette table in the snow—a scene part Bond, part Agatha Christie.
Yarrow’s wildlife roots run deep: he’s photographed lions, wolves, elephants, and tigers after months of field research and conservation work.
His Swiss portfolio extends to St. Moritz, the Cresta Run, and the Engadine Valley—where snow, light, and silence become compositional tools.
Yarrow has raised over USD 15 million for charities and conservation through his print sales.
His works are represented by Petra Gut Contemporary in Zurich and St. Moritz.
Editions are limited to 12 or 15 prints, collected worldwide for their scarcity and narrative strength.
Switzerland remains one of his most powerful muses—a stage where alpine myth, cinematic memory and natural grandeur meet.
