‘It Is Only a Matter of Time’: David Yarrow’s Photograph of a Prowling Wolf is an Ominous Warning

David Yarrow, It Is Only a Matter of Time. Image: Hilton | Asmus Contemporary

It Is Only a Matter of Time, the photograph of a prowling wolf in front of a Trump billboard is an ominous warning. By fine art photographer David Yarrow, the image was the source of serious conversations at his recent exhibition. The inherent political innuendo engendered intense debates that remain unresolved.

BY KAZAD

This black and white photograph by wildlife photographer David Yarrow was part of his Wild Encounters exhibition at Hilton|Asmus Contemporary in Chicago. Titled It Is Only a Matter of Time, the piece was a major focus of conversation during the show. The political innuendo was obvious, and art lovers were able to make connections between the image and America’s political environment.

The black and white photograph has a prowling wolf dangerously gazing at what was in front of him. In the distance, behind the wolf, is a neon billboard with the name Trump.

It Is Only a Matter of Time was taken in November 2017 during Yarrow’s visit to Chicago. Inspiration for the photographer is the city’s visually intoxicating architecture and the current political moment.

To create this image, David Yarrow shut down an area of the Chicago River Walk in the dead of night and brought in wolves to stage this stunning tableau with the Trump Tower as a backdrop. Yarrow worked with the City of Chicago Police Department for this project. For their assistance, the City of Chicago Police Department charitable foundation benefited from the proceeds of print sales of this photograph.

It Is Only a Matter of Time: Conjectures and Political Innuendos

“What does it mean?” That was the question many people were asking as they stood in front of It Is Only a Matter of Time. In addition to the image itself, the title of the photograph also left many people bewildered and wondering what the wildlife photographer was getting at with such an ominous title. A viewer inquired, “What does It Is Only a Matter of Time mean?” For David Yarrow, the viewers’ attention to the image and its title is the essence of the image because it gives viewers the chance to inscribe their own understanding and meaning. Yarrow said, “It is up to the viewer to determine my reason for the title.” However, he understands that “there is a rather topical message that is stamped emphatically all over the image.” According to him, “It is surely now just a matter of time.”

It is up to the viewer to determine my reason for the title.

Wildlife photographer David Yarrow is famous for his amazing photographs of animals. Some of his encounters are daring and only for the fearless. His photographs of elephants, tigers, lions, giraffes, gorillas, and bears are mesmerizing. Yarrow’s photography is evocative and immersive. His distinct approach to photography has earned him an ever-growing following. Although Yarrow is into wildlife photography, some of his works are political and address social iniquities. An example is It Is Only a Matter of Time. There is also Wolf of Main Street Wild, a piece that references Wolfs of Wall Street, a movie about greed and lust for wealth.