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| Cleared Hot! - The Photography | |||
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Cleared Hot! The Key Photographs by Nicholas A. Price The Honor Guard I attempt to tell a story with every photograph I take, however, I wanted to add a few words explaining my journey and those I photographed. The Honor Guard was selected in being my key photo for the collection. In many ways the Honor Guard features at both the beginning and the end of my journey with the United States air force. Here both men and women volunteer to opt for additional training in the care of both appearance and tradition, watching these people and how they hold and care for the flag of their country is truly inspiring. For the key photograph of the entire project and of the exhibition, I decided to choose the Honor Guard for special reasons. When you see the flag held with such dignity and care, you really start to understand more of the role of the entire military service defending this country and it is this commitment to the country and those who live here that is so important. Secondly seeing a woman hold the flag in this way further embodies the sensitive nature of this care, almost as a mother fiercely protective of her child whilst we all know that both mothers and fathers are out on the frontline doing the very same thing. By choosing my key photograph to be a woman of color from the Air Force hold the flag of the United States was for me to have the opportunity in showing a non-traditional face of the Air Force not normally marketed to the masses but a true statement of who is part of today's Air Force. The B2 Spirit If you had heard rumors of alien spacecraft in the Nevada desert skies you should not discount them too readily as when you get to see the photograph of the B2 Spirit you can soon forgive those you thought were over indulging. This incredible and fascinating aircraft also afforded me the unique chance to meet with the 393d Bomb Squadron Commander Col. Paul Tibbets IV who had moved in his fathers and grandfathers footsteps of Bomber pilot and commander from B29 to B2 and through six different wartime theaters. Afterburner Feeling the noise and power of an engine being tested with full afterburner in operation makes you happy those nuts and bolts are well tightened. Knowing that without these tests and checks, that were sometime very dangerous, being carried out by dedicated personnel, an F-15 pilot couldn't do his job. I hope you have noticed the airman underneath this engine checking it over whilst on full throttle! Every photograph in this project features a human being. The Question Mark Seeing this group of men and women during training and lining up to collect their ammunition for night fire practice had a hint of incongruity tinged with melancholy for me. As I looked down from the range tower I noticed the line of troops had formed into the shape of question mark, behind a storm was brewing and here I was at the end of it knowing these men and women were to be deployed in a matter of a few weeks. Doggles - K9 The K9 teams are partnerships between a man or woman and their dog, often both in harm's way, seeking out bombs and booby traps in a host of locations including urban areas, abandoned buildings and vehicles. Often the second sense of a dog saves a life. The picture here of a dog wearing protective goggles always raises a smile and yet this well trained dog was off to the frontline with his master in a matter of days, at risk in the same way as everyone else deployed. F16 The F-16 is a man-made work of art in itself. I wanted the viewer to see the beauty and elegance of this machine as an art piece in itself. I highlighted the features using light and shadows as well as the natural blessing of a Skyscapes of clouds for my backdrop. Keeping in line with my mission, the human keepers of this machine are also in the photograph. HH60 Rescue During a rescue operation you start to really see how a human life is so valued during this sequence of photographs as a downed airman is rescued from the desert, how small a human being looks against the enormity of the machines that swoop into to fetch him. |
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Copyright © 2000-2010 Nicholas A Price. All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or whole without written permission is strictly prohibited. All images and text © Nicholas Price and The Nicholas Price Family Trust 2000-2010
