Cleared Hot! An Exclusive and Personal Journey into the United States Air Force

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"Cleared Hot" is defined as authorization to engage a target, or permission to complete an action or mission." - United States Air Force Nicholas Price (center) with the leaders of Silver Flag at Creech Air Force Base Cleared Hot! - The Mission Nicholas A. Price is an international and acclaimed artist and master fine art photographer who has been granted exclusive and unique access in order to photograph the human story behind the men and women in our Air Force. The story behind the Library of Congress Acquisition of Nicholas Price's Cleared Hot! Collection is shown in an exclusive in-depth news article by national correspondent Catherine Herridge. Interviews include Nicholas A. Price, USAF General (retired) John Jumper and Helena Zinkham, Acting Chief, Prints and Photographs at the Library of Congress. The eighteen month project such as Cleared Hot! has never been seen before. A civilian, an artist – a man who is not in the military, not a member of the press or someone involved with politics being granted unprecedented access and complete artistic license to every corner of some of the largest military installations in the country. Nicholas has deliberately embarked on this journey from the ground up, because without those men and women who secure the base, provide ground combat forces, embark on new technologies, take care of the military family and equipment, the wonders of flight and air supremacy would not be possible. The project also dispels the public's impression that the Air Force is all about reversing a plane out of the hanger and flying it across the world into enemy territory. This story is a tribute to these men and women and covers the entire family from cradle to grave displaying a symbolic and moving journey. It also demonstrates the too frequently overlooked co-operation between all US military branches and other nations in the international coalition. Over the course of the project, more than eight thousand photographs were taken with a great amount of personal investment of time, effort and money. Nicholas shot this entire project using three 35mm professional film camera's, a range of lenses and associated equipment along with a range of professional traditional black and white film's – without any image manipulation, to produce artistic and professional quality work. Every photograph is developed and printed by hand. A Personal Message from Nicholas Price about the Cleared Hot! Project. "There has been much talk about access being the secret of success in this project and yet though important in terms of obtaining these photographs this was not the making of the project. I was not looking for the only opportunity out there and never approached this subject lightly and over a weekend. I went into this with my eyes open to the military universe and had to close my ears to the outside world. It meant stepping off the world of push and shove, cat and mouse into a sanctuary of order, pride and courtesy. A place in which sacrifices were the norm and not so unique. I had to take a year out of my life to get this done, a year in which I found myself turning turn down my most lucrative business opportunities and a host of commissions to get the job done and still those apparently huge sacrifices paled into insignificance when I saw men and women putting themselves in harms way at a moments notice, whether they were taking advantage of billions of dollars of technology to protect themselves or using their feet and hands to get the job done. This moved from a fascinating project into a journey, one for both myself and those I was documenting. I was embraced as an outsider in their world, as my mission was soon clear, I was not a day tripper looking for jets, the so called shock and awe, I was not here to photograph the roar of high tech but the people that made that roar happen, those that made the cogs on this huge machine turn, use my artistic talent to capture theirs. To find out why pay was not the motivation and why a fellow human being was ready to put on the uniform and make a commitment to his or her country and fellow man without regard for their own safety. This was an awakening for me and I trust when you look at these faces and the associated scope of the missions it will be for you too."

An NPITES Exhibition CF Webber Gallery to host 'Cleared Hot!' photo EXHIBIT (OCALA, Fla.) Dec. 13, 2011 — The College of Central Florida will exhibit "Cleared Hot! An Exclusive and Personal Photographic Journey into the U.S. Air Force" at the Webber Center Gallery beginning Jan. 5, 2012.             A reception will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12, in the Webber Center at the Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road. The event and reception are free and open to the public.             This exhibit is comprised of fine art photographs by renowned photographer Nicholas Price. Price spent 18 months, from 2005-2007, capturing the men and women of the U.S. Air Force to tell the story of their pride and dedication, stamina and service. Price took more than 8,000 photographs and painstakingly selected 60 for this exhibition, according to the Library of Congress, which acquired the collection in 2009.             "The 60 photographs create a valuable visual story for understanding the hard work of today's military," said Helena Zinkham, acting chief of the Prints and Photographs Division. "This compelling photographic essay, created to honor the men and women of the Air Force, enriches the library's collections by providing a contemporary counterpart to our historic resources."             This exhibit will continue through Feb. 3, 2012. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The gallery is closed Sundays, Mondays and college-observed holidays. For more information call 352-873-5809.             The exhibit is supported in part by the Price Family Trust and fellow board members, Tough Tribe Publishing, Omega International, The Preservation Society of Black and White Film and Jenkins Auto Group. Contact CF Marketing and Public Relations Assistant Director Lois Brauckmuller at 352-854-2322, ext. 1374, brauckml@cf.edu, or Dr. Joe Wallace, director, wallacej@cf.edu. The Ocala Campus is located at 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala, Fla. 34474-4415, 352-873-5800. The Citrus Campus is located at 3800 S. Lecanto Highway, Lecanto, Fla. 34461-9026, 352-746-6721. The Levy Center is located at 114 Rodgers Blvd., Chiefland, Fla. 32626-1420, 352-493-9533. The Hampton Center is located at 1501 W. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, Fla. 34475-6456, 352-873-5881 and the Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, Fla. 34470-5001, 352-291-4455. For additional information, visit College of Central Florida at www.CF.edu.                         ###

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