Cleared Hot! An Exclusive and Personal Photographic Journey into the United States Air ForceThis is a beautifully presented and produced book of the Cleared Hot! Collection that was acquired by the Library of Congress this year.
I saw the Cleared Hot Collection and Exhibition when it was on display in the Hall of Honor at the Air Force Museum in Dayton Ohio, and can say the actual exhibition of this work by Nicholas A. Price was truly amazing.
The black and white photographs are stunning and the journey and photos show a side of the air force that not normally seen by the public. These photographs are a true artistic take by the photographer alone and are not taken with an "agenda" or influenced by the air force as these photographs are definitely not your typical air force photos.
I come from a from a family that has members in active service in the navy and army, however, you don't need to be familiar with the military to understand this book or the work. It is simply a gorgeous book of fine art photography that anyone who appreciates black and white photography, art, or just good photography, will understand.
The photographs illustrate the very unique access Nicholas Price must of had in order to get the results that are shown in the exhibition and in this book. The personal comments he makes in Cleared Hot! is truly an insight to his feelings and experience as a civilian inside the military structure, which can be very daunting for most if you are not familiar with it. In my opinion, not only does he truly honor the airmen and their families, he honors anyone who chooses to serve their community or their country with pride and dignity.
The book is further enhanced with a foreword by Helena Zinkham, acting chief of the prints and photographs division in the Library of Congress, where this collection now resides after being acquired by the LOC this year. It was exciting to learn that after the LOC stopped collecting air force photographs in the 1940's, the Cleared Hot! collection will now fill an important gap in their archives as well as become an important part of Air Force and aeronautical history within the Library. In my opinion, this is a great and worthwhile investment by the LOC on behalf of the future generation of Americans.
General John Jumper who was the former Chief of the air force, writes a wonderful introduction to the collection and really sums up the photographs; "These are images that will be meaningful to every American who loves their country and are grateful for the remarkable men and women who serve".
I am a lover of true photography, meaning I love the old fashioned use of film and printing photographs in the lab.
I do collect fine art photography and have a couple of works by Nicholas Price, whose work I do truly appreciate and love (and which I am pleased to say, have gone up in value in the past few years!) Price is a master in the technical applications of black and white photography and applies a unique, beautiful and artistic view with Cleared Hot! as he does with all his work.
Due to the attention my copy of the book has received from friends and relatives, I was pleased to learn that this book is actually at the lower end of Price's typical photography books which range upwards of $500 each, so to get this book at this price and as a signed limited numbered edition makes this an even greater investment. I have to get a few more copies for Christmas and birthday gifts.
Personally, I have waited for nearly two years since seeing the exhibition to have this book become available for sale and can say it was definitely worth the wait!
