I wouldn’t by any means call myself a prude. As a graduate from COFA, I see myself as a person with some degree of knowledge of art. I have to go against the artistic grain here when I say that no matter how I look at it, I don’t think that all of Bill Henson’s work is art.

I am all for pushing boundaries and creating controversy. But not when it comes to children. Nudity has a huge place in art. I personally believe however that when your subject cannot make an informed decision, a decision you know the subject will not regret later on down the track, you shouldn’t you take the photo.

I have taken nude portraits before. It is very important that the person feel comfortable at all times during the shoot. When it comes to children there is something I think we must be mindful of. The age of reason is 7, the brain keeps developing and we can all admit that by the time we are 14 we think that we know everything. But we don’t. We can make mistakes and if we have enough guidance adolences and its awkwardness passes all too quickly.

In this delicate age you do not want to be pushing children or even giving them the option to participate in something they may live to regret. Let them sit for a nude portrait at 18. At least then you will know they are really adult enough to make their own choices. It’s our duty to protect children until they are old enough to make their informed decisions.

Don’t get me wrong I don’t believe that he should have been charged, and I certainly do not want to denote him as an artist. But more sensitivity is needed in this area of art.

I’m not a religious nut, just an artist with a differing opinion to the art community on this.