egafd.com

'Primary intention' might be the ideal but it's not what counts- it's what the
viewer perceives, or decides to perceive.
I can't remember the name of that artist who photographed all those naked
kiddies, but despite his protestations that the shots were 'art' he was howled
down by a very vocal minority who saw them as smut.

A similar discussion of the issue, from a pro-am site.

How does bringing "naked kiddies" into this help the debate?

I dont know who you mean, but if the OP had asked about whether he should take shots of "naked kiddies" in the name of art, then I would have suggested he wants his head testing.

PeeJay, you said ?There are lots of examples of under 18's appearing topless/nude in mainstream media.?

I'm still waiting for you to list examples.

'A lingerie model in a catalogue is not sexual as its primary intention'
What has that got to do with anything? Intention doesn't mean anything (in this case). Extreme porn law has something about 'primary intention' but indecent is indecent. You can't prove it's not indecent.

You didn't ask me did you?

Anyway, here's 2 off the top of my head.....

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/a ... y-harry.do

Thora Birch was topless in American Beauty at 16/17.

I'm sure there are plenty more, but these 2 are the highest profile ones I can remember.

Would you say that they are sexual images?

Doesn't matter if they are Joe. Legally, it only matters if they are 'indecent'.

Do you consider them indecent?

Quite alarming the amount of interest this post has raised (me included!).

In essence, if anyone's getting off on the idea that 17 is taboo & therefore a turn-on, they shoud get their head tested. Surely it's about consent, beauty, content AND staying within the law that counts? Not age.

I think JJ has summed up the answer to this in the best possible way

"He'd probably be OK, but it's easy to offer idealistic counsel
when you don't have to face any consequences should it go wrong".

And there's every chance it will go wrong, because he's not a big US corporation producing a mainstream film, or a West End Theatre producing a "Artistic? play.

Only a jury can tell.