Bill Henson Controversy

I am absolutely disgusted with the people who believe that Bill Henson's photos are not art and are more like pornography. His photos are very artistic and creative. I agree with 'Anthony Bond' (6:43), where he said that Henson wasn't trying to portray something pornographic and didn't intend bringing on the controversy, he was interested on bringing out a poetic image. I am completely against what 'Hetty Johnston' (2:44) says through the video, no his art is not portraying children/teenagers in a sexual context!
Also, it was said in the video (5:35) "But why after so many years of similar work being on public display is there now so much public disquiet." This is what I want to know also.

May I just point out that there is a difference between 'nude' and 'naked'. Henson's photographic art are 'artistic nudes', NOT 'NAKED' and DEFINITELY NOT 'PORNOGRAPHIC'!
Although both the labels fit the meaning of the full figure being revealed, 'naked' is more out in the open and ostentatious where as 'nude' is the opposite. It suggests subtlety and privacy, successful nudes use lighting and posture to grasp the shape and form of the subject and this is what Henson does extremely well in his photography.

Also quite importantly, Henson did get consent from the models and their parents/guardians to produce this art and they obviously said it was ok, so why is this such a big deal?

People should just believe what Henson said about his images (1:19) "I think that the period between ... childhood and adolescence or, you know adolescence in itself is ... a really interesting period, it's a bridge between the world of childhood and the adult world. That thing of having one foot in the world of childhood and one foot in the adult world produces a certain uneasiness, a certain disposition, which I find really interesting.". This is what he was thinking of and basing his photos on. Nothing pornographic of the sort!

First Photography Studio Experience

My first time using photographic studio/equipment and I felt like I owned the place! That is where I belong! Also I was very happy with the way my photos turned out. 

This photo above I liked the most. To make the photo look like this I changed the photo to 'black and white' and then added a sepia tint on photo shop, apart from that I didn't edit the photo that much more. This shot was just one of those lucky photos a photographer can get from time to time and be happy with it just after the moment it has been shot!

With this photo I used coloured gels against the harsh lights (flood light etc). A little bit of direction here and there for my model and assistants and this is what came out of it!

PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

SALVADOR DALI DOCUMENTARY

Gallery Exhibitions

A month ago I went and saw two exhibitions at the NGV International gallery, one was the Light Works exhibition and the other was the European art exhibition.

The Light Works exhibition is a contemporary photography exhibition that looks at various artists ways of working with light, a key element in the birth of photography. There was one photo in particular taken by  Hiroshi Sugimoto who did a gelatin silver photograph that had a very interesting technique to developing and creating that image.
My favourites were Hiroshi Sugimoto's photograph and Bill Henson's photography.I found Henson's photography really captivating and dramatic. This exhibition is truly magnificent. Even though it is small, it is very inspiring and thorough of showing various artists abilities that have imaginative ways with light.

The European art exhibition just blows you away. It shows art from between the 1500s- 1800s, particularly in the Baroque style. The richness of colour and the meticulous brushstrokes really captured me. The presentation of this exhibition was amazing, I felt like I was a part of the images in a way. This exhibition left me with goose bumps and my hairs on the back of my neck standing, it was that great.
This link shows one of Henson's photos that is shown in the Light Works exhibition:
Bill Henson, Untitled 1990-91, type C photograph
These two links show just two of the many paintings that are shown in the European art exhibition:
Sebastian Vrancx, The Crossing Of The Red Sea, oil on canvas

Rembrant, Self-Portrait 1660