When I read this news story, my first thought was "Oh no, another pervert
photographer caught taking nudes in a locker room with a hidden camera" or
something of that nature.
But then, as I read the story, it because clear that the girls photographed had
been voluntarily photographed in the nude at the photographer's studio. So I
thought to myself, "Oh, so they were underage. Bummer, the photographer should
have checked."
Then I read that both young ladies (the high school students) were 18 years old.
I don't know what the law regarding the ability to enter into a binding
contract is in Canada, but in the US, it's 18. So for this purpose, in the US,
those kids would be adults and fully capable of agreeing to pose nude. In fact,
there are dirty magazines that are devoted to only raunchy photographs of
18-year-olds.
So I wasn't sure what the whole story was about. Turns out, the (female)
photographer did nothing illegal, although it was mentioned that had the two
girls been under 18, it would have been a felony. Yes, I took money out of the
bank yesterday. Had I done it with a gun in my hand, it would have been
robbery. The point being what? The writer wished it was a felony? The writer
felt it important that we know it could have been a felony but for want of a
birthday?
The photographer took nude photos of two 18-year-old girls who were both still
high school students (ah, that's the thing), carefully checked their ID, both
signed contracts of their own free will, and their photos ended up on a website
that the government is apparently monitoring, according to the story.
So where was the crime?
Well, no crime, apparently.
But Ontario is not going to allow it anyway. Funny, I usually envy Canada their
laid back, less puritan attitudes towards sex, nudity, and so on, compared to
the US. Apparently, this is not always the case.
In any case, here is the story and the link to it.
(link)
***QUOTE***
Ontario to photographer: No nude shots of students
James Goodman
Staff writer
(March 17, 2007) ? VICTOR ? An Ontario County woman who photographed at least 13
women ? including two Victor high school students ? for an adult Web site has
agreed not to take any more photos of high school students.
"She understands that photographing high school students is not in their best
interests," said Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero.
The photographer made the commitment after being interviewed by sheriff's
deputies on Friday. No criminal charges were filed.
All of the women photographed were 18 or older, including the two women who at
the time were seniors at Victor Senior High School, Povero said.
Most of those photographed posed topless and voluntarily entered into a contract
with the photographer, who required proof that they were 18, Povero said. The
women were paid for their modeling and gave exclusive rights to the photographer
for future use of the photos, which were submitted to an adult Web site in Canada.
The name of the photographer was not released because she had not been charged
with a crime. Showing sexual images of someone younger than 17 would be a felony
under state law.
The investigation was reviewed with the Ontario County District Attorney's
Office, Povero said.
Photographs of the 13 women were taken over the past two to three years.
Sheriff's deputies, according to Povero, have been monitoring the Web site for
several months. "We will continue to monitor," said Povero, noting the evidence
does not show that a law has been violated.
Victor Superintendent Timothy McElheran sent out an e-mail to parents and
members of the community Friday that referred to possible exploitation of
several young adults from Victor.
"It is my hope that you will use this unfortunate situation to discuss the
safety issues associated with the Internet and the possible threat it poses to
the welfare of our young people," he wrote.
JGOODMAN@DemocratandChronicle.com
*** END QUOTE ***
