Beyonce Bans Pro Photographers

If you're even slightly in tune with the internet, there's a good chance that you've come across the infamous pictures of Beyonce during this year's Superbowl. The unflattering images were taken in the midst of her passionate half-time dance moves and quickly became fodder for the internet Photoshop trolls. Being turned into She-Hulk must not have bode well with Beyonce. Her publicist attempted to have the images taken down from many websites...and this didn't work out in her favor. The images received more attention than before and she was criticized for trying to censor the internet.

In lieu of her upcoming tour in Europe, Beyonce has banned all professional photographers during live performances to prevent another Photoshop fiasco. Instead, news outlets will have to pick from Beyonce-approved images on her website. How very boring. This only means that publications will start hunting down images taken by smart phone yielding fans and the ever-popular ipad documentarian who obscures the show for everyone behind them. How long will it be before she bans fan photography from every concert?

Also semi-related, but at little more amicable: The Yeah Yeah Yeah's have posted signs outside of venues, asking fans to put away their phones and just enjoy the show. Karen O, the lead singer of the group, told fans that they could take all the pictures they wanted once they came out on stage, but asked that phones disappear once the show got going. I think this is an honest approach. You go to a show to enjoy a live performance, not to watch them play through a tiny LCD screen. Not to mention, you're also pissing off everyone around you. Granted, you have payed for an expensive ticket, so if you feel entitled to try and document your experience, by all means post your brain melting, speaker exploding 30 second video onto youtube. Just be courteous to those around you who have also paid for the show. Don't be the jerk with the iPad...It just looks silly.