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  4. Disappointing photos of Rihanna's halftime show prove you should never have your phone out at a concert

Disappointing photos of Rihanna's halftime show prove you should never have your phone out at a concert

Tyler Lauletta   

Disappointing photos of Rihanna's halftime show prove you should never have your phone out at a concert
Rihanna rocks the stage at the Super Bowl halftime show.Tyler Lauletta / Insider
  • Rihanna absolutely crushed her Super Bowl halftime show.
  • But trying to take pictures of the show utterly failed to capture the experience of seeing her performance.

I attended my first Super Bowl this year, and had a pretty solid seat for the game.

I attended my first Super Bowl this year, and had a pretty solid seat for the game.
Hey that's me at the Super Bowl!      Tyler Lauletta / Insider

That also meant I was in prime position to see Rihanna's highly anticipated Super Bowl halftime show.

That also meant I was in prime position to see Rihanna
Rihanna performs at the 2023 Super Bowl.      Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Before the show, I caught a glimpse of what I assumed to be Rihanna's stage waiting in the wings outside the stadium.

Before the show, I caught a glimpse of what I assumed to be Rihanna
Rihanna's stage sits outside State Farm Stadium ahead of Super Bowl LVII.      Tyler Lauletta / Insider

Once the clock hit zero in the first half, a crew rushed to take the field and construct Rihanna's massive stage. It was an impressive feat.

 

The stage was set, Rihanna stood waiting to start her first show in ages. And I was standing there with my phone out like an idiot.

 

I was torn. As a reporter, I felt it important to capture these moments. But I am not a photographer. I am just some guy at a show.

I was torn. As a reporter, I felt it important to capture these moments. But I am not a photographer. I am just some guy at a show.
Rihanna waits atop the stage for the start of her Super Bowl halftime show.      Tyler Lauletta / Insider

The show was electric, with Rihanna rattling through hit after hit after hit. Even from my end zone position, it felt wild to be there.

The show was electric, with Rihanna rattling through hit after hit after hit. Even from my end zone position, it felt wild to be there.
Rihanna and her dancers go to work at the Super Bowl halftime show.      Tyler Lauletta / Insider

But then every 30 seconds I would ruin what was a wild show by reminding myself to take my phone out and try to get a few shots.

But then every 30 seconds I would ruin what was a wild show by reminding myself to take my phone out and try to get a few shots.
Oh look another photo from my dumb phone of a moment that was way cooler than this looks.      Tyler Lauletta / Insider

None of my photos turned out good. Obviously! How would they? I was in the end zone at a weird angle trying to zoom in on an iPhone and capture a moment. That's not how moments work.

None of my photos turned out good. Obviously! How would they? I was in the end zone at a weird angle trying to zoom in on an iPhone and capture a moment. That
Photos came out with blur, blur, blur, blur, blur.      Tyler Lauletta / Insider

After every unsuccessful photo session, I would put the phone back down and take the show in again fully. And every time, I was drawn right back in. Look how good real photos come out!

After every unsuccessful photo session, I would put the phone back down and take the show in again fully. And every time, I was drawn right back in. Look how good real photos come out!
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation

I still don't know how the show looked for viewers at home. I assume it was sick. But being there was vibrant. And there's nothing myself or my iPhone could do to communicate that vibrancy from my phone to Instagram or whatever.

I still don
Rihanna is red on stage.      Tyler Lauletta / Insider

I will say, those that who were watching from home definitely got the jump on the memes that were to come.

 

I didn't realize it was a Super Smash Bros set until well after the game was over.

 

I have no problem with people who take their phones out at shows. I try my best not to yuck another's yum. But at the same time, why are we doing this?

I have no problem with people who take their phones out at shows. I try my best not to yuck another
Rihanna performs at the Super Bowl halftime show.      Tyler Lauletta / Insider

Seeing Rihanna's halftime show proved two things to me: 1) Rihanna still has got the goods. 2) Shows were made for seeing with your eyes, not your iPhone. Let the pros handle the real photos! Like this!

Seeing Rihanna
Rihanna performs at the Super Bowl LVII halftime show.      Rob Carr / Staff / Getty Images

Moving forward, I will hold myself to a max of four photos at shows, and no video. Take a show with the friends you are with, maybe when the artist takes the stage, or if something really sick happens. This is maybe the only good shot I got all night. It was clearly the time you were supposed to take photos. It looks fine.

Moving forward, I will hold myself to a max of four photos at shows, and no video. Take a show with the friends you are with, maybe when the artist takes the stage, or if something really sick happens. This is maybe the only good shot I got all night. It was clearly the time you were supposed to take photos. It looks fine.
Rihanna shines bright like a diamond.      Tyler Lauletta / Insider

For the rest of it, I humbly suggest we keep our phones in our pockets. No time for cameras, we'll use our eyes as lenses. The professionals have us covered.

For the rest of it, I humbly suggest we keep our phones in our pockets. No time for cameras, we
Rihanna performs during the halftime show at Super Bowl LVII.      AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis

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