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Camera Obscurer

 Camera Obscurer
type
FeatureClass
 Camera Obscurer
label
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer
page
CameraObscurer
 Camera Obscurer
comment
A character takes a picture — often of a special or spectacular event that cannot be recreated. When the photo is developed later, it's discovered that the photographer had his/her finger(s) on the lens or left the lens cap on, obscuring the subject of the photo.
Early cameras used a secondary lens to provide the viewfinder's view, distinct from the lens that actually exposed the film. This made it possible for operators to unknowingly block the "taking lens" as the obstruction would not be visible through the viewfinder. In the days of film, the mistake would not be discovered until days, weeks, or even months later when film was developed, long after the opportunity to retake the photo had passed.
As digital cameras and subsequently smartphones became commonplace, this has become a Forgotten Trope. These devices show the view directly from the only lens, and the ability to review the image immediately after it's taken makes it easy to correct the mistake when it happens.
Not related to the camera obscura, from which this trope derives its name.
For other methods of ruining a photograph, see Inconvenient Darkroom Illumination or Last-Second Photo Failure.
For something that obscures a different kind of "camera", see Interface Screw or Eat the Camera.
 Camera Obscurer
fetched
2023-11-24T23:00:52Z
 Camera Obscurer
parsed
2023-11-24T23:00:52Z
 Camera Obscurer
processingComment
Dropped link to GroinAttack: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Camera Obscurer
processingComment
Dropped link to HuckleberryHound: Not an Item - UNKNOWN
 Camera Obscurer
processingComment
Dropped link to MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Camera Obscurer
processingComment
Dropped link to ObjectShows: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Camera Obscurer
processingUnknown
HuckleberryHound
 Camera Obscurer
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Camera Obscurer / int_1bfb41c6
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_1bfb41c6
comment
In The Colour of Magic, Rincewind uses a camera ("iconograph") flash to defeat an Eldritch Abomination and later finds out that he only has a photo of his thumb to show for it.
 Camera Obscurer / int_1bfb41c6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_1bfb41c6
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Colour of Magic
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_1bfb41c6
 Camera Obscurer / int_1cf9029e
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_1cf9029e
comment
It's revealed in DEATH BATTLE! that the reason why Wiz and Boomstick were never shown was because Boomstick left the lens cap on the whole time. After finding this out, they've since appeared on camera starting with the 100th episode.
 Camera Obscurer / int_1cf9029e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_1cf9029e
featureConfidence
1.0
 DEATH BATTLE! (Web Animation)
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_1cf9029e
 Camera Obscurer / int_2858b08a
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_2858b08a
comment
Full House: In the prologue to "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night", Uncle Jesse and Aunt Becky attempt to film their twin sons Nicky and Alex in their new big-boy beds for the first time, only to find they aren't there. Jesse says "Either they're gone or I left the lens cap on." Becky then notices the lens cap on the camera and tells Jesse "Both."
 Camera Obscurer / int_2858b08a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_2858b08a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Full House
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_2858b08a
 Camera Obscurer / int_3ad058ff
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_3ad058ff
comment
There is a running gag in the Curtis comic strips where Curtis' barber claims to have met someone famous. When asked to show proof, he will inevitably produce a photograph of himself with his arm around the celebrity... except that the "celebrity" will be obscured by a finger.
 Camera Obscurer / int_3ad058ff
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_3ad058ff
featureConfidence
1.0
 Curtis (Comic Strip)
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_3ad058ff
 Camera Obscurer / int_3ee3ceda
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_3ee3ceda
comment
In The Last Continent, he says he has dozens of iconographs of his thumb, and suspects the handprint cave paintings were caused by something similar.
 Camera Obscurer / int_3ee3ceda
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_3ee3ceda
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Last Continent
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_3ee3ceda
 Camera Obscurer / int_468bebb0
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_468bebb0
comment
Discworld
In The Colour of Magic, Rincewind uses a camera ("iconograph") flash to defeat an Eldritch Abomination and later finds out that he only has a photo of his thumb to show for it.
In The Last Continent, he says he has dozens of iconographs of his thumb, and suspects the handprint cave paintings were caused by something similar.
 Camera Obscurer / int_468bebb0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_468bebb0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Discworld
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_468bebb0
 Camera Obscurer / int_476eb43
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_476eb43
comment
Autobiography of Red has a variant. It describes a sequence of art photos made by the main character, Geryon, one of which is just a shot of his pants leg and shoe. This is because another character saw he was about to take an ill-advised photo of some soldiers and pushed the camera out of sight of them at the last second. Geryon apparently decided to Throw It In.
 Camera Obscurer / int_476eb43
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_476eb43
featureConfidence
1.0
 Autobiography of Red
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_476eb43
 Camera Obscurer / int_492240cf
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_492240cf
comment
MADtv (1995): one part of an Average Asian skit ends with this.
 Camera Obscurer / int_492240cf
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_492240cf
featureConfidence
1.0
 MADtv (1995)
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_492240cf
 Camera Obscurer / int_4d30cecb
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_4d30cecb
comment
Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner: Coyote uses a gun disguised as a camera, only for it to literally backfire because he left the lens cap on.
 Camera Obscurer / int_4d30cecb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_4d30cecb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_4d30cecb
 Camera Obscurer / int_51868415
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_51868415
comment
In Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation, the Pig family is on their way to the HappyWorldLand amusement park, and Plucky tries to stop their car by disguising himself as a construction worker and putting up many barriers. The Pig family's car's pedometer is about to reach 100,000 miles, and the Pig family is distracted with recording it, causing their car to run over Plucky. It then turns out that Wade forgot to take the lens cap off, so he backs the car up to try again, flattening Plucky twice more.
 Camera Obscurer / int_51868415
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_51868415
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_51868415
 Camera Obscurer / int_5afbc0cb
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_5afbc0cb
comment
In Undertale, in an area you must explore to get the Golden Ending, there is the option to watch a series of old video tapes. However, nothing is shown, because they were either filmed in dark rooms, or with the lens cap left on.
 Camera Obscurer / int_5afbc0cb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_5afbc0cb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Undertale (Video Game)
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_5afbc0cb
 Camera Obscurer / int_5f6f0132
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_5f6f0132
comment
Disgaea 2 has White Dwarf Star Axel trying to rekindle his fame by fighting Adell and "rescuing" Rozalin, who he believes Adell has kidnapped, and having it filmed by the crew of his poorly rated travel show. Although he loses the fight (badly), the director is sure they can edit the footage into an epic scene...or could if the zombie cameraman hadn't left on the lens cap.
 Camera Obscurer / int_5f6f0132
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_5f6f0132
featureConfidence
1.0
 Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories (Video Game)
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_5f6f0132
 Camera Obscurer / int_6514d25
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_6514d25
comment
In the Action League NOW! episode, "Nightmare on Memory Lane", Meltman and Thundergirl sneak into The Mayor's office to find out what his next evil plan is, and Meltman takes pictures of the formula The Chief's been after. Meltman then gets amnesia after he falls off a desk and gets hit by a telephone, and because he left the lens cap on, the pictures he took of the formula are useless, prompting the rest of the League to try to get his memory back. At the end, the formula is revealed to be The Mayor's recipe for chocolate chip cookies.
 Camera Obscurer / int_6514d25
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_6514d25
featureConfidence
1.0
 Action League NOW!
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_6514d25
 Camera Obscurer / int_73549409
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_73549409
comment
Storm Hawks: In "Stratosphere", Aerrow passes over the unseen Far Side and takes some photos. One is a selfie, one is the reflection of the camera flash in the window, and one has his finger blocking the photo.
 Camera Obscurer / int_73549409
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_73549409
featureConfidence
1.0
 Storm Hawks
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_73549409
 Camera Obscurer / int_7c038c18
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_7c038c18
comment
Phineas and Ferb:
In one episode, Irving manages to do this with an imaginary camera. Yeah...
In another episode, Candace tried to bust her brothers by taking a picture of their latest great idea with her cellphone. When she went to show it to her mom, she found that her thumb was in front of the lens.
In "La Candace-Cabra", the boys capture a chupacabra, but it escapes with help from Perry. When they look back at the pictures they took of it, none show the full chupacabra, and some show a thumb covering the phone camera lens.
 Camera Obscurer / int_7c038c18
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_7c038c18
featureConfidence
1.0
 Phineas and Ferb
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_7c038c18
 Camera Obscurer / int_7d122312
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_7d122312
comment
In The Flintstones, Fred and Barney capture the legendary whale Adobe Dick and Barney takes a photo of it before it escapes. Unfortunately, the picture was covered by Barney's thumb, which was a Brick Joke earlier in the episode.
 Camera Obscurer / int_7d122312
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_7d122312
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Flintstones
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_7d122312
 Camera Obscurer / int_7f640c59
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_7f640c59
comment
The Sims 3 has this occur from low photography skill, making the photos near worthless.
 Camera Obscurer / int_7f640c59
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_7f640c59
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Sims 3 / Videogame
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_7f640c59
 Camera Obscurer / int_8f99cb4c
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_8f99cb4c
comment
American Dragon: Jake Long: In the episode "Magic Enemy #1" Rotwood manages to trick Jake into transforming into his dragon self in front of a camcorder and gloats at his success—until Spud points out that he forgot to remove the lens cap. Cue Big "NO!".
 Camera Obscurer / int_8f99cb4c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_8f99cb4c
featureConfidence
1.0
 American Dragon: Jake Long
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_8f99cb4c
 Camera Obscurer / int_9aac12df
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_9aac12df
comment
U.S. Acres: Wade forgot the lens cover on when he tried to take a picture of the Trough Ness Monster.
 Camera Obscurer / int_9aac12df
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_9aac12df
featureConfidence
1.0
 U.S. Acres (Comic Strip)
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_9aac12df
 Camera Obscurer / int_9b530c26
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_9b530c26
comment
In an Archie Comics story, Mr. Lodge asked Little Archie to shoot movie footage of him reeling a very large fish from his boat. But when Lodge showed the movie off to his uppercrust friends, he became a laughingstock; the film was nothing but a giant eye — Little Archie pointed the camera the wrong way!
 Camera Obscurer / int_9b530c26
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_9b530c26
featureConfidence
1.0
 Archie Comics (Comic Book)
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_9b530c26
 Camera Obscurer / int_9e2f90f4
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_9e2f90f4
comment
In One Piece, Sanji's first "Wanted!" Poster had a horribly drawn picture of his face instead of the photos on the posters of the other Straw Hat Pirates. This happened because Attache, the Marine Photo Officer in charge of taking said photos, had accidentally left the lens cap on when trying to take a picture of Sanji. Later, we found out that Attache was actually fired from the Marines over constantly leaving the lens cap on. Now he works as a photographer/paparazzo for "Big News" Morgans, president of the World Economy News Paper.
 Camera Obscurer / int_9e2f90f4
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_9e2f90f4
featureConfidence
1.0
 One Piece (Manga)
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_9e2f90f4
 Camera Obscurer / int_b4fe32c9
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_b4fe32c9
comment
The Invader Zim episode Megadoomer had this happen at the end, with the Humongous Mecha's Invisibility failed and Dib tried to take pictures of it.
 Camera Obscurer / int_b4fe32c9
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_b4fe32c9
featureConfidence
1.0
 Invader Zim
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_b4fe32c9
 Camera Obscurer / int_bb9d6724
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_bb9d6724
comment
Ambush Bug did this in one of his 1980s miniseries.
 Camera Obscurer / int_bb9d6724
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_bb9d6724
featureConfidence
1.0
 Ambush Bug (Comic Book)
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_bb9d6724
 Camera Obscurer / int_bc848d30
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_bc848d30
comment
When SpongeBob SquarePants made a movie of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, cameraman Patrick left the lens-cap on so he wouldn't misplace it.
 Camera Obscurer / int_bc848d30
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_bc848d30
featureConfidence
1.0
 SpongeBob SquarePants
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_bc848d30
 Camera Obscurer / int_c43df4d8
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_c43df4d8
comment
Doctor Who: In "Spyfall", Ryan and Yaz are posing as journalists to interview a Corrupt Corporate Executive. Ryan is the photographer and has a minor Oh, Crap! moment on realising he's forgotten to take the lens cap off; fortunately the interviewee didn't notice.
 Camera Obscurer / int_c43df4d8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_c43df4d8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Doctor Who
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_c43df4d8
 Camera Obscurer / int_ca777bd7
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_ca777bd7
comment
"Crocodile" Dundee:
 Camera Obscurer / int_ca777bd7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_ca777bd7
featureConfidence
1.0
 "Crocodile" Dundee
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_ca777bd7
 Camera Obscurer / int_cac1f772
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_cac1f772
comment
There was an episode of CSI where they started trying to identify the taker of a photograph by the print of the picture of his thumb he left over the lens (until they decided they could get more information by looking in the reflection of the subject's eyes. That episode was worrying on so many levels.)
 Camera Obscurer / int_cac1f772
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_cac1f772
featureConfidence
1.0
 CSI
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_cac1f772
 Camera Obscurer / int_d0f124da
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_d0f124da
comment
Jonny Quest episode "The Sea Haunt": Hadji tries to take a picture of the title monster but all there is on the photograph is a fingerprint.
 Camera Obscurer / int_d0f124da
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_d0f124da
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jonny Quest
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_d0f124da
 Camera Obscurer / int_d531b6f7
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_d531b6f7
comment
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow: Polly Perkins spends much of the movie with only two frames left on her only roll of film, and wants to save them for a truly awesome photo. At one point she accidentally shoots the ground while running away, reducing it to one. In the film's denouement, she decides to take a photo of Joe Sullivan, only for Joe to look at her and say "Lenscap."
Annoyingly, she could still have taken that picture. With the lens cap on, there would have been no light - meaning no exposure. Being that the whole movie is 40's retro technology, that was probably a manual camera. If she didn't advance the film, she could have taken the cap off and shot that frame again.
 Camera Obscurer / int_d531b6f7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_d531b6f7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_d531b6f7
 Camera Obscurer / int_dc4e4f67
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_dc4e4f67
comment
The Wotch: Ivan the School Newspaper Newshound is first starts trying to uncover the secrets behind the magical goings on around Tandy Gardens High School when he stumbles onto Anne having accidentally turned herself into a Cat Folk. He goes and grabs his camera but despite finding her accidentally spreading the curse to others and attempting to take a photo he forgets to remove his lens cap in this strip. Later when a demon that can transform mortals goes on a rampage he remembers to remove the cap
 Camera Obscurer / int_dc4e4f67
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_dc4e4f67
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Wotch (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_dc4e4f67
 Camera Obscurer / int_f347d22d
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_f347d22d
comment
In the original Cheaper by the Dozen book, the father of said dozen children wants the removal of his children's and his own tonsils filmed. Since he wants to direct the filming of his own tonsil removal, he stays conscious during the procedure, and suffers great pain because of this. The pain turned out to be all for naught when the cameraman reveals he accidentally left the lens cap on.
 Camera Obscurer / int_f347d22d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_f347d22d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cheaper by the Dozen
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_f347d22d
 Camera Obscurer / int_fc0e7530
type
Camera Obscurer
 Camera Obscurer / int_fc0e7530
comment
Happens on Dexter's Laboratory, when Dee Dee takes photos of his lab and plans to show it to their mom. Fortunately for him, his lab is barely seen due to Dee Dee's fingers being in the way. Unfortunately, Dexter had just gone through an entire James Bond homage episode to get the photos, which makes Dexter's adventure a "Shaggy Dog" Story (unless you count him taking down a cruel boss at the photo lab).
 Camera Obscurer / int_fc0e7530
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Obscurer / int_fc0e7530
featureConfidence
1.0
 Dexter's Laboratory
hasFeature
Camera Obscurer / int_fc0e7530

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Camera Obscurer
processingCategory2
Photography and Illustration
 Curtis (Comic Strip) / int_79fdc157
type
Camera Obscurer
 U.S. Acres (Comic Strip) / int_79fdc157
type
Camera Obscurer
 "Crocodile" Dundee / int_79fdc157
type
Camera Obscurer
 Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow / int_79fdc157
type
Camera Obscurer
 Cheaper by the Dozen / int_79fdc157
type
Camera Obscurer
 Clue / int_79fdc157
type
Camera Obscurer
 The Colour of Magic / int_79fdc157
type
Camera Obscurer
 SitOnTheCamera
seeAlso
Camera Obscurer
 The Greatest American Hero / int_79fdc157
type
Camera Obscurer
 Nintendo Land (Video Game) / int_79fdc157
type
Camera Obscurer
 Potionomics (Video Game) / int_79fdc157
type
Camera Obscurer
 Bee and Puppycat (Web Animation) / int_79fdc157
type
Camera Obscurer
 Paddington (1975) / int_79fdc157
type
Camera Obscurer
 Storm Hawks / int_79fdc157
type
Camera Obscurer