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Camera Sniper

 Camera Sniper
type
FeatureClass
 Camera Sniper
label
Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper
page
CameraSniper
 Camera Sniper
comment
Camera Sniper is primarily a Film and Television trope, although it does occur in other media.
The Government, or the spies, or the Private Detective, or the Intrepid Reporter is watching their target.
The target is seldom aware at this point that there's a camera scope on them, but the audience gets to see an indication of the watchful character(s) because we see a Follow Shot of them walking, sleeping or just eating breakfast — in short, just living their day-to-day life.
The shot goes into Freeze Frame (and may also switch from color to black and white), and is accompanied by a camera shutter sound and a blink or iris in shot to indicate that whoever was watching has just taken a photograph of the person targeted. The scene then resumes otherwise unchanged as the target goes about their business. This may happen two or three times in the same scene, indicating that there may later be a stack (or email) of photos presented to the watching entity's boss.
Expect the follow shot to be accompanied by a camera's viewfinder reticule. Bonus Points if it's the old-style microprism viewfinder (usually either a split circle or a circle-within-a-circle, with the two parts shaded differently) that few under the age of 30 are likely to have ever actually seen in Real Life.
Black-and-white photography these days is rather rare in the age of digital cameras... but the sight and sound are pretty much iconic now, so it endures even as technology and the trope march forward.
 Camera Sniper
fetched
2024-03-23T07:45:36Z
 Camera Sniper
parsed
2024-03-23T07:45:37Z
 Camera Sniper
processingComment
Dropped link to AbleTeam: Not an Item - UNKNOWN
 Camera Sniper
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Dropped link to BigBad: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Camera Sniper
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Dropped link to CockFight: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Camera Sniper
processingComment
Dropped link to SinisterSurveillance: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Camera Sniper
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Dropped link to TheEighties: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Camera Sniper
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AbleTeam
 Camera Sniper
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DBTropes
 Camera Sniper / int_1bbdc803
type
Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_1bbdc803
comment
Ghost in the Shell: Arise: In the New Movie, it's done without the lens click as it involves purely digital technology, but the freeze frame is used to show that Motoko is under surveillance.
 Camera Sniper / int_1bbdc803
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_1bbdc803
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1.0
 Ghost in the Shell: Arise
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Camera Sniper / int_1bbdc803
 Camera Sniper / int_2009b495
type
Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_2009b495
comment
Project Blue Book. At the end of the pilot episode, Dr Hynek and his wife Mimi think they hear a prowler, but decide It's Probably Nothing. Just before Hyneck goes back inside the house, someone takes his photograph; not a mysterious Man In Black but a woman who'd befriended Mimi earlier.
 Camera Sniper / int_2009b495
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1.0
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Camera Sniper / int_2009b495
 Camera Sniper / int_21317f86
type
Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_21317f86
comment
In Grindhouse: Death Proof, there's a scene of Stuntman Mike watching the second group girls from his car. They walk in slow motion as Stuntman Mike adjusts the camera focus to follow them.
 Camera Sniper / int_21317f86
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1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_21317f86
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Camera Sniper / int_21317f86
 Camera Sniper / int_222c2051
type
Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_222c2051
comment
Chuck: As Sarah makes a drop giving a bogus chip to a medium bad, we have a POV shot of someone taking pictures. Turns out it's an operative for the CIA, who believe that Sarah has had a Face Heel Turn and is selling the real chip. Super huge spoiler: Except it's really an operation to justify her going double in the Big Bad's employ in order to take him down and rescue Chuck's mother.
 Camera Sniper / int_222c2051
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1.0
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Camera Sniper / int_222c2051
 Camera Sniper / int_3790ae45
type
Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_3790ae45
comment
Implied with Daniela in Double Homework. It turns out that she’s supposed to be recording his sexual experiences with his female classmates.
 Camera Sniper / int_3790ae45
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1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_3790ae45
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1.0
 Double Homework (Visual Novel)
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Camera Sniper / int_3790ae45
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type
Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_59140854
comment
The pilot episode of Jessica Jones (2015) opens with this trope of an adulterous couple, accompanied by the requisite Private Eye Monologue of the title character who is taking the photos.
 Camera Sniper / int_59140854
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_59140854
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1.0
 Jessica Jones (2015)
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Camera Sniper / int_59140854
 Camera Sniper / int_5eff4a2f
type
Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_5eff4a2f
comment
Chinatown opens with what appears to be this trope, but as the camera pulls back we see the photos have already been taken and are being flicked through by the cuckolded husband.
 Camera Sniper / int_5eff4a2f
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1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_5eff4a2f
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 Chinatown
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Camera Sniper / int_5eff4a2f
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Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_60996c02
comment
As mentioned above, Spider-Man: The Animated Series, The Spectacular Spider-Man and other animated versions of the Webslinger tend to show this trope by dint of Peter Parker catching Spidey in action for the Daily Bugle.
 Camera Sniper / int_60996c02
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1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_60996c02
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 Spider-Man: The Animated Series
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Camera Sniper / int_60996c02
 Camera Sniper / int_7357234c
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Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_7357234c
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The opening to Beyond Good & Evil has this.
 Camera Sniper / int_7357234c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_7357234c
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1.0
 Beyond Good & Evil (Video Game)
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Camera Sniper / int_7357234c
 Camera Sniper / int_73cb7f0b
type
Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_73cb7f0b
comment
Hunter. The episode "Avenging Angel" opens with this trope, as an unseen person is shown taking photographs of Hunter going about his everyday business, in a montage to the song "Every Breath You Take" (I'll Be Watching You) by the Police. He's then shown developing the photographs and putting them up on his wall.
 Camera Sniper / int_73cb7f0b
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1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_73cb7f0b
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 Hunter (1984)
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Camera Sniper / int_73cb7f0b
 Camera Sniper / int_7981ca33
type
Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_7981ca33
comment
The 2008 film WarGames: The Dead Code has a scene wherein the shot of Amy freezes into a photograph.
 Camera Sniper / int_7981ca33
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1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_7981ca33
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 WarGames
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Camera Sniper / int_7981ca33
 Camera Sniper / int_7a084b17
type
Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_7a084b17
comment
In the film There's Something About Mary, there's a scene like this after the main character hires a private detective to track down Mary.
 Camera Sniper / int_7a084b17
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1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_7a084b17
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1.0
 There's Something About Mary
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Camera Sniper / int_7a084b17
 Camera Sniper / int_7b8401db
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Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_7b8401db
comment
The Equalizer. When the Corrupt Cops working for The Mafiya begin to suspect that Robert McCall is the man they're looking for, they put him under surveillance with this trope. Later on The Dragon goes through the photos and realises from Robert's interaction with his coworkers that he's on friendly terms with them, so he decides to kidnap them to force Robert into the open.
 Camera Sniper / int_7b8401db
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_7b8401db
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 The Equalizer
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Camera Sniper / int_7b8401db
 Camera Sniper / int_8954c942
type
Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_8954c942
comment
Golgo 13: In the opening of the anime episode "Cross Angle", a paparazzi in a helicopter captures a royal having sex on the deck of a yacht, with the subsequent shots showing her fleeing into the cabin. His next target is an actual sniper — the world's greatest assassin at the moment he fires his shot.
 Camera Sniper / int_8954c942
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1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_8954c942
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 Golgo 13 (Manga)
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Camera Sniper / int_8954c942
 Camera Sniper / int_8e008c0b
type
Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_8e008c0b
comment
This happens at the beginning of the fourth episode of Sherlock Hound, as Moriarty spies on Holmes to find out his weakness.
 Camera Sniper / int_8e008c0b
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1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_8e008c0b
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 Sherlock Hound
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Camera Sniper / int_8e008c0b
 Camera Sniper / int_97a70962
type
Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_97a70962
comment
The Professionals
In "Hunter/Hunted", Bodie and Doyle think they're being followed by a black Porsche on the highway. After some vehicular maneuvering the Porsche drives past with the unseen driver waving at them, so they assume it's the usual road rage Cock Fight. Then the Porsche turns up unnoticed at their destination, a telephoto lens extends out the car window and takes several photographs of Bodie and Doyle.
In "Stakeout", Bodie and Doyle are checking out a bowling alley for anything suspicious after a CI5 agent is murdered near there. We keep getting closeup shots of a camera lens clicking, which a middle-aged man is keeping hidden under his overcoat. But instead of a spy engaged in Sinister Surveillance, he's revealed to be a pervert taking upskirt shots of women bowling.
In "Need to Know", the KGB are planning to snatch a prisoner from CI5 custody. As the KGB agents tasked with the assignment arrive at the Soviet embassy, this trope happens and we see Doyle and Bodie with a telephoto lens camera, showing that CI5 are onto their plan.
 Camera Sniper / int_97a70962
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_97a70962
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 The Professionals
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Camera Sniper / int_97a70962
 Camera Sniper / int_b4996199
type
Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_b4996199
comment
Commonplace in Spider-Man, but it's a subversion of the trope most of the time because it's Peter Parker's own camera on auto-shutter taking the pics of Spidey in action. But not always. Especially common in the animated fare featuring the Wallcrawler.
 Camera Sniper / int_b4996199
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_b4996199
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1.0
 Spider-Man (Comic Book)
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Camera Sniper / int_b4996199
 Camera Sniper / int_c01688c8
type
Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_c01688c8
comment
Vicki Vale, an intrepid reporter, does this to Bruce Wayne as he visits the spot where his parents died in Batman (1989).
 Camera Sniper / int_c01688c8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_c01688c8
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1.0
 Batman (1989)
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Camera Sniper / int_c01688c8
 Camera Sniper / int_c75d67d
type
Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_c75d67d
comment
Happens a lot in Person of Interest, given that each POI has to be put under surveillance by the protagonists, either for protection or to expose their criminal activities. However in "Firewall" they're on the receiving end. Finch warns Reese not to reveal too much to the POI, as it's important that no-one find out about them. The next scene has Alicia Corwin taking Finch's photograph as he walks down the street.
 Camera Sniper / int_c75d67d
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 Camera Sniper / int_c75d67d
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 Person of Interest
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Camera Sniper / int_c75d67d
 Camera Sniper / int_c8a7a335
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Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_c8a7a335
comment
Act of Valor. A CIA operative meeting with her contact is photographed. A short time later armed men burst into her house, kill the contact and abduct her.
 Camera Sniper / int_c8a7a335
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1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_c8a7a335
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Camera Sniper / int_c8a7a335
 Camera Sniper / int_ca08598f
type
Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_ca08598f
comment
Happens a lot on The Wire, particularly in season one. For instance, the scene where Bubbles is doing his red hat trick and Kima is on the roof photographing the heroes.
 Camera Sniper / int_ca08598f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_ca08598f
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 The Wire
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Camera Sniper / int_ca08598f
 Camera Sniper / int_d148f51d
type
Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_d148f51d
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In The Looney Tunes Show, the Flashback to Granny's days as a WAC has her camera sniping some German soldiers as they try to steal art from the Louvre.
 Camera Sniper / int_d148f51d
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1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_d148f51d
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 The Looney Tunes Show
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Camera Sniper / int_d148f51d
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Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_da861da1
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Veronica Mars: At least half the episodes have this, though that's unsurprising considering the character is a private eye.
 Camera Sniper / int_da861da1
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1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_da861da1
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1.0
 Veronica Mars
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Camera Sniper / int_da861da1
 Camera Sniper / int_e4b79b6d
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Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_e4b79b6d
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Played with in The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe - an ordinary violinist is marked as a spy as he arrives at an airport, and several real spies secretly take his picture. He'd popped a large piece of chewy candy in his mouth, and every shutter click/freeze frame catches him in a goofy facial contortion as it gets stuck in his teeth.
 Camera Sniper / int_e4b79b6d
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1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_e4b79b6d
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 The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe
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Camera Sniper / int_e4b79b6d
 Camera Sniper / int_e4c53c04
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Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_e4c53c04
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Jumpin' Jack Flash. Whoopi Goldberg's character delivers Jack's message to the British Embassy, but they claim not to understand it, telling her she must have been the victim of a practical joke. As she leaves, someone takes her photograph.
 Camera Sniper / int_e4c53c04
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1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_e4c53c04
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1.0
 Jumpin' Jack Flash
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Camera Sniper / int_e4c53c04
 Camera Sniper / int_e6318baf
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Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_e6318baf
comment
Midsomer Murders:
A few suspects in "Sins of Commission" are seen through a camera lens like this. It turns out a housekeeper is photographing people for several reasons.
In "A Climate of Death", a blonde walks out of the Green Man wearing a trench coat, looking at her phone and arranging her hair. Someone is taking photos of her. She puts on her helmet and gets on a scooter. Someone follows her on a bike. The blonde girl arrives at the edge of town on the scooter and someone still shoots photos of her. She hops in a beat up old truck and drives off leaving a cloud of smoke.
 Camera Sniper / int_e6318baf
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1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_e6318baf
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 Midsomer Murders
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Camera Sniper / int_e6318baf
 Camera Sniper / int_e63265a4
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Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_e63265a4
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This happens briefly in the music video for Rod Stewart's "Infatuation".
 Camera Sniper / int_e63265a4
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1.0
 Camera Sniper / int_e63265a4
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1.0
 Rod Stewart (Music)
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Camera Sniper / int_e63265a4
 Camera Sniper / int_f17c3b1d
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Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_f17c3b1d
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In the game Dead Rising, this is used in cutscenes, and is also implemented into gameplay. It's quite fitting, seeing as the protagonist is a photojournalist.
 Camera Sniper / int_f17c3b1d
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 Dead Rising (Video Game)
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 Camera Sniper / int_f702c688
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Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_f702c688
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Phoenix. Our introduction to the Dogs (the Victorian police surveillance unit) is a white van with dark windows and the sound of a motorized camera clicking, accompanied by this trope as several criminals get out of a car and enter the building under surveillance. One of the Dogs is then shown slipping the film to a couple of Major Crime officers, with the Majors flicking through the developed photos later.
 Camera Sniper / int_f702c688
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Camera Sniper
 Camera Sniper / int_f89f466d
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Happens in Torchwood: Miracle Day - Gwen is in Venice Beach, and we see that someone's watching her through the shutter of the camera they're using to photograph her. The shot even pulls back to show the person with the long range lens.
 Camera Sniper / int_f89f466d
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1.0
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 Torchwood: Miracle Day
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Camera Sniper / int_f89f466d

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

 Camera Sniper
processingCategory2
Camera Tricks
 Camera Sniper
processingCategory2
Espionage Tropes
 Camera Sniper
processingCategory2
Photography and Illustration
 Running Man (Animation) / int_3bcef6d9
type
Camera Sniper
 Sherlock Hound / int_3bcef6d9
type
Camera Sniper
 Lois Lane (Comic Book) / int_3bcef6d9
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Camera Sniper
 Lois Lane (2019) (Comic Book) / int_3bcef6d9
type
Camera Sniper
 Batman (1989) / int_3bcef6d9
type
Camera Sniper
 Death Proof / int_3bcef6d9
type
Camera Sniper
 Jumpin' Jack Flash / int_3bcef6d9
type
Camera Sniper
 The Assignment (1997) / int_3bcef6d9
type
Camera Sniper
 The Return of the Tall Blond Man / int_3bcef6d9
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Camera Sniper
 The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe / int_3bcef6d9
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Camera Sniper
 There's Something About Mary / int_3bcef6d9
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Camera Sniper
 13 Tzameti / int_3bcef6d9
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Camera Sniper
 WarGames / int_3bcef6d9
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Camera Sniper
 Creed (1990) / int_3bcef6d9
type
Camera Sniper
 Chuck / int_3bcef6d9
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Camera Sniper
 Hunter (1984) / int_3bcef6d9
type
Camera Sniper
 The Disguiser / int_3bcef6d9
type
Camera Sniper
 The Professionals / int_3bcef6d9
type
Camera Sniper
 Torchwood: Miracle Day / int_3bcef6d9
type
Camera Sniper
 Veronica Mars / int_3bcef6d9
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Camera Sniper
 Beyond Good & Evil (Video Game) / int_3bcef6d9
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Camera Sniper
 Dead Rising (Video Game) / int_3bcef6d9
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Camera Sniper
 Delicious (Video Game) / int_3bcef6d9
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Camera Sniper
 Double Homework (Visual Novel) / int_3bcef6d9
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Camera Sniper
 The Hire (Web Video) / int_3bcef6d9
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Camera Sniper
 The Looney Tunes Show / int_3bcef6d9
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Camera Sniper