History Main / CameraSniper

* The pilot episode of ''Series/JessicaJones'' opens with this trope of an adulterous couple, accompanied by the requisite PrivateEyeMonologue of the title character.

* ''Series/ProjectBlueBook''. At the end of the pilot episode, Dr Hynek and his wife Mimi think they hear a prowler, but decide ItsProbablyNothing. Just before Hyneck goes back inside the house, someone takes his photograph; not a mysterious ManInBlack but [[spoiler:a [[FemmeFataleSpy woman who'd befriended Mimi]] earlier.]]

* ''Series/{{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 [[RoomFullOfCrazy and putting them up on his wall]].

* Vicki Vale, an intrepid reporter, does this to Bruce Wayne as he visits the spot where his parents died in the '89 version of [[{{Film/Batman}} BATMAN]].

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* ''Series/{{Hunter}}''. The episode "Avenging Angel" opens with this trope, as an unseen person is shown taking photographs of Hunter and Dee Dee going about their everyday business, in a montage to the song "Every Breath You Take" (I'll Be Watching You) by the Police.

* Shown at the start of an episode of the 1980's cop show ''Series/{{Hunter}}'' where the VillainOfTheWeek is a vigilante who has become obsessed with the title character and is stalking him and his partner, in a montage with the song "I'll Be Watching You".
* Happens a lot in ''Series/PersonOfInterest'', 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 and into his building.

* Commonplace for ComicBook/{{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 [[SuperheroSobriquets Wallcrawler]].

* In the film ''TheresSomethingAboutMary'', there's a scene like this after the main character hires a private detective to track down Mary.

* The 2008 film ''WarGames: The Dead Code'' has a scene wherein the shot of Amy freezes into a photograph.

* In the film ''[[TheresSomethingAboutMary There's Something About Mary]]'', there's a scene like this after the main character hires a private detective to track down Mary.

* 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.

* As mentioned above, ''SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'', ''TheSpectacularSpiderMan'' 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''.

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The target is seldom aware at this point that there's a camera scope on him, but the audience gets to see an indication of the watchful character(s) because we see a Follow Shot of him walking, sleeping or just eating breakfast — in short, just living his day-to-day 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.

* Happens a lot in ''Series/PersonOfInterest'', 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 VictimOfTheWeek, 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 and into his building.

* ''Series/PersonOfInterest''. Finch warns Reese not to reveal too much to the VictimOfTheWeek, 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 and into his building.

* On ''TheLooneyTunesShow'' 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.

* This happens at the beginning of the fourth episode of ''MeitanteiHolmes'', as Moriarty spies on Holmes to find out his weakness.

* In the game ''DeadRising'', this is used in cutscenes, and is also implemented into gameplay.

Camera Sniper is primarily a {{Film}} and {{Television}} trope, although it does occur in other media.

* ''{{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 [[spoiler:an operative for the CIA, who believe that Sarah has had a Face Heel Turn and is selling the real chip.]] Super huge spoiler: [[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]].
* Happens a lot on ''TheWire'', 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.

* ''VeronicaMars'': At least half the episodes have this, though that's unsurprising considering the character is a private eye.

* ''Film/ActOfValor''. A CIA operative meeting with her contact is photographed.