History Main / CameraFiend

* Mark from ''Theatre/{{Rent}}'' is a documentary filmmaker and films the other characters throughout the story, leading to a touching montage at the end. In "Goodbye Love", his roommate Roger accuses Mark of obsessing over his camera to avoid facing reality. Mark actually does this because he wants to ignore the fact that he's going to outlive Roger, who, among most of the cast in the show, has AIDS.
-->'''Roger''': Who are to tell me what I know, what to do?
-->'''Mark''': A ''friend!''
-->'''Roger''': But ''who'', Mark, are you? "Mark has got his work!" They say "Mark lives for his work" and "Mark's in love with his work"- Mark '''HIDES''' in his work!
-->'''Mark''': [[DefensiveWhat From]] ''[[DefensiveWhat what?!]]''
-->'''Roger''': Facing your failure, facing your loneliness, facing the fact you live a lie. '''Yes, you live a lie!''' Tell you why; you're always preaching not to be numb, when that's how you thrive! You pretend to create and observe when you really detach from feeling alive!
-->'''Mark''': [[SurvivorsGuilt PERHAPS IT'S BECAUSE I'M THE ONE OF US TO]] ''[[SurvivorsGuilt SURVIVE!]]''
-->(A beat.)
-->'''Roger''': [[KickTheDog Poor baby!]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': Bender's usual reaction to seeing something disgusting and/or horrifying is to say "Neat!" and snap a picture of it. One episode is even all about Bender's attempts to take a photo of an actor whose face has never been seen before.

** In [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E9PinkieApplePie "Pinkie Apple Pie",]] Pinkie Pie takes this role during her trip with Applejack's family to visit Goldie Delicious.

* Manga/TheKindaichiCaseFiles - the Saki brothers, who follow Kindaichi everywhere recording everything, providing vital visual evidence for Kindaichi to review whenever the inevitable murder(s) happen; the elder Saki brother was even murdered for [[HisNameIs making the mistake of being quicker figure out who did it]] than Kindaichi and was replaced in the next case by his identical (as in, Kindaichi and Miyuki freaked out, thinking they saw a ghost) younger brother

* ''Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure'', the ''Film/HighSchoolMusical'' spinoff/sequel, has film student Peyton Leverett making a film about Sharpay. When he doesn't have a camera in his hands, he's probably on his laptop editing the footage.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': Bender's usual reaction to seeing something disgusting and/or horrifying is to say "[[CatchPhrase Neat!]]" and snap a picture of it. One episode is even all about Bender's attempts to take a photo of an actor whose face has never been seen before.

Whether for work or for their off-hours enjoyment, these characters ''[[CargoShip love]]'' their camera. They probably [[{{geek}} collect high-end cameras, lenses, flashes and tripods]] and may be in a camera club. Wealthy characters may do ConspicuousConsumption of the most expensive cameras. For camera enthusiasts, OlderIsBetter. They'll rave about the unsurpassable quality of their 1970s Leica or 1980s Nikon. Filmmakers will praise their 35 mm film camera and insist that it's better than a videocam.

Because this character is often a budding art, film or media student, they are very likely to be an AuthorAvatar of the production's writer, director, or producer.

[[IntrepidReporter Some characters who are reporters or photographers]] use a camera or video cam for work. As well, other characters have photography or filming as a beloved hobby. They'll have the camera gear with them everywhere they go and they'll use it often, usually sticking the lens in the most unwelcome places. They'll take the most inane pictures they can, record videos of everything they see or all of the above (maybe even risk life or limb for the perfect shot).

Something embarrassing happens? They'll snap a shot. Important plot event occurs in front of them? They caught it on video. You can always expect this character to keep their camera handy for any important or non-important moment that may arise, probably becoming uncomfortable without the object at near.

Whether for work or for their off-hours enjoyment, these characters ''[[CargoShip love]]'' their camera. They probably have a collection of high-end cameras, lenses, flashes and tripods. Wealthy characters may do ConspicuousConsumption of the most expensive cameras. For camera enthusiasts, OlderIsBetter. They'll rave about the unsurpassable quality of their 1970s Leica or 1980s Nikon. Filmmakers will praise their 35 mm film camera and insist that it's better than a videocam.

On the bright side, they'll provide the scrapbook {{Montage}} of happy times near the end of the series. As well, with thrillers and murder mysteries, sometimes the photography nerd who's always taking photos happens to take a ConvenientPhotograph, like a snapshot of the suspect, Bigfoot, or the epic natural disaster. They themselves might get annoyed about being caught on film or having their picture taken. Expect one of the cast to use this to their advantage at some point.

See also the JapaneseTourist, who will more often than not be one of these, especially in 1980s works. For the darker side of this trope, see ThePeepingTom. Related to SelfieFiend, which is about someone who loves taking pictures of themselves. For amateur shutterbugs who are always snapping photos, their pastime may become a ChekhovsHobby when a crime has been committed and the BrilliantDetective needs to look for evidence about the scene.

See also the JapaneseTourist, who will more often than not be one of these, especially in 1980s works. For the darker side of this trope, see ThePeepingTom. Related to SelfieFiend, which is about someone who loves taking pictures of themselves.

Some camera lovers derive a strange pleasure from secretly watching people and snapping photos of their private life. Sometimes, the love of photographing everything can cross the line into obsession, voyeurism and even harassment (in the case of paparazzi with celebrities or a person following their ex-partner).

[[IntrepidReporter Some characters who are reporters or photographers]] use a camera or video cam for work. As well, other characters have photography or filming as a beloved hobby. Whether for work or for their off-hours enjoyment, these characters ''[[CargoShip love]]'' their camera. They probably have a collection of high-end cameras, lenses, flashes and tripods. Wealthy characters may do ConspicuousConsumption of the most expensive cameras.

They'll have the camera gear with them everywhere they go and they'll use it often, usually sticking the lens in the most unwelcome places. They'll take the most inane pictures they can, record videos of everything they see or all of the above (maybe even risk life or limb for the perfect shot).

[[IntrepidReporter Some characters who are reporters or photographers]] use a camera for work. As well, other characters have photograhy as a beloved hobby. Whether for work or for their off-hours enjoyment, these characters ''[[CargoShip love]]'' their camera. They probably have a collection of high-end cameras, lenses, flashes and tripods.

They'll have the camera gear with them everywhere they go and they'll use it often, usually sticking the lens in the most unwelcome places. They'll take the most inane pictures they can, record everything they see or all of the above (maybe even risk of life or limb for the perfect shot).

Something embarrassing happens? They'll snap a shot. Important plot event occurs in front of them? They caught it on film. You can always expect this character to keep their camera handy for any important or non-important moment that may arise, probably becoming uncomfortable without the object at near.

On the bright side, they'll provide the scrapbook {{Montage}} of happy times near the end of the series. As well, with thrillers and murder mysteries, sometimes the photography nerd who's always taking photos accidentally takes a ConvenientPhotograp, like a snapshots of the suspect or Bigfoot. They themselves might get annoyed about being caught on film or having their picture taken. Expect one of the cast to use this to their advantage at some point.

Unlike GoingForTheBigScoop, these characters are motivated by the simple act of taking pictures compulsively and occasionally (read: often) using them to their advantage while characters GoingForTheBigScoop are motivated by getting a good story (they can occasionally overlap). Also, this character isn't necessarily a reporter, photojournalist or artist; there's also amateur photography nerds.

[[IntrepidReporter Some characters]] use a camera. These characters ''[[CargoShip love]]'' their camera. They'll have the device with them everywhere they go and they'll use it well, usually sticking it in the most unwelcome of places - they'll take the most inane pictures they can, record everything they see or all of the above (maybe even at the risk of life or limb). Something embarrassing happens? They'll snap a shot. Important plot event? They caught it on tape. You can always expect this character to wear their camera on their sleeve for any important or non-important moment that may arise, probably becoming uncomfortable without the object at near. It's possible that they derive some kind of strange pleasure from watching people, though it's best not to get into that.

On the bright side, they'll provide the scrapbook {{Montage}} of happy times near the end of the series. They themselves might get annoyed about being caught on film or having their picture taken. Expect one of the cast to use this to their advantage at some point.

Unlike GoingForTheBigScoop, these characters are motivated by the simple act of taking pictures compulsively and occasionally (read: often) using them to their advantage while characters GoingForTheBigScoop are motivated by getting a good story (they can occasionally overlap). Also, this character isn't necessarily a reporter.

Because this character is often a budding film or media student, they are very likely to be an AuthorAvatar of the production's writer, director, or producer.

They will almost always take a ConvenientPhotograph at some point.

See also the JapaneseTourist, who will more often than not be one of these. For the darker side of this trope, see ThePeepingTom. Related to SelfieFiend, which is about someone who loves taking pictures of themselves.

* The term "camera fiend" originated around 1900 to describe people armed with such newly mobile cameras as Kodak's Brownie. In 1906, an article called "What Is to be Done About the Camera Fiend?" appeared in ''The American Amateur Photographer'', decrying the fact that First Daughter Alice Roosevelt could not shop without being subject to the flashbulbs of passersby (making the paparazzo OlderThanYouThink).

* ''LightNovel/FateApocrypha'' originally had Saint George amongst the summoned heroes (he was later cut), who had taken a liking to modern cameras. This was later reinstated into his character when he appeared in ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder''.

* Tsutako from ''Literature/MariaWatchesOverUs'' is pretty much defined by: "Carries a camera everywhere."

* ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'' has Kyoko, who's been known to take pictures of everything from random interactions between her friend Kaname with strangers to grease stains that look like George Washington.

* ''LightNovel/FateApocrypha'' originally had Saint George amongst the summoned heroes (he was later cut), who had taken a liking to modern cameras. This was later reinstated into his character when he appeared in ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder''.
* ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'' has Kyoko, who's been known to take pictures of everything from random interactions between her friend Kaname with strangers to grease stains that look like George Washington.

* Yotsuba from ''LightNovel/SisterPrincess'', as part of her "checking up on Big Bro" (i.e. stalking the protagonist) personality quirk.

* Colin Creevey in ''Literature/HarryPotter''. Since he's also a HeroWorshipper, his first scene consists of him asking Harry for a signed photo, much to his exasperation. [[spoiler:His camera eventually saves his life -- when he runs into the Basilisk and tries to take a picture, its gaze only petrifies him because he didn't look it directly in the eye.]]