Oh my word In Camera, On Camera, Off Camera

People are capturing real events in real time on cameras [still photography and moving images (videos)]. People in public life, elected representatives like MLAs and MPs, citizens in government jobs should be aware of the power of camera-holding citizens: we are living in an era of citizen journalism, too.

There are cameras everywhere in the 21st century. There is a camera in your mobile phone. There are Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, too in public places and the governments across the world want to install more of them in crime-prone areas so that those commit crime will be caught on camera, and could be punished according to the law with that evidence.

We often hear: in camera and on camera, what do they mean?

On camera means when he or she is doing something it is filmed, it is recorded and could be televised or broadcast either live or real time transmission. There will be an instance when the subject or subjects of the camera could refuse to be photographed, or filmed, or recorded; accordingly the photographer or the cameraman is bound to oblige (people have right to privacy unless it is ‘in the interest of the public’).

A white woman was caught on camera in the US making vile racists rants against a black postman.

When people in holding positions of power and authority, inherited or elected, make unseemly comments ‘on camera’ without being aware they can become news.

Prince Philp was caught on camera,at a reception marking the 75th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Britain, ordering the photographer to ‘just take the f-----g picture’. That’s how he landed with ‘bad’ press.

In camera means something held in secret, in a private place or privately, in an enclosed room or chamber; behind closed doors, something not held in the public gaze such as some legal cases on trial could be in camera as ruled by the judge.

In camera comes from the Latin word ‘vault’ which means arched chamber; referring to ‘in a chamber’.

Legally, in camera refers to without the presence of the public, or the media in the court.

At times, the proceedings in a court are held ‘in camera’ which means they are held in the judge’s private room (without the presence of public and media professionals or journalists).

Off camera means out of the range of camera, still or recording, so that the subject is out of the range. Often people insist especially the newsmakers to have off camera conversations with the journalists.

Kovuuri G Reddy