look at/into the camera

[ademoglu]

Hi.

I have been thinking about which preposition -at or into- I should use before the word 'camera' but I cannot come to a conclusion. What is the difference in meaning between 'looking at the camera' and 'looking into the camera'? I tried to write a sentence and I gather that 'at' works there but I am still not sure. If I am correct about that, in what situations should I say 'look into the camera'?

John, I would like you to look at the camera and say 'hello'' for me. (OK)
John, I would like you to look into the camera and say 'hello'' for me. (NOT OK)

 

[jutfrank]

The basic difference is that look into the camera means 'look into the aperture straight down the lens' and look at the camera more simply means 'look in the direction of the camera'.

Given this difference in meaning, you might imagine that someone would use the former as a command when they want to ensure that the listener pays special attention to making eye contact with the imagined viewer of the photograph.