      */
     public function CameraSnapshotter (cameraName :String = null)
     {
+        // create a label behind the videos that only shows up if a camera doesn't work
+        var tf :TextField = new TextField();
+        tf.text = "Camera unavailable.";
+        addChild(tf);
+
         setCameraName(cameraName);
     }
 


    protected function attachVideo () :void
    {
        _video = new Video(_camera.width, _camera.height);
        // the constructor args don't seem to do dick, so we set the values again...
        _video.width = _camera.width;

        if (_camera == null) {
            return;
        }
        if (_bitmap.parent != null) {
            removeChild(_bitmap);
        }
        if (_video.parent == null) {
            addChild(_video);
        }
    }
