22 Interesting Old Photographs of People Posing With Their Cameras

The quality and portability of cameras these days would be quite astonishing to photographers from back in the earlier days of photography — the days in which you needed both hands and a strong back to work as a photojournalist. Here, an interesting collection of old photographs of people posing with their cameras.

A traveling photographer shooting in Columbus, Ohio with his sidewalk portrait camera, 1938.

In 1939, when star college quarterback Davy O’Brien visited Washington to receive a prestigious award, he paid a visit to Presidential Secretary Marvin H. McIntyre at the White House. To demonstrate his passing technique to McIntyre, O’Brien grabbed a camera from a news photographer nearby and pretended to use it as a football.

Children at the FSA (Farm Security Administration) Camelback Farms inspect the photographer's camera, Phoenix, Arizona, 1942.

Photographers at President Taft's inauguration, March 4, 1909

Theodor Horydczak lying on ground with camera in the early 1900s.

Unidentified photographer with camera from the early 1900s.

A photographer posing with his camera and tripod outside the White House in the early 1900s.

Photo shows Herman A. "Germany" Schaefer (1876-1919), one of the most entertaining characters in baseball history, trying out the other side of the camera during the Washington Senators visit to play the New York Highlanders in April, 1911. The camera is a 5x7 Press Graflex with a modification to accommodate the large lens. The camera was produced by the Folmer & Schwing Division of Eastman Kodak Co. between 1907 and 1923.

Group portrait of four members of the White House News Photographers' Association, standing, facing front, holding cameras, circa 1920s

A group of early-1900s photographers posing with their cameras on steps.

Frances Benjamin Johnston, three-quarter length portrait, holding and looking down at camera, facing slightly left, 1950.

President Coolidge in cowboy outfit, standing in field with photographers; mountain in background, 1927.

Photographer with a portable large format camera, 1914.

Unidentified photographer with camera from the early 1900s.

Unidentified photographer with camera from the early 1900s.

The photographer's assistants, 1873.

Group portrait of seventeen members of the White House News Photographers' Association, standing and squatting, facing front, with cameras, circa 1920s.

Tourist using candid camera, Taos, New Mexico, 1940.

This image appears that back in 1937 it was perfectly normal to snap news photos at the US Senate while holding a cigarette between your fingers.

Photograph shows boy with homemade "Kodack" camera pretending to photograph little girl with doll, 1907.

Four unidentified photographers from the early 1900s hanging out with their cameras in hand.

Three guys posing with two cameras in the early 1900s.

(Images courtesy of Librarian of Congress)