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Camera selfies: Turning the lens on themselves

Michelle Cohan, CNN

Updated 1511 GMT (2311 HKT) January 2, 2015

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The Polaroid Land Camera 1000 seen here, was produced in the late 1970's. Photographer Jürgen Novotny created a series of camera 'selfies' set against backdrops which he felt bring out their best qualities.
Photos: Colorful camera 'selfies'
Colorful camera 'selfies' – The Polaroid Land Camera 1000 seen here, was produced in the late 1970's. Photographer Jürgen Novotny created a series of camera 'selfies' set against backdrops which he felt bring out their best qualities.
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The Pentaka 8 was primarily used in the 1960's.
Photos: Colorful camera 'selfies'
Colorful camera 'selfies' – The Pentaka 8 was primarily used in the 1960's.
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This Zenit-E model was produced between 1967 and 1969.
Photos: Colorful camera 'selfies'
Colorful camera 'selfies' – This Zenit-E model was produced between 1967 and 1969.
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This gold Penti by Welta was manufactured in the late 1950's well into the 1970's.
Photos: Colorful camera 'selfies'
Colorful camera 'selfies' – This gold Penti by Welta was manufactured in the late 1950's well into the 1970's.
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Photographer Jürgen Novotny set this Bilora Bella against a blue background to enhance its features.
Photos: Colorful camera 'selfies'
Colorful camera 'selfies' – Photographer Jürgen Novotny set this Bilora Bella against a blue background to enhance its features.
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The Agfa Clack was a popular camera to own in the 1950's and 1960's.
Photos: Colorful camera 'selfies'
Colorful camera 'selfies' – The Agfa Clack was a popular camera to own in the 1950's and 1960's.
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The Perfekta was a box camera produced in the mid 1950's.
Photos: Colorful camera 'selfies'
Colorful camera 'selfies' – The Perfekta was a box camera produced in the mid 1950's.
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In the 1970's Polaroid released another model of instant-film camera called the SX-70.
Photos: Colorful camera 'selfies'
Colorful camera 'selfies' – In the 1970's Polaroid released another model of instant-film camera called the SX-70.
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This Agfa Billy model was produced in the 1930's.
Photos: Colorful camera 'selfies'
Colorful camera 'selfies' – This Agfa Billy model was produced in the 1930's.
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The most recent of Novotny's 'CameraSelfies' project, this Leica C11 was made in 2000.
Photos: Colorful camera 'selfies'
Colorful camera 'selfies' – The most recent of Novotny's 'CameraSelfies' project, this Leica C11 was made in 2000.
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Story highlights

  • Without the help of pouty faces and Instagram filters, vintage cameras pose for "selfies"
  • Jürgen Novotny collected historic cameras from friends or on auction sites like eBay
  • Novotny captures them with his modern, digital Fujifilm X-T1 in a small studio

(CNN)You won't see any pouty lips or peace signs in these selfies. The criticized and laughable trend has spread to the devices used to capture them.

Prepping for their ultimate self-portrait, vintage cameras docked on old tripods pucker up for their own selfie against backdrops that bring out their best qualities. No filters necessary.