By '37? No, you had cameras that could take pretty sharp images in a (ha) snap. Even some expensive consumer cameras could get damn fine shots. Late 19th century is when you have the dying days of long exposure - except for color photography, which generally did require a little time spent stationary until like, the 50s or something.
No way that's the classic 'pretend you're smoking or otherwise disinterested and subtly twist' move implemented by planting a pivot foot and then stepping back to cautiously turn your body