Thomas James Howard Jr. (September 11, 1894 – October 8, 1961)[2] was an American photographer who worked at the Washington bureau of P. & A.

He arrived early and, passing himself in by posing as a writer, he took up a vantage position so as to be able to take pictures with the help of a miniature camera that he had strapped to his right ankle.

Because News editor's had obtained blueprints of the execution chamber at Sing-Sing, they were able to calculate where Howard should be sitting in order to get the shot.

When Snyder's body shook from the jolt, Howard pressed the shutter release, exposing the plate.

[2] The camera Howard used to snap the shot is part of the collection of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.