Some of you may have noticed that the view of me during our Zoom meetings looks a bit different than everyone else.  Right off the bat you’ll note that the image quality is considerably better and the next thing you’ll see is the angle of view is different, so much so that you actually see my laptop in the picture.  So…how am I doing this?

I turned my DSLR into a Webcam!

Both Canon and Nikon offer a Webcam Utility for you DSLR.

Canon:  Canon EOS Webcam Utility

Nikon:  Nikon Webcam Utility

What, you’re not team Canon or Nikon, don’t worry…here’s some more

Sony:  Sony Image Edge

Panasonic:  LUMIX Tether for Streaming (Beta)

Olympus:  Olympus OM-D Webcam Beta

Fujifilm:  FUJIFILM X Webcam

Now obviously I only have experience with the Canon utility but they all work pretty much the same.  First check the to see if you camera is supported, if its a DSLR and shoots video it will likely be supported.  Once you have confirmed that go ahead and download the app for the operating system your using.  After installing the program you then need to tether your camera to you PC or Laptop.  You may need to reference you’re cameras manual to do this but it will likely be a USB cable the plugs into a port on the side of your camera.  In the case of mine it plugs into a USB port on my laptop to a micro USB B port on the camera, its that simple.

Once that is all hooked up you can now select the utility in the Zoom settings.  When you login to to meeting you can click the Test Audio button and from there click on the the Video tab from the left hand side.  Now from the Camera drop down select your utility.

If your camera is tethered and turned on you should see a preview of your video now coming from your camera
Now you can have some fun, put on the wide angle lens and show off your office, or maybe put that 70-200 on and set it to 2.8 to blur out your background.

One thing to keep in mind, it does use a bit of battery so make sure battery is full.

Have fun!!

Having begun in 1954, the Milford Camera Club turned 65 this year.

I would like to thank Jon Aspinwall for sharing this bit of club history he came across on Ancestory.com.  There has always been a bit of debate as to when the club began but this looks to answer that question once and for all.  It is a fun read and while there are obvious references to film photography a lot of the content and certainly the goals of the club have remained the same all these years.  Below you’ll find a photo of the news snippet and I went ahead and transcribed the article as it may be a little difficult to read.

There is a mention of a studio on Ford Street though it was tough to make out the name.  It looks like Gulrick’s but I will let our long-time Milfordites correct me if I got that one wrong as I wasn’t even born let alone living in Milford when the article was written.

 

JUNE 23, 1974

BRIDGEPORT SUNDAY POST

Camera Club In Milford 20 Years Old

By:  KAREN MARSHALL

 

MILFORD – The Milford Camera club is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year, boasting an active membership of 60 hobbyists who have in common a love for the growing modern folk art of Celluloid.

There are more camera supply shops in the city than there are bookstores or sporting goods stores, and almost as many hobby shops attesting to the popularity of this art.

 

One of Oldest

The amateur is usually first attracted to the camera because of a desire to record the people and events of his life.  But those with an artistic eye soon become aware of the endless possibilities of the world they see behind the view finder and it is the type of person who gathers at regular meeting of camera clubs throughout the country.

The Milford club, one of the oldest in the state began in 1954, with a group of eight people, who met at Gulrick’s studio on Ford street.  The club, which rapidly expanded its membership now meets at the Community room of the First Federal Savings and Loan, on Broad Street, where works of club are displayed.

According to president John Keating, this year the club will emphasize small workshops, study sessions, and guest speakers, to expose members to a wider range of style and techniques.

Meets Twice a Month

The club meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, at 8 p.m. The first session is devoted to competition show, either of just the club members’ work or of inter-club competition.

The shows have both black and white and color slide competition and are open to the public.

The club does not have its own darkroom facilities.  This is a long-range goal which will depend upon the slow build-up of the club’s treasury.  The build-up is slow because yearly membership is a mere $10 or $15 for a couple.

Young People Included

The membership is open this year to young people 13 years old and up.  Several youths have joined with their parents and the hobby is recreation that the family can share, Mr. Keating said.

Although the cost of photographic equipment and supplies is high, Mr. Keating emphasizes that with a bit of the basic equipment, a darkroom can easily be setup in a kitchen and used during after-dark hours.

“It’s a wonderful escape.” Said Mr. Keating, “to just forget everything during the concentration of working in the darkroom.”

Backyard Photogenic

Mr. Keating does a lot of close-up work with his camera.  “You don’t have to go looking for pictures,” he said.  “You could spend weeks just photographing your backyard.  When you start closing in on spaces, a whole new world of objects and relationships opens up.”

The club is currently planning a 20^th anniversary show to be displayed at the three-day conference sponsored by the New England Camera club in Gloucester, Mass.

PHOTOS

Top
‘EVENING SOLITUDE’ – This photograph of Milford’s Duck Pond was taken during a winter night, using a long exposure, by Milford camera club member Al Turbeville.  The picture has won nine awards, including the Tops in Connecticut award given by the Charter Oaks Camera club of Hartford.

Bottom
Left
‘YA GOT ME’ – This prize-winning favorite pf photographer William Pannabaker of the Milford Camera club, took first place in the New England Camera club council competition.  The eight Camera Clubs in the state participate throughout the fall and winter months in inter-club shows and contests.

Center
‘OLD GRIST MILL’ – Milford Camera club member Gary Griswold took this New England scene in Sandwich, Mass. The photographers eye captures the heavy stillness of a summer afternoon.

Right
‘CONSTRUCTION’ – Milford Camera club president John Keating enjoys experimentation with darkroom techniques.  In this photograph taken at St. Rapheal’s hospital in New Haven, the black and white are reversed in a process which eliminates the in-between gray tones.

Summer Picnic

When:  Sunday, July 21st
Time:  1:00pm
Location:  The Coyle Residence (Email for directions)

Let’s use this post to keep track of who is bringing what.
The Club will provide the proteins and beverages (water/soda)

Feel free to bring along your own adult beverage.

-Appetizers:
Mexican Layered Dip and Tortilla Chips  -Mike Rosen
Crab and Asparagus Dip with Crackers  – Jean Kovacs
Spanakopita  -Cathy Outhouse
Fruit Platter  -Pam Kmiberly
Fruit Salad  -Angelica Buehler

-Sides:
Plum Salad  -Greta Jacobsen
Potato Salad  -Sandy Kline
Salad  -Steve Kaplan
Macaroni Salad  -Mike Lucas
Macaroni Salad  -Kathy Powell

-Desserts:
Cake  -Howard Seigel
Cannoli Chips and Dip Platter  -Sand O’Hare
Surprise  – Cathy Outhouse

Location, Paperware, Cutlery and Condiments  -Rich Coyle