Hello, aspiring young photographers and visual storytellers! Are you ready to embark on a captivating journey where you can freeze moments in time and bring your imagination to life through the lens of a camera? Today we’ll dive into the exciting world of photography and uncover the secrets to capturing stunning images that will make your friends and family say, “Wow!” Taking great photos is more than just clicking a button; it’s an art form that allows you to express your creativity, tell stories, and see the world through a new lens. So, grab your cameras and let’s uncover the tips and tricks that will help you take your photography skills to the next level. Get ready to capture moments that will last a lifetime with our guide to taking great photos!

Photography is a great way to capture what is going on in your life and to make memories with your friends.

There are two main types of photographers, those who want to create art using photography and those who want to document the world from their perspective.

Which type are you?

Photography is all about the art of seeing and how we perceive the world around us. It’s no secret that we all see things differently and it’s the art and skill of seeing that we struggle with as beginners of photography. Some people have a natural eye for seeing photographically, while others need a little help along the way. Learning how to develop your photographic eye, seeing the best compositions and lightings is a skill that you develop over time and yes, it takes practice.

What does having a photographic eye actually mean?

This simply means being able to look around you and see both the opportunities for a great photo and also see how you would create the shot.

A great place to start in learning photography is learning how to slow down and see. Taking in your surroundings and challenging yourself to see things from a different perspective. With the pictures you take, you want to portray a feeling, a story, and take pride in the new discovery of joy and beauty. But most of all, you want to have fun and create memories to share with your family and friends. Luckily, your cell phone has a built-in camera that enables you to take a picture anytime you like.

Here are some photography tips you might want to keep in mind:

• Experiment with different angles, perspectives, and lighting. Try to capture something interesting or unusual in your photos.
• Check your backgrounds and make sure they are not too cluttered or distracting. You want your subject to stand out.
• Hold the camera straight and avoid tilting it too much. This will help you avoid crooked or distorted photos.
• Get in close to your subject and fill the frame with what you want to photograph. This will help you show more details and emotions.
• Take lots of photos and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. You can always delete the ones you don’t like and learn from them.
• Find a point of interest in your photo and place it off-center. This will create a more dynamic and balanced composition.
• Learn some basic photography terms such as depth, focus, and aperture. These will help you understand how your camera works and how to control the exposure, sharpness, and blur in your photos.
• Have fun and enjoy taking photos. Photography is a creative and rewarding hobby that can help you express yourself and capture memories.

Taking great photographs with your cell phone camera is possible if you follow some simple tips and tricks. Here are some of them:

• Use the light to your advantage and avoid shooting in dark or harsh conditions. Look for natural light sources such as windows, lamps, or neon signs.
• Adjust the exposure to brighten or darken your photo as needed. You can usually do this by tapping on the screen and sliding your finger up or down.
• Use the grid lines to align your shot and follow the rule of thirds. This means placing your subject or point of interest at the intersection of the grid lines, not in the center.
• Set your camera’s focus by tapping on the screen where you want the sharpest area to be. This will also affect the depth of field and blur in your photo.
• Use HDR mode when shooting scenes with high contrast, such as a bright sky and a dark foreground. This will balance the exposure and capture more details in both areas.
• Avoid using flash as much as possible, as it can create harsh shadows and unnatural colors. If you need more light, use a separate light source or an external flash.
• Never use digital zoom as it will degrade the quality of your photo. Instead, get closer to your subject or crop your photo later.
• Use camera modes, HDR, and RAW if your phone supports them. These can help you capture different types of scenes, such as portraits, landscapes, or night shots, with better results.
• Experiment with different editing apps to enhance your photos and add some creative effects. You can adjust the brightness, contrast, color, sharpness, and more.
• Have fun and try different angles, perspectives, and compositions. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and learn from them.

Taking pictures is fun. So, enjoy yourself and start by looking around you and seeing your everyday world with your “photographic eye.”

AIME

What Is a Paramedic?

A paramedic is a specially trained medical technician licensed to provide a wide range of emergency services (such as defibrillation and the intravenous administration of drugs) before or during transportation to a hospital. An EMT—Emergency Medical Technician—is a specially trained medical technician certified to provide basic emergency services (such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation) before and during transportation to a hospital.

They are not doctors, nurses, or physician’s assistants. The word paramedic is a combination of two terms. “Para” means next to, and “medic” means doctor. So, it means that paramedics work alongside doctors, though not always physically. They can provide life-saving treatment for someone until they can get to a doctor.

Paramedics are not Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), though many EMTs become paramedics. EMTs have the skills to stabilize and transport people who call for emergency medical care. They can use basic equipment in an ambulance. But they aren’t allowed to give treatments that break the skin, with a few exceptions.

Paramedics have more training and can provide more advanced emergency medical care. They can use basic and advanced equipment on ambulances. In their training, they can learn how to start intravenous lines (IVs) and manage compromised airways.

Paramedics primarily work in emergency rooms and ambulances where they treat people with urgent problems. They may also work in specific settings, such as:

• On cruise ships
• On oil-drilling platforms
• In air rescue transport
• On ocean rescue teams
• At special events like music festivals
• On S.W.A.T. teams
• On firefighting teams

What Does a Paramedic Do?

Paramedics work on teams that respond to medical emergencies. They are supervised by a doctor, though the doctor is usually not on site. They may communicate with a doctor via phone, radio, or pre-written orders.

Paramedics also make some decisions about patient care and supervise the other members of their team who have less training, like EMTs.

On calls, paramedics may:

• Do CPR
• Use a defibrillator
• Give IV medication
• Clear airways
• Give someone a tracheotomy
• Use mechanical breathing devices
• Do basic medical tests
• Interpret the results of the tests
• Give antidotes to drug overdose or poisoning
• Monitor the person who is sick during the trip to the hospital or to the doctor
• Interpret patient data on monitoring equipment
• Communicate with supervising doctor
• Provide a detailed account of the person’s condition to the doctor upon arrival

To start paramedic training, you have to have a high school diploma or equivalent and CPR certification. In some states, you may need an associate’s degree to start paramedic training. Some paramedic training programs require you to have EMT certification. Some specific programs may have other requirements, like prerequisite classes. Each program is different, and each state also has different requirements for becoming a paramedic.

Paramedics can get at least 1,200 hours of training. Some programs go up to 1,800 hours.

After completing training, you take an exam required by your state. You must then apply for certification within two years of passing the exam.

Being a paramedic is an exciting and interesting job you might want to consider when you are older.

AIME

Hey there, young music enthusiasts! Get ready to embark on a melodic adventure as we dive into the wonderful world of cellos. Let’s explore the fascinating sounds and rich history of this captivating instrument!

The cello is a musical instrument that is also called violoncello, French violoncelle, and German cello or violoncello. It is a bass musical instrument of the violin group, with four strings, pitched C–G–D–A upward from two octaves below middle C. The cello, about 27.5 inches long (47 inches with the neck), has proportionally deeper ribs and a shorter neck than the violin.

The earliest cellos were developed during the 16th century and frequently were made with five strings. They served mainly to reinforce the bass line in ensembles. Only during the 17th and 18th centuries did the cello replace the bass viola da gamba as a solo instrument. During the 17^th century, the combination of cello and harpsichord for basso continuo parts became standard. Joseph Haydn, Mozart, and later composers gave increased prominence to the cello in instrumental ensembles. Outstanding cellists of the 20th and 21st centuries include Pablo Casals and Yo-Yo Ma, among others.

Like the violin and viola, the cello has a hollow wooden body with two sound holes and four strings running along the body and neck. However, it is much larger, and cellists usually play the instrument seated with the body of the cello place between the legs. Modern cellos usually have an endpin, a spike that supports the instrument on the floor.

Like all the members of the violin family, the cello first emerged in Northern Italy in the first half of the 16th century in the workshops of famous instrument makers like Andrea Amati and Gasparo da Salo. This family of instruments evolved from the viola da braccio, an instrument that was held aloft in the arm, played with a bow, and bore a strong resemblance to today’s violin.

Also, widely in use at the time was an instrument that looked similar to the cello, called the viola da gamba. This instrument was very popular and used in both low and high parts of society as musical accompaniment for many events. It too was a large violin shaped instrument played with a bow. However, it had sloped shoulders like a string bass, while the violoncello had rounded shoulders like the viola and violin.

The cello’s superior design and volume made it more popular than the gamba. During the Renaissance, the size of orchestras expanded and there was a race to deliver louder and louder instruments in compensation.

By 1700, the cello had become the preferred instrument over the violone and a cello design popularized by famous luthier Antonio Stradivari became the design of choice. Almost all violones were cut and reshaped to match Antonio Stradivari’s cello dimensions. By the mid-18th century, they had standardized the cello at a size similar to today’s design.

Players and instrument makers improved the cello’s design around the turn of the 19th century. Instrument makers set the string tension higher still, which led to a quicker response from the instrument and a clearer tone. Combined with a thinner, taller bridge, the result was more volume and the ability to cut through an orchestra or ensemble for solo work. They also adjusted the neck angle to a sharper angle.

The “spike” is now included in the cello’s design, allowing the player to stabilize it while playing. This innovation arrived at the end of the 19th century. Before that, the player had to balance the cello on their calves with their ankles close together.

Introducing steel strings in the 1920s led to some changes in repertoire for the cello. This invention improved sound quality and volume by another step. It also helped composers to expand the use of cellos into more sustained lines and increased its popularity among players and music-lovers. Its long history and distinctive tone make the cello a timeless favorite.

So, the next time you listen to music that includes a cello in the orchestra, pay attention to the cello player—and enjoy the music!

                                                                                    AIME