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Giving HOPE to cancer patients in Portimão from Pedro Bernardo, a self-confessed “aquarium addict” whose wife works at the hospital. “The dream came from the people who work here,” Bernardo told Tomorrow at the aquarium’s official unveiling. “I was having dinner with my wife, who was talking about how bleak the room is, and as I was listening I was looking at my aquarium.”
An impressive 300-litre aquarium filled with exotic fish was unveiled in the oncology department of Portimão Hospital last month, giving a much-needed focal point to a room where cancer patients spend many hours receiving treatment. The idea was to bring life to a place where hope runs thin, and to give patients something vibrant and peaceful to look at whilst receiving treatment. Studies have shown that aquariums deliver significant health benefits, improving people's mood and significantly reducing heart rates and blood pressure, making for a relaxing environment in which to be treated. The aquarium was the first initiative to be completed by HOPE, a new project from Teia D’Impulsos, with the goal of aiding and improving the lives of people with cancer. The initial idea for the aquarium came
Following that initial seed of an idea, Bernardo approached aquariofilia. net, a website and forum dedicated to aquariums that he is a member of. After presenting the idea and getting approval for the aquarium from the hospital board, Bernardo and Aquariofilia joined forces with Teia D’Impulsos to get the project up and running. Appeals for help with the project both on the aquariofilia.net website and at a trade show in Lisbon resulted in all the necessary resources needed to build the aquarium, in addition to the all-important fish, being donated by business owners across Portugal - a truly charitable act, Bernardo (who also built the aquarium) says. “Everything came from the heart - the sponsorship, the materials, the involvement. The companies didn’t just do it to get their name out there, they really wanted to help.”
HOPE is the latest project from Teia D’Impulsos, a Portimão-based volunteer organisation that supports and develops local social, cultural and sporting initiatives. The aquarium is the first in a long list of plans that HOPE will implement over the coming months, as head of the project Luis Matos - an architect who works for Monchique Câmara - explained at the opening. “HOPE is much bigger than this,” he said, revealing that the group will be installing another aquarium elsewhere in the hospital this December. A group of professionals have also offered their services for free to deliver alternative therapies such as yoga, reiki and acupuncture at Teia D’Impulsos new headquarters in Portimão, as well as to individual treatments including massages and aesthetic treatments such as hair and make-up in order to help cancer patients feel better inside and out. To keep up-to-date with all of Teia D’Impulsos projects, like the organisation’s Facebook page. www.teiadimpulsos.pt ‘Teia D’Impulsos'
Top nature photography tips Hunting For Fish by Eric Esterle
such as amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds, as well as the ethics of nature photography. Organised by Portuguese nature association Aldeia, it will be led by teacher Vasco Flores. Ahead of the course starting, we asked Vasco to share his top nature photography tips with Tomorrow readers… Marvelling over this incredible picture? It’s just one of the stunning submissions to this year’s National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest, which is open for entries until November 4th. If you fancy giving the competition a go (first prize is a 10-day trip for two to the Galápagos, so it’s worth a shot!), the upcoming Introduction to Nature Photography course at the Ecoteca Olhão in Ria Formosa Natural Park is a must. Running over the weekend of October 10th-11th, the course will cover subjects
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1. Know your subject matter. Spend some time researching the about the species that you want to shoot and their habitat. Knowing the habits of animals is essential to achieve the proximity needed in to take great pictures. 2. Start in your own garden. There are many animals and plants that live in our gardens that make for beautiful pictures without needing to make long trips. 3. Be patient. Most nature photography subjects endure long hours of waiting in camouflaged
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shelters or seeking out the species they want to photograph. 4. Get the right gear. No matter how skilled you are, without the right gear it's impossible to shoot birds or small insects. A tele or macro lens is useful. 5. Be aware of your impact. Some species are shy and many habitats are very fragile, and there are some considerations you should be aware of, such as avoiding photographing endangered species, respecting breeding seasons and not shooting bird nests. Come along to my course to learn more! Visit Tomorrow’s Facebook page to be inspired by more of the National Geographic competition entries. www.aldeia.org www.photography.nationalgeographic. com/nature-photographer-of-theyear-2016