What has always captivated me about photography is its ability to be a tool for exploration. A camera has opened doors to so many places and experiences for me. These days, most kids know how to use a smart device and take selfies. One group of Propel Hazelwood second- and third-graders got to delve deeper into photography during an after-school program I led. From the initial excitement of “meeting” their cameras to learning more about the medium, the students explored their vision of the community through photography. I was there to teach them, but they’ve taught me a lot about myself as a photographer and as a person. Having to teach the elements of photography — breaking down a photograph into its individual parts, whether it is color, shape, framing, facial expression, foreground, background — has reminded me to pay better attention to the creative devices that have become second nature to me. The students’ way of seeing isn’t inhibited by the aesthetics of photography. Watching how they experimented with their cameras has pushed me to take risks while photographing. The students’ photography will be on display along with the artwork created at other Propel after-school sites from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Mattress Factory. The show and main gallery are free and open to the public. View The Gallery >

Norah Carter, 12, got the chance of a lifetime when she was chosen “pilot for a day” at the 911th Airlift Wing in Moon. On May 11, 2016, Norah, a sixth-grader at Pine-Richland's Eden Hall Upper Elementary School, was chosen as a pilot and sworn in as an honorary Air Force 2nd lieutenant aboard a C-130 Hercules. She spent the day participating in routine activities on the base and said it was the best day of her life. “I can't believe they let me ride on this big government plane that they use for actual missions,” she said. “Becoming a pilot for a day is the most amazing ever. I am so honored to be able to do this.” Norah was chosen by the staff at Allegheny General Hospital. She has had several painful surgeries as a result of a genetic disorder that causes orthopedic abnormalities, including scoliosis and hip dysplasia. — Nate Guidry View The Gallery >

In some cases they are rural monuments. They are simplistic in their design. They are covered in rustic planks of wood. Some leak daylight between the boards. They give us a quick postcard into our past. View The Gallery >

Five weeks after some Christians celebrated Easter, the congregation of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Homestead marked the Resurrection of Christ. Orthodox churches follow the Julian calendar, and Pascha, as they call Easter, can often be several weeks after Western Christians celebrate Easter. View The Gallery >

Each Friday afternoon, a one-story brick building at Bigelow Boulevard and Parkman Avenue becomes a sort of United Nations of Pittsburgh. More than 600 Muslims representing in excess of 45 countries gather there at the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh for weekly Juma’ah prayers. The gathering is an occasion for Muslims to listen as the Imam offers guidance in Islamic teachings and to pray. Worshippers represent a variety of professions. You’ll see students in blue jeans and T-shirts, business professionals in suits, health care workers in scrubs. View The Gallery >