Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardHow to Buy Used Photography Gear This HolidayCurated byMia QuagliarelloMy kid wants a camera for Christmas. I'm starting from ground zero on this, but I know one thing: I don't want to buy new. This not only matches our family value of sustainability; it also feels better on my wallet. Now I'm in research mode. These articles and videos are helping me to understand the things to be aware of when purchasing a used camera, the most reputable places to go, and how "retro" photography is creating new interest in an old craft. Wish me luck!
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSome Favorite Photography SubstacksCurated byMia QuagliarelloIn honor of World Photography Day (Aug. 19), I wanted to see and celebrate independent writers covering photography. I asked the Substack community which newsletters I should check out, got boosted by someone with a big following, and — boom — a bounty! (Extra special thanks to Seth Werkheiser for his picks.) I didn't get through even half of the suggestions before realizing I had a worthy collection to share. I hope you enjoy these bright voices and their discerning eyes.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardThe Thrill of Concert PhotographyCurated byMia QuagliarelloAs a music lover, I go to a lot of concerts — and am always trying to capture them with my phone. Some of the pictures turn out OK, but I know they’re nothing compared to the magic of real concert photography. This collection pays homage to the pros trying to freeze the frenzy of live music. Stationed in the pits, crowds and on the sidelines, music's photographers get us as close as possible to those you-had-to-be-there moments. Here are some stories to help you get there too.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardMusic Festival Season 2024: Let's Go!Curated byMia QuagliarelloFestival season officially kicks off with Coachella, but the solar eclipse next week means it starts early on a ranch near Austin. That’s where 12 festivals from around the world will gather to celebrate the rare celestial event. It’s an unusual happening in an era when lineups are more likely to evoke yawns than yays, thanks to a kind of homogenization that's set in. But don’t let the uninspired programming get you down! Slap on that flower crown (yes, still) and let’s frolic like it's 2014.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardOde to Olive OilCurated byMia QuagliarelloOlive oil prices are skyrocketing, especially in Europe. Drought in Spain, Italy and elsewhere has contributed to soaring prices, and global demand is high. It’s no wonder that so many people want “liquid gold” for their drizzling, dipping and dressing: Olive oil is not only versatile and delicious, it also has health benefits. These stories cover a bit of everything, including recipes, storage tips, how to spot an EVOO scam, and a take on Starbucks’ new olive oil latte.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardCut 'n' Paste: Photography Meets CollageCurated byMia QuagliarelloI love collage! It's like sampling music, with snippets coming together to make a new whole. One of the most popular collage formats is the photomontage, a cut and paste technique for creating art. The tools are less important than developing your eye to understand the principles of color, balance and layout. These stories seek to inspire photographers who might be interested in repurposing their (or others') work in playful, unconventional ways.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardCopycat Recipes From Restaurants I LoveCurated byMia QuagliarelloAlthough I only went to Erewhon once, I knew that if I lived in L.A. the grocery store would quickly siphon all my money. But one visit was all it took to fall in love with their kale and white bean salad. Luckily, I found the recipe on the internet, and it tastes pretty close to the real thing when I make it at home. That got me searching for some of my other beloved restaurant dishes and foods I could try to concoct myself. Here's a few!
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for December 18, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloConcert-goers like me will wince as they read about the business model that made Ticketmaster a juggernaut. (Fees average 28% of a ticket’s face value but can go as high as 48%!) Next, one of my favorite Substack writers, Hunter Harris, discusses the World Cup in my terms: with another fun writer and lots of pop culture references. More seriously, Alzheimer’s endures as one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of modern medicine, but there's new thinking about its causes.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for December 11, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloBetween the popularity of the Lensa AI portraits and ChatGPT, I’ve been thinking a lot about these tools, their ethics and how they might impact human creativity. I find solace in the take that generative AI can make us *more* creative; the first piece suggests how. I’ve also got a cluster of "White Lotus" stories. I’m a huge fan, and I know I’m not alone. Creator Mike White’s chat with Terry Gross this week was delightful, and I loved seeing the show’s excellent costumes get some credit too.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for December 4, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloFor the past three-and-a-half years, Sarah Souli has been investigating a triple murder on the Greek-Turkish border. I met her when she was in the middle of this reporting, so I’m excited to lead today’s newsletter with her astounding 11,000-word story for The Atavist. The next piece tackles the myth that the brain is mature at 25. Improv as a route to self-love, confidence and self-actualization? Yes, and… The Wednesday Addams aesthetic is stronger than ever.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for November 20, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloSince the World Cup starts today, we begin with the story of soccer's glittery transformation. Watching the sport, says Mother Jones, is to “experience a crash course in capitalism and power.” Next, The Verge wonders how the Department of Homeland Security became such a disaster. Love researchers tackle relationship disaster by offering a math equation for harmonious living. And what is mouse in the wine world? The market is awash with a peculiar, disagreeable (and much misunderstood) flavor.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for November 13 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloThe FTX implosion sent a tsunami barreling through the crypto market this week. Forbes replays, in galling detail, how Sam Bankman-Fried’s cult of genius fooled everyone. This led me to read about effective altruism, the philanthropic movement embraced by "the benevolent billionaire." Next, get some sobering stats about the flu season so far, followed by another medical piece about 10,000 brains in a basement in Denmark, which used to be the lobotomy capital of the world.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for October 30, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloToday’s newsletter is brimming with the Halloween spirit, starting with an investigation into the relationship between enjoyment and fear. (Mild horror, say researchers, can help foster lasting psychological resilience.) If Mother Nature commissioned H. R. Giger to design a plant, it would be the “life-consuming” carnivorous Nepenthes. Oomancy is the art of using eggs to interpret the future. Classic goth albums soundtrack it all.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for October 23, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloThe first story is a tough read, putting you in the shoes of a student during a school shooting and his quest to get back on the diving board after the trauma. You will be rooting for Keegan and in tears at the end. For lighter fare, go to the entertaining essay about the Gone Girl cruise or the piece about nerd culture’s attachment to Clippy. I also just learned that you shouldn’t cut the top of your pumpkin if you want it to last longer and that sandwiches made by someone else taste better.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for October 16, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloWhy can’t we tickle ourselves? The first article introduced me to the word “ticklee” and it’s such an interesting peek into our brains. But if I were giving out awards for magazine writing, I would give one to "Mike Conner v. The Pain” — a searing story about one man’s reckoning after breaking 108 bones in his body. I’m also still thinking about this Felix Baumgartner quote on the 10th anniversary of his stratosphere freefall: “Sometimes you have to go up to understand how small you are.”
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for October 9, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloBrown noise is not for everyone, but it is for me. I can’t sleep without it, so I was curious about its healing power. Also, who buys $280 skin cream?! (Apparently, Leo … at least 20 jars.) The story of “The Cream” is an example of "brain-melting marketing.” Speaking of savvy brands, I applaud Sun-Maid for embracing the raisin’s lowly status on Halloween. To close is a list of longreads about the allure of the rave: because when I’m not on the dance floor, I want to be reading about it.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for October 2, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloThe sex ratio at college campuses has shifted to favor cisgender female students. A book excerpt reveals how this is changing the dating scene in unexpected ways. Another fascinating excerpt here explores how cultures create emotions. I’m such a sucker for stories about intergenerational friendships! The piece about the wallpaper queens of L.A. is a great one, full of gems about the philosophy of life. It’s also a treat to see the Death Valley “racetrack” framed by dazzling astrophotography.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for September 25, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloThe idea of combining two crimes — scamming and human trafficking — is a very new, scary phenomenon. That's the first story, from ProPublica. Then, don’t miss Noema’s treatise on the noble but undervalued craft of maintenance, something that gets lost in the mantra of “reduce, reuse, recycle.” Remember Crazy Town’s “Butterfly”? Stereogum’s deep dive into "the dumbest love song that’s ever made it to No. 1" is a fun blast from the past. Speaking of: long live Trapper Keepers!
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for September 18, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloTrue community-building requires more than renting a mansion in Beverly Hills. The sordid tale of how Launch House lost its sparkle is hard to put down. Next, “The Match” is an immersive read about a generation of Europeans searching for their birth mothers in Sri Lanka. Then we've got pieces about the science of memory and living longer. I close with an annual tradition: Tycho’s always-sublime sunrise set from Burning Man.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardRecipes Inspired by Popular TV and MoviesCurated byMia QuagliarelloNo thank you to lame TV dinners. What’s more fun is pairing your show/movie with related food and drink. Like the time I watched “Parasite” with my teenage kid, who made Korean dishes to go along with our viewing. We became completely immersed in the story and flavors of the region — it was awesome! These recipes and ideas continue that theme: turn on, tune in, and pig out.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for September 11, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloThe students starting college now were not yet born during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. What does "Never Forget" mean a generation later? The next pieces dissect Queen Elizabeth’s life and legacy, including who she was beneath the hats and robes and a perspective on mourning a woman who didn’t represent honor to everyone. I’ll admit that "The Mushrooms That Ate Luke Perry" lured me by its title, but the tale about a green burial does not disappoint.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardBleep This: Sunday Reads for August 28, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloA frank talk about what the public still doesn’t understand about water scarcity is a swift kick in the pants to start conserving now. "Heightism" is another thing to be aware of. Not only do we subliminally view taller people as more capable, but tall women face discrimination in a way tall men don't. Also of note: the 99% Invisible podcast covers the origins of the bleep, and a rare license plate from 1904 offers a cool bit of automotive history.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for August 21, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloIf you let anxiety jerk you around, then head immediately to the Armchair Expert episode with anxiety researcher Tracy Dennis-Tiwary to learn how the feeling can be harnessed to manage stress. You can also try executing a "psychological sigh," a simple breathing technique that can be used to short circuit stress. Or maybe get out in nature, like Yo-Yo Ma does in the so-beautiful-it-hurts video of him playing cello in the woods along with birdsong.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for August 14, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloThanks to the FBI’s raid of Mar-a-Lago this week, POLITICO gives us civilians a primer on the protocols set up to protect classified information. After that, Axios has a breakdown of the most sweeping climate change legislation in U.S. history and when we’ll see its impact. Speaking of the planet, it’s spinning too fast — a trend called “terrestrial haste.” Imagine trying to describe the pictures from the Webb telescope in words! I loved learning about the art of writing NASA’s image captions.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for August 7, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloAfter 10 years, the success of The Curiosity rover mission to Mars still surprises one scientist. Prison money diaries illuminate life behind bars. You’ve heard of a growth mindset, but a “fun mindset”? Learn how to be more attractive to fun. The history of swear words demonstrates the changing nature of what offends. "Reservation Dogs" actor D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai is the coolest kid on TV. Trans DJs light up dancefloors.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for July 31, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloAmerica is experiencing a pedestrian fatality crisis — and Florida is one of the deadliest states to walk around in. Oh, the irony: air conditioning is making the world more difficult to air condition. It’s funny to be confronted with the many near-identical films that came out at the same time. No one can agree on what “emo” means but I’m down to figure it out. Loved the take that learning and memory is all about vibes. And such helpful advice for answering a very common question.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for July 24, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloDozens of sources paint a vivid picture for Axios of how the backroom plans are taking shape for Trump's second term. Women truckers show how we can use alone time to figure out who we really are and what we really want. Imagine being the sketch artist, herself a survivor, at the Depp-Heard trial. Beware walking the dog with headphones: dognapping is on the rise. "Nope" is "entertainment with a capital E!" Let's eliminate the "Sunday scaries," m'okay?
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for July 17, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloI understand the health benefits of a cold shower, but human hibernation? The mystery of one man's survival unveils how therapeutic hypothermia could help our species on Earth and in space. Scientists are trying to find the golden spike — indicating our exact spot in the geological timescale — and the sites where they're looking are fascinating. (The SF Bay is one of them.) A blow-up on Broadway puts the cringe in "Funny Girl," and soul singer Candi Staton finally gets the homage she deserves.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for July 10, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloThe myth of Japan’s safety is broken: Foreign Policy explores how the Abe killing occurred in such a peaceful society. The plight of Brittney Griner got me curious about the WNBA, who gets to be a superstar in the league, and why Jonquel Jones isn’t more of a household name. I also wondered how the Eagles of Death Metal were faring since the 2015 Bataclan terrorist attacks. A tour diary shows how music can transcend trauma.
Mia QuagliarelloStoryboardSunday Reads for July 3, 2022Curated byMia QuagliarelloLandlords are some of the most maligned members of society, so I'm leading with a Vice writer’s attempt to get to know them and hear their hopes, fears and struggles. Word nerds will delight in riding sidesaddle with the team that’s been updating the OED since 1993. Cotton swabs used to be called "Q-Tips Baby Gays" and, yeah, you probably shouldn’t be sticking them in your ears. I already binged “Stranger Things Pt 2” and immediately looked for a video about how the SFX team created Vecna.