In January 1934, the United States was in the throes of the Great Depression. Since the suffering was so widespread, driving fancy new cars and sporting the latest fashions was an easy way to stand out. Especially in a small town like Tucson, Arizona. Standing out was what notorious bank robber John Dillinger and his…
Enjoyed the opportunity to have lunch at the Guadalajara Grill. It’s just north of one of Tucson’s most interesting neighborhoods, Richland Heights West. This neighborhood like a throwback to the Old West, only it’s right in the heart of the city. RHW residents are quite fond of their natural desert environment and their dirt roads,…
Ever seen that bumper sticker that proclaims that the driver’s Border Collie is smarter than your honor student? Well, be forewarned, they really are that bright. Take, for example, my parents’ Border Collie mix, Sandy. She has proven to be a formidable subject whenever a camera appears. Her specialty: being in such constant motion that…
I was in eastern Pennsylvania visiting family over the holidays. Rain seemed to be the dominant theme of the visit, and the moisture was quite welcome. This area had been suffering near-drought conditions for a good part of 2007. Rain presents unique challenges to a photographer — such as how to protect the camera —…
Yesterday brought an early Christmas present for Ann Hoy, her youngest daughter, Dani, and her grandson, Aiden. They became the proud owners of the 273rd house constructed by Habitat for Humanity Tucson: This occasion was marked by an official Habitat dedication, which included some really cool housewarming presents: I first met Ann when she came…
I get around by bicycle. Most of my riding is utilitarian, ’round town stuff, but when I was younger, I biked all over the United States. While I was out on the road, my carrying space was limited. So was my strength. Which meant that I was forced to take a minimalist approach to photography….
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Long-term weather forecasts were promising a winter with above-normal temperatures and below-normal rainfall. Boy, were they wrong on that one. Our current cold snap is making the utility companies very happy. And, since late November, we’ve had almost 2.5″ of rain. So much for that dry spell we’d been having. To document our unusual weather,…
Here in Tucson, we love our offbeat parades. Take, for example, the annual Downtown Parade of Lights. If there’s a theme, it’s "Things That Have Lights On Them." And that covers a lot of territory. The 13th edition of this parade included a collection of vintage police and fire vehicles, the public library’s Bookmobile, a…
One of the great joys of visiting another place is wandering around. Even if you’ve been there before. Take, for example, Ann Arbor, Michigan, which is home to the University of Michigan. I first developed the habit of wandering around town with a camera while I was a U-M student. It was a nice break…
Quite often, identity design is a team sport. Take, for example, the creation of a new identity for the Tucson chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). In 2006, IABC-Tucson set about the task of redesigning its logo, which was incorporated into the chapter’s new website. The new logo was created by Julie…
On Saturday, December 1, Tucson’s Watershed Management Group (WMG) will have an open house at the Ward 3 City Council office. The open house will showcase WMG’s latest water harvesting demonstration site. Here are the specifics: Water Harvesting Open House Saturday, December 1 4:30-6:30 p.m. Ward 3 City Council office 1510 East Grant Road, Tucson…
Cross Mardi Gras with All Souls Day and what do you get? Tucson’s All Souls Procession, that’s what! This annual event is one of the largest parades in Arizona. It features thousands of costumed marchers who celebrate the universal experience of death. The marchers are preceded by a giant urn (shown above), which gets burned…
Event photography can be as predictable as the schedule that the opening ceremony will follow, and as unpredictable as how people will react to your camera. I prefer to do candid shots, but there are times when people simply insist on posing. In these cases, I just let ’em pose and take the photo. Or,…
Alert readers will note that the above photo was not taken at this past Saturday’s Michigan-Ohio State football game in Ann Arbor. We didn’t get any touchdowns in that one, which the Buckeyes won (again) by a score of 14-3. Oh, well. With a new coach and a revitalized team, we may just get ’em…
Welcome to the Project Update blog! My name is Martha Retallick, and I’m a graphic designer, photographer, and consultant in Tucson, Arizona. In the graphic arena, I specialize in identity design. This includes at least three of the following elements: Logos Stationery systems (letterhead, business cards, envelopes) Posters, brochures, flyers, and other promotional materials Postcards…
April 2015 update: The website is no longer online. American students aren’t the only ones dropping out of school. Their teachers are leaving too. Poor working conditions and low pay are the oft-cited reasons. The dropout problem among science teachers is especially critical because they are hard to replace. The Science Teaching as a Profession…