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"Picture This” Features Faribault photographer Kaylyn Wirz
IF KAYLYN WIRZ of Faribault could have her dream job, she would work as a National Geographic photographer.
But the 20-year-old, who graduates in May with a Photographic Imaging Technology degree from Dakota Technical College, realizes she can’t begin at the top of her profession. She’s ready to work now as a nature or portrait photographer, pursuing her passion for photography.
Wirz, who came to the U.S. from India in 1995 and was adopted by her mom, Dee, possesses natural artistic talent. As a child, she already was sketching. Dee Wirz remembers her young daughter drawing pictures many evenings and then expecting her to write stories to accompany the artwork.
“She was about eight when she drew a picture of a horse running into the picture she was doing,” Dee Wirz says. “To me that showed a great deal of artistic ability.”
Kaylyn Wirz’s photo interests developed a bit later, beginning with a film camera she used in junior high primarily to photograph friends. She then transitioned to her first digital camera, a Kodak point-and-shoot.
That camera and a mother-daughter vacation to South Dakota in 2004 proved pivotal in directing Wirz’ career path into photography. “I started liking to take pictures…capturing the beauty that God made,” Wirz recalls.
And, says her mom, yearly vacations since then have focused on photography. “It’s been delightful for me to see her skill develop,” she adds. The pair hopes to visit Glacier this summer.
Today Wirz has upgraded to a Canon Rebel XTi digital camera. “I imagine it (the photo) and then try to capture it the same way,” she says. “I want to catch it (the image) uniquely.”
When she takes portraits, Wirz “lets them (her subjects) do what they want,” preferring natural images to posed ones.
Tapping into computer and photographic techniques learned at Dakota Tech and drawing on her innate talent, Wirz creates memorable images. Her photo of tulips is featured in the “Picture this” section of Minnesota Moments March/April 2010 issue.
STORY BY AUDREY KLETSCHER HELBLING
PHOTOS BY KAYLYN WIRZ
PORTRAIT OF KAYLYN WIRZ TAKEN BY DEE WIRZ