Next summer, you might find Kyle Olson driving a ’54 Ford Mercury with his wife Rose next to him on Route 66 somewhere between Chicago and Los Angeles, if everything goes fine with his retirement scheme.

Friday, September 21, 2001

Next summer, you might find Kyle Olson driving a ’54 Ford Mercury with his wife Rose next to him on Route 66 somewhere between Chicago and Los Angeles, if everything goes fine with his retirement scheme.

After seven years in the business, the Olsons decided to sell their photo studio and laboratory, Foto Factory, on East Main Street in Albert Lea to realize their dream journey.

The Olsons made up their mind to retire when they saw the tragedy hit World Trade Center and Pentagon last Tuesday. &uot;Life is too short,&uot; Rose said, &uot;and we have a lot of things to do in the rest of our life.&uot;

Though Kyle has had only a short period of being a professional, his encounter with the world of photographs goes back to 1952 when he was 12 years old.

With his dad’s Kodak Brownie twin-lens reflex on his shoulder, Kyle strolled around downtown Albert Lea and its surroundings. He confined himself in a darkroom he made in the food cellar of his house on Water Street.

His beloved parakeet, school friends and waves of corn fields – images coming up on Kodak papers dipped in the developer – excited the young photographer.

Kyle joined the county sheriff’s office, where he could use his photographic skills for forensic investigations. He also had chance to receive photo training at the police facility in Rochester.

His subjects changed dramatically from grotesque crime scenes to peaceful family reunions. Baptism, Christmas, weddings; Kyle has shared the moments of joy with many Albert Lea families. &uot;I’m gonna miss them,&uot; he said.

Rosa worked as an accountant at Farmland before starting the photo studio.

Operating the printer machine, she processes as many as 100 film rolls a day.

&uot;My life has changed a lot since we opened this shop,&uot; Rosa said. With the responsibilities and risks as a small business owner, she devoted herself to the work.

During busy holiday seasons, she has to stay late to finish up printing. &uot;We live here in the shop,&uot; she said.

Nevertheless, Rose loves her job. &uot;I have printed many photos taken during travel. Through them, I could travel all over the country and the world,&uot; she said.

Interactions with local customers were what the Olsons valued and enjoyed the most.

If your pictures were out of focus, Rose would give you some advice for shooting.

If your camera had some trouble, Kyle would come to see it.

They are looking to sell their shop to someone who can continue to provide such intimate services, which one cannot expect from big labs in chain stores.

The shop consists of the lab with developer and printer, and the studio that is 15-foot wide and 30-foot long. The phone number of Foto Factory is (507) 377-9545.