Ian Talty’s passion was photography, and he seldom was without his camera.

“He’d even take it to Cub Foods,” said his wife, Nicole Talty. “He was that guy.”

On Sunday, the 30-year-old from Woodbury died while on his weekly photo hike after rainwater poured through a tunnel along the Mississippi River in St. Paul.

Talty and a friend had been exploring and photographing the tunnel just south of the Marshall Avenue bridge when a thunderstorm erupted, filled the structure with rainwater and swept the men into the river. His friend, Nick Breid, 29, of Richfield, was able to make it to shore on his own.

At 10:19 a.m., emergency crews were called and a rescue effort ensued. A St. Paul police officer and two University of St. Thomas students from a rowing club were eventually able to bring Talty to shore. The St. Thomas rowers happened to be across the river with boats because they were taking apart an old dock, according to St. Paul Fire Marshal Steve Zaccard.

Talty was pulled from the water, and CPR was administered. He was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he later died.

Friends and family members will remember Talty as someone who died doing what he loved.

“He knew some of the places he went were dangerous, but at the same time, he felt amazing going to those places,” Nicole Talty said. “He had been (to the tunnel) before. He knew what could happen.”

While Talty photographed a variety of subjects, including nature, he was particularly fond of graffiti. He would often go in search of works of graffiti all over the cities, said a friend, Jacob Brown, of St. Paul, who sometimes accompanied him.

Talty hoped eventually to become a professional photographer. Things started moving closer to that dream a few weeks ago when he was accepted to show his works at a gallery for the first time. He and his wife had spent the past few weeks choosing photographs and picture frames for the exhibit.

In addition to his passion for photography, Talty will be remembered as a loyal friend and husband whose love was unconditional.

“The kind of bond that we had was the kind that everyone wants,” Nicole Talty said. “I just wish it could last longer.”

Talty is survived by his wife; stepson Cody Fox; parents Bill and Christine Talty, of Minneapolis; and sister Alayna Talty, of New York.

Nancy Ngo can be reached at 651-228-5172.