Photo Gallery
Magic of Puerto
In 2021, right after the peak of the pandemic, photographer Reed Stuart Rahn packed his bags in Phoenix, Arizona, to travel to see his longtime friend in Puerto Morelos, Mexico. Reed was already an avid swimmer in Arizona, a mecca for some of the world’s best swimmers. His friend would tell Reed that Puerto Morelos, Mexico, was one of the best places in the world to swim in the ocean. Not ever seeing the Caribbean Sea, Reed was nothing short of blown away when he saw the crystal-clear turquoise water, beautiful clouds, and sky when he first saw Ojo de Agua from Sunset Beach at sunset.
With complete hesitation, the next day after arriving, he would follow his friend into the ocean. You see, he watched the movie “Jaws” as a young boy! Within minutes, he would see 6-foot-long barracudas with their incredibly sharp teeth; luckily, he did not see a 12-foot-long tiger shark that day. His friend would explain that if you leave them alone, they will leave you alone. With sharks, its best to stand still and watch. You should treat the shark like a big pet. Use caution, but you are still in charge; you are not its dinner today. If they continue to engage you, reach with your hand and touch its nose, then ward it off to the side as done in Tai Chi. Simple, “GULP”!
Part of Reed's motivation for taking the trip was to take a break from his hectic life as a world-class editorial photographer, photographing famous people for Time magazine, and traveling around the world photographing for other magazines like National Geographic. So, without his Nikon equipment, he would jump on a plane to see his friend in Puerto Morelos, Mexico. Instead, he would carry his new iPhone 11.
The result would be nothing short of amazing. Here on the website, you see the “results”! The final product, a 15-image series, on the site. After going back to school at age 64, he is now an Associate Professor of Photography.
Reed will tell you now that his images contain cognitive and creative abilities. Reed has coined both words into one photographic term, “Perceptual Signature.” Next, he would create the term “Human Signature.” It means his photographs embed physical presence, lived and experienced, in a photographic image by himself in real time in a real place. He intended to share his connection to those timeless moments. In the images, one starts to feel the overwhelming sense that the photographer didn’t just take a photograph. He could see, feel, hear, and smell the amazing body of water in front of him. His human signature is his heart connected to the vibration of nature, and transmitting the cognitive and creative ability of over 49 years as a photographer. In the spirit of sharing “heart,” Reed is donating 25% of all sale print prices to the local 501(c)(3) Reef Rescue School! He believes together we can all make a difference.
The 11 x 8.5 inch prints are limited edition, with only 30 each, signed, dated, and numbered. The prints and inks are archival, with preservation for over 200 years. When you purchase a print, you aren’t just purchasing art; you are buying an art investment that will continue to grow over time. Thank you for sharing what matters.