Robbie McIntosh captures the essence of Naples' Santa Lucia district through his photography series, 'On the Beach'. Since 2012, he documents the vibrant local life, exploring themes of community and resilience. The series includes characters like 'Chicken Legs' and 'Tutto Passa', illustrating a laid-back attitude steeped in history. McIntosh's curiosity about the city's past, particularly its beaches during the 1960s to 80s, drives his work. His intimate photography reveals every detail of his subjects while emphasizing the sensory elements that accompany these moments.
"The beach is full of actors and full of stories. It's a stage, an amphitheatre," says McIntosh. Since 2012, the self-taught photographer has walked the coast of his hometown with his Leica 35mm film camera, documenting its shifting cast of characters for his ongoing series, On the Beach.
"It all started with curiosity," he explains. "I always wondered what the city was like in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. When I asked the elders, they told me incredible stories of the beaches - of gatherings, people eating, getting drunk, passing out, and waking up hours later covered in rats."
McIntosh shoots close - close enough to see every wrinkle, every false eyelash, every smudge of lipstick. His angles shift restlessly - above, below, sometimes so fully frontal, you're practically straddling someone's lap.
"One thing you cannot see from my photographs is the noise, the smells, the shouts, the sweat," he says. Walking around, you hear the crackle of pocket radios broadcasting foot.
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