Newer generations are terrified of aging because of harmful societal standards. Enter Robbie McIntosh, a Neapolitan photographer who takes pictures of all different kinds of people. He proves that beauty lies even in everyday life and everyday people, no matter their age.
Experimenting with different techniques as well, McIntosh captures singular subjects, often documenting Neapolitan life by the sea. As summer winds down, it is always fun to reminisce. But first, let’s find out more about the artist.
Who is Robbie McIntosh?
Robbie McIntosh is a Neapolitan photographer who started following his passion in his teenage years. His credo is “enjoy life and take it as it comes,” which is a regular theme in his work as well.
Most of his pieces show the Sunday bathers of Naples. He aims to “celebrate the human body,” and the beach is the perfect setting for it.
He has won numerous awards, including the 2023 Fokus Award and an honorable mention at the Corigliano Calabro Photography Festival 2023. Nowadays, his work is everywhere. In this way, he has brought attention to Naples and its people.
“Tutto Passa”: the iconic photo
His most famous picture is of man sunbathing by the sea. In an exclusive interview, the photographer shared that:
“Antonio [the name of the subject] is more popular than the Beatles. He’s a nice retiree who hangs out on the rocks all day. He became very popular and he still doesn’t understand why. But he accepts it all the same.”
What the picture below shows is that sometimes the simple things are the best. They can hold so much more beauty and power than complicated subjects. In fact, the Vesuvius in the background along with the bathers simply sat on plastic chairs only enhance the picture’s magic.
The man’s tattoo reads “tutto passa,” which literally means everything passes. This is a hymn to life and to its ephemeral aspect. It encourages to make the most out of every single moment, because time goes on regardless. The title of the photo lifts directly from the tattoo, reiterating its significance.
His work
Other than the famous “Tutto Passa,” McIntosh has taken countless other pictures that hold great value. One example is a series of shots taken more recently in Naples (specifically Marechiaro) on July 13, 2025. As you can see below, the first photo features a man diving from a cliff. In the background, the other bathers form a picture of a busy beach life.
It isn’t only in black and white; it’s also shot on “Fuji Neopan Acros II, home developed with 510-Pyro,” as the artist noted in the comments. Even if his technique–film photography–is rather old-fashioned, it still yields great results. It imbues his work with a certain authenticity and particularity.
McIntosh doesn’t always take pictures in the same spot, either. He also shot a few photos in Capri, as you can see below.
His subjects are usually common people, not professional models. This cultivates a sense of inclusivity. Variety is another crucial aspect, because it emphasizes how beauty lies within every single one of us–not just in the people everyone canonically appreciates.
Food is another element that McIntosh likes to include in his work. The simple act of eating becomes a piece of art. One series’s opening shot is of a girl having lunch.
Most photographers immortalize models in a prepared setting, but McIntosh prefers to represent a glimpse of life as it is. In the first picture of another black-and-white series, he shot a photo of sun beds by the beach.
One girl is taking a nap–another simple photo that proves how even the act of sleeping can spark inspiration. The black-and-white aspect also gives to the piece a nostalgic, vintage dimension. It was taken in 2025 but could be easily mistaken for an older work.
Why is his work so important?
McIntosh conveys that life is made up of simple moments. A stroll through the city, a nap by the beach, savoring homemade pasta by the sea. The Neapolitan life exhibited through his photography evokes a sense of familiarity. In fact, in 2012, McIntosh issued the following statement, which reinforces how profound and thoughtful his work is.
“These are scribbled pages of my days. Stories of love, hate, life, death, boredom, sex, passion, empathy, chaos, serendipity, loneliness, desperation, hope.”
In an era where flashiness feels essential, this photographer suggests that beauty lies in the small acts tying us together as human beings. Having food, diving, jumping, walking, sleeping, and so much more can become artistic if observed by the right eyes.
