Paula McIntosh is a photographer and cyanotype artist based in Charleston, South Carolina.
Her work begins with her own photographs and is printed by hand using the cyanotype process, creating pieces with softness, depth, and character that feel distinct from a traditional photographic print.

At first glance, these works can read a little like photographs. But the longer you look, the more they shift.

There is a depth and softness that pulls the viewer in and invites a closer look. Not a painting. Not a traditional photographic print. The question comes up naturally…how was this made?

These pieces bring together the structure of photography and the softness of a handmade print. Each cyanotype begins with one of Paula’s original images and is printed in the sun. Subtle variations in tone, edge, and texture make each one feel distinct. Some pieces are left in the rich blue tones of the cyanotype process, while others are finished with hand-painted detail.

She is especially drawn to images that simplify beautifully in blue and white, where detail gives way to shape, light, and mood. Influenced by the coastal landscape and quiet beauty of Charleston, her work is meant to feel both timeless and easy to live with.

Alongside her cyanotypes, Paula also offers a small selection of limited-edition photographic prints.