Davide Monteleone

From the depths of an Austrian salt mine to the high-altitude caves of the Bolivian Andes. Two countries, one story.
When @natgeo asked me to photograph the work of the world’s only Institute for Mummy Studies, I knew straight away that a straight documentary approach would not be enough. I wanted to build a visual language that could carry the weight of these ancient lives. That meant thinking hard about light, about texture, about how to make the invisible feel present.
One of the tools that made a real difference was the multispectral camera. Shooting beyond the visible spectrum revealed details in the mummies’ skin and textiles that no standard photography could ever capture. The results were extraordinary, and honestly, quite beautiful in a way I had not fully anticipated.
Working in Bolzano with the team at @euracresearch and then travelling to Bolivia to document the mummies held at the National Museum of Archaeology in La Paz was a privilege I will not forget. As usual, to help me on the field, @manuel__montesano supported me with lighting and took care of the video component, to be seen soon. The science is genuinely groundbreaking. But beyond the science, what struck me most was the humanity of these preserved individuals.
This story appears in the July 2026 issue of National Geographic. Text by @nicolatwilley #bolívia @sony.italia @sonyalphaeu #frankmaixner @nhmwien @oeaw.at @munarq2025 #guidovalverde @mechanicalphoto