When National Geographic asked me to photograph the work of the Institute for Mummy Studies, the only research institute in the world dedicated entirely to mummies, I knew straight away that a straightforward documentary approach would not be enough. I wanted to build a visual language that could carry the weight of these ancient lives, so I thought 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 Eurac Research 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, with text by Nicola Twilley.

Editor: Anna Farrar

Assistance: Manuel Montesano

Read the full feature on nationalgeographic.com: Searching for ancient secrets with modern mummy hunters