CRITICAL MINERALS - DRC

September 11, 2023

The third leg of the 'Critical Minerals' project took me to the Democratic Republic of Congo to document the condition and impact of the mining of Copper and Cobalt, essential for the green energy transition.

The environmental and human conditions of mining have been widely reported, and the mainstream narrative faithfully describes the devastating working conditions, the quasi-slave-like exploitation and the problematic health, environmental and economic conditions that men, women, and often children are subjected to, directly or indirectly involved in mining. […]

Latest for @natgeo: A New Kind of Fuel — Made from Sunlight What if your fuel came from air, water, and sunlight—and left no carbon behind? From a rooftop lab at ETH Zurich to a road test in the Swiss Alps, researchers are turning solar energy into synthetic liquid fuel. It’s not electric. It’s not oil. It’s solar-made gasoline, engineered to be climate-neutral. Captured on assignment for @natgeo, this is a story of bold science, real mobility, and a future beyond fossils. @afarrar @manuel__montesano @samantha_azzani @synhelion @sony.italia @alphauniversebysony.eu @dji_italia @djiitaliaofficial #SolarFuel #CleanEnergy #GreenMobility #SyntheticFuel #ETHZurich #FutureOfFuel #NationalGeographic #ClimateInnovation #StorytellingForChange #ZurichScience #CarbonNeutralFuel #SolarRevolution

How does NATO prepare for Arctic threats? I recently reported from northern Norway for @nytimes, where 10,000 troops from nine NATO countries took part in Joint Viking, a major military exercise designed to test readiness in extreme conditions. In the frozen terrain, U.S. Marines plunged into icy lakes to practice self-rescue. Norwegian snipers set up camouflaged observation posts to monitor mock enemy positions. At sea, special forces rehearsed high-risk ship boardings in rough Arctic waters. These scenarios aren’t just training—they reflect real-world concerns. Norway shares a long border with Russia, and with the war in Ukraine ongoing, NATO is recalibrating its defenses in the High North. Meanwhile, Trump’s renewed calls for European nations to “pay their share” have raised fresh questions about the future of U.S. commitment to the alliance. This story looks at what’s at stake as the Arctic becomes an increasingly strategic—and contested—frontier. 📍Find out more at the link in bio Thanks to @gaiatripoli and @boshnaqmona for the opportunity. . . #davidemonteleonestudio #davidemon #documentary #photography #photojournalist #photojournalism #fineartphotography #documentaryphotography #reportage #photodocumentary #sonyalpha #sonyimagingambassadors #sony #alphauniversebysonyeu #nato #newyorktimes #nyt #visualstorytelling

What if accessing the Internet required proving you’re human? In my recent feature for @time, I documented the rollout of the Orb—a biometric device tied to a global crypto network called Worldcoin. With AI reshaping the web, this project aims to verify every human being through their iris. More than ever, these technologies now underscore the uneasy balance between innovation and control, exposing both the promise and perils of this new digital infrastructure. To read the full story, check out the link in bio. Thanks to @katattack42 for the opportunity and @manuel__montesano for assisting me on the field. . . #davidemonteleonestudio #davidemon #documentary #photography #photojournalist #photojournalism #fineartphotography #documentaryphotography #reportage #photodocumentary #sonyalpha #sonyimagingambassadors #sony #alphauniversebysonyeu #AI #SamAltman #WorldID #Worldcoin #visualstorytelling

I spent a fantastic few days in #zingst at the @horizontezingst festival together with new and old friends where #critical minerlas was exhibited. I want to thank @edda_fahrenhorst and @leica_camera for this opportunity that helped spread the word about the project. I also want to thank once again those who made this project possible and travel around :@guerchomndebo @mfimages @cristobalolivares @insidenatgeo @theclimatepledge @deloitte_italia @fondazionedeloitte @sony.italia @alphauniversebysony.eu @samantha_azzani @manuel__montesano @defilippovale @geomagazin @christiangogolin @marcocatt. @hannah_feldmeier @benedettadonato Thanks also to @chiaraot for the always pleasant company and support and @paoloverzone for the evening chat.

A long interview about my work and my practice from #Dusha to #criticalminerals on @tuttifotografi by @paolonamias. #initaliano @sony.italia @alphauniversebysony.eu #reportage #photography #storytelling

Chile, Atacama Region, 2023. From the series “Critical Minerals - Geography of Energy”. The recent installation of the new Trump administration has significantly intensified global geopolitical complexities, exacerbating trade and economic tensions with its assertive foreign policy and diplomatic decisions. These tensions influence global stability and economic interactions, particularly challenging energy security in Europe, which finds itself potentially marginalized or caught between the competing interests of the U.S. and Russia. This precarious situation underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive reassessment of global energy policies and sources in response to both geopolitical conflicts and climate change impacts. Technological interdependence has become a cornerstone of modern society, yet it also presents risks such as technocratic overreach, which can lead to misinformation and AI-related challenges. In this context, robust regulatory frameworks are crucial, especially as figures like Elon Musk become prominent in political spheres. The waning of international cooperation further complicates the management of these global challenges, while societal and environmental pressures necessitate coordinated efforts to tackle issues such as inequality, polarization, and environmental degradation. Chile, with its substantial lithium reserves crucial for technological and energy transitions, epitomizes the dilemmas faced by resource-rich countries. Situated in the resource-abundant but water-scarce Atacama region, Chile’s lithium extraction practices not only contribute to local environmental degradation but also displace communities and erode ancient cultures and traditions, illustrating the complex interplay between resource exploitation and sustainable development. Given the severe and increasing frequency of natural disasters driven by climate change, a prompt reevaluation of international trade policies, the impact of global supply chains, and the enforcement of green policies has become imperative. This comprehensive approach is vital to mitigate the adverse effects of these global challenges and to ensure a balanced and more sustainable future.

“Spectral Scar – Studies on Climate Observation” (2021) - California Fires. This image is part of my series Spectral Scar – Studies on Climate Observation (2021), which investigates the marks of climate change etched into our landscapes. Using satellite data combined with GIS techniques, I aimed to uncover the hidden scars of fire, flooding, and other environmental transformations caused by human activity—scars that are not immediately visible to the human eye. Unlike traditional photography, which relies on the small spectrum of light visible to humans, satellite vision extends across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. This allows us to capture pieces of information that traditional photography cannot. Satellite acquisition also updates in real-time, unbound by visibility conditions or the remoteness of the location. Exploration of our environment becomes visually, spatially, and timely extended, revealing processes that often go unnoticed but are deeply consequential. In this image, the scars of California’s fires are rendered visible, showing the devastating impact of our climate crisis on the region. As fires continue to devastate Los Angeles and other parts of California, this image is a stark reminder of how fragile our ecosystems have become. These current fires are not isolated events but part of an alarming pattern exacerbated by human-driven climate change. The scars left behind are physical and emotional – a call for us to urgently rethink how we interact with the environment before more is lost. #ClimateChange #CaliforniaFires #LAfires #EnvironmentalArt #SatellitePhotography #ExpandedVision #ElectromagneticSpectrum #GeographyOfDestruction #GISArt #ClimateCrisis #ClimateAction #PhotographyBeyondTheLens #VisualStorytelling #EarthObservation #HumanImpact #GlobalWarming #EnvironmentalPhotography #SaveThePlanet

Christmas Sale is almost over! Last call! Only 3 days left to snag these limited open-edition Christmas prints. Each print, sized at 20x25cm and printed on high-quality Hahnemühle paper, comes with a certificate of authenticity. Sale ends December 15th! Tap the link in bio to shop.

Limited Time Offer: Small Open Edition Prints We’re halfway through our Critical Minerals Christmas Print Sale! Don’t miss the chance to own beautifully printed, signed photographs, perfect for a unique gift. Remember: shipping is on us (in Europe and Switzerland), and all prints come with a custom certificate. Sale ends December 15th! See the options at the link in bio.

Christmas Sale - Small Open Edition Prints We are delighted to present our Christmas Print Sale, running for a limited time from December 2nd to December 15th. This collection features three open-edition photographs from our latest work, “Critical Minerals—Geography of Energy.” Sized at 20x20cm and printed on high-quality Hahnemühle paper, each one is accompanied by a certificate crafted for this occasion. Want to see more? Visit our shop at the link in bio.