National Geographic Explorer, Photographer, Visual Artist

Davide Monteleone is a National Geographic Explorer, photographer, and visual storyteller whose work explores the complex relationships between people, power, and place. Originally from Italy, he has spent more than two decades working across the globe — from the vast landscapes of Russia to the high plateaus of South America — following stories that reveal how history, politics, and identity shape the contemporary world.

His approach combines research, intuition, and a reflective documentary style, often focusing on quiet, layered moments that point toward broader social and political realities. With a background in Art and Politics from Goldsmiths, University of London, he brings both an analytical and humanistic perspective to his visual storytelling.

Davide’s work frequently examines large-scale global systems, including recent visual investigations into the energy transition and its social and environmental impacts. Through these long-term projects, he explores one of the defining transformations of the 21st century, tracing how it reshapes landscapes, economies, and communities.

As a National Geographic Explorer and contributor to leading international publications, he is also committed to sharing knowledge and encouraging deeper engagement with the world. He often frames photography as a way of asking questions rather than providing answers, and is drawn to narratives that unfold slowly, resist simplification, and invite reflection.

Beyond his professional work, Davide spends time reading across disciplines — from science to philosophy — listening to classical music, meditating, and climbing in the mountains. He sees travel not simply as movement through space, but as a way of connecting across cultures, ideas, and ways of seeing.