Archaeovideo - Life in Paradise? Dr Zahi Hawass and Dr Janice Kamrin about the Lost Tombs of Thebes
As a relative photography muggle myself, I'm hardly qualified to comment on the incredible technical wizardry employed by Heritage Key's favourite snapper Sandro Vannini. But I do have a pair of eyes, and an acute interest in the ancient world - so I can at least extoll the visual virtues of his latest work documenting amazing artwork in the lost tombs of Thebes. Equally, I can understand the wrench it must have been to work inside the cramped rooms, which weren't even made to be revisited by humans - let alone a camera crew and equipment. And having just returned from a trip to Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, I can tell you first-hand that it's not much fun feeling 50°C heat for a few relaxed minutes, let alone a full working day.
So hats off to Sandro, who has created some of the most exquisite pictures ever seen from inside Egyptian tombs. The level of detail and vibrant imagery instantly leap off the page, and really give you a feel for the workmanship which went into making these tombs some of the world's greatest cultural treasures. But you don't need to go to any gallery or buy a magazine to catch a glimpse at Sandro's work: it's all here at Heritage Key, alongside some of the secrets of the shoot as told by the man himself.
Sandro has braved intense heat and sandstorms to create some majestic imagery
You can also catch videos of the lost tombs, presented by the one and only Dr Zahi Hawass, shot by Sandro and Nico Piazza. We've got a steady flow of great videos at Heritage Key - keep checking in for the latest additions. You could even subscribe to our RSS feed if you want your finger firmly on the digital pulse. We'll even be running a Q and A session with our favourite photographer soon - if you've got any questions for Sandro, leave them here as comments - we'll send the answers directly to you! If you're fascinated in Ancient Egypt, or just beautiful artwork, these photos really are essential - don't miss out!
Thebes was the capital of Egypt during its formative 18th Dynasty, which saw some of the empire's most famous pharaohs, such as Tutankhamun, Horemheb and Thutmose III. It was momentarily usurped by Amarna, the new city built by renegade king Akhenaten, yet was restored following his demise. Thebes, located across the Nile from the modern city of Luxor, has some of the most incredible monuments in the world, and houses the fabled Valley of the Kings, which is the resting place for over 800 Egyptian royals and high-ranking officials during the period.
Only a dozen of the magnificent tombs can currently be entered by the public, mainly for conservation reasons. Many tombs have fallen foul of floods, fungus and looting so much that they have been damaged beyond repair. Dr Hawass has already employed state-of-the-art technology to control humidity in Horemheb's tomb, and he's even building replicas so the public can't destroy the already fragile treasures. Even so, there are hundreds, maybe thousands of tombs which still lay undiscovered, and could provide us with invaluable information about their owners - as well as stunning art and architecture. Sandro's photography is vital, as it could sadly be the only documentation we get for some of these incredible artefacts.
The Lost Thombs of Thebes featuring Dr. Zahi Hawass and Dr. Janice Kamrin
OUT NOW! THE LOST TOMBS OF THEBES 
Curious to see the results of these endeavours? A selection of the superb photographs by Sandro Vannini from the Theban Necropolis - accompagnied by text provided by the renowned Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass - is now available in the book 'The Lost Tombs of Thebes: Life in Paradise' published by Thames & Hudson in English and in German as 'Die Verbotenen Gräber in Theben' by Philipp Von Zabern.
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