Nature in Focus, Conservation in Action

About Me

Hi, I'm Melissa Varelas—equal parts scientist and artist, nurse and naturalist, soldier and storyteller. For over 21 years, I served in the U.S. Army as a medic and nurse, a journey that taught me how to listen deeply—to people, to silence, and later, to the wild.

Every image begins with listening. Look closer, this matters.

The flawless beauty of nature

Each moment of quiet testimony urges us to act before silence becomes absence

My love for storytelling doesn’t stop with still frames.

Nature fuels my vision—where every image holds movement, emotion, and purpose. Just like in film, I aim to let each photograph speak, breathe, and inspire.

Interested in working together or have a project in mind? Contact me for photography inquiries.