Through Light and Shadow

Some people speak through words. Others, through silence. For Melahat Ünel, photography became the language that bridged both. A mother of two and an early childhood teacher living in Mersin, Turkey, Melahat picked up her camera just three years ago – at a time when life felt heavy and the roles she carried every day began to blur. Photography wasn’t just a hobby, it was a lifeline. A quiet space carved out of chaos, where she could pause, breathe, and begin to rediscover herself. “I was overwhelmed,” she says, “and photography gave me a space to reflect. To express things I didn’t always have words for.”