no place like before

no place like before

2024

This series captures the melancholic unease of leaving my childhood town and is an exploration of departure, nostalgia and identity. These photos shot from a leaving car reflect on how places shape us, and how we, in turn, leave parts of ourselves behind as we outgrow them.

All images and content © 2026, Melinda Virag. All rights reserved.

sunset with the sun shining through a tree
black and white photo of a sunset with a tres
red, orange and yellow sunset with the setting sun and tree
sunse with clear sky and a tree

setting sun

This selection of my photos are very special to me. Once a mentor told me not to engage in sunset photography as it is boring and soulless, less of. I found that I cherish every day I get to see the grand finale of the sun, especially when you can witness from the same spot all around the year and see it changing a little bit every day.