Imagery Beyond Borders is the international documentary photojournalism initiative founded by Melanie Boling, a U.S. Air Force veteran, visual storyteller, and field researcher.
đ Mission & Focus
Documentary Storytelling with Purpose: Imagery Beyond Borders captures powerful visual narrativesâranging from remote landscapes to intimate human storiesâemphasizing connection, cultural context, and healing .
Veterans & Military Families: The organization blends photojournalism with outdoor and adventure therapy, supporting mental wellness in military-connected communities through visual arts programs, retreats, and workshops.
Environmental & Cultural Awareness: Through fieldwork in biodiversity hotspots and indigenous communities, Boling documents the intersection of climate change, cultural resilience, and human adaptation.
đ§ Founder: Melanie Boling
Veteran & Explorer: Served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, later working as a NATO Protection Officer and military photojournalist.
Academic & Researcher: Graduate student at Harvard University, studying neuropsychology and journalism. Founder of Boling Expeditionary Research, examining brain and behavioral resilience in extreme environmental conditions.
Holistic Health Practitioner: A trauma-informed educator certified in yoga, childrenâs yoga, Reiki healing, and wilderness first response, applying these tools in expeditionary and therapeutic contexts.
đ¸ Activities & Initiatives
Multimedia Expeditions: Photographic projects conducted in the Andes, Pacific Islands, Arctic regions, and Southeast Asian rainforests, documenting stories of nature, culture, and endurance.
Outreach & Education: Through programs like Peer Wildâan NGO Boling co-founded with her children in 2017âshe empowers youth (especially from military and Indigenous backgrounds) to use art, storytelling, and storytelling-based conservation externships as tools for healing and empowerment.
Therapeutic Art Sales: 100% of artwork profits on the Imagery Beyond Borders site support art therapy programs offered through Peer Wild, reinforcing the connection between visual expression and emotional resilience.
đ§ Impact & Vision
Humanizing Conflict & Resilience: Bolingâs body of work goes beyond aesthetic visuals, centering lived experiences and ethical storytelling in places often misrepresented or ignored.
Neurobehavioral Insight: Her documentaries and field observations inform her research in extreme-environment neuropsychology, addressing how climatic stressors and isolation affect emotional and cognitive health.
Interdisciplinary Integration: By combining photography, environmental science, neuroscience, and holistic health practices, she delivers a holistic model for mental resilience and narrative impact.
Imagery Beyond Borders is not just a photo platformâitâs a movement. Merging visual storytelling with therapeutic outreach, it promotes healing, environmental stewardship, and resilience in communities often affected by trauma, isolation, or ecological upheaval.
