When It rained to the east of Spain in 2024They instigated one of the most disastrous floods that are remembered in the Valencian community. One of the most affected areas The small town of the BibordaThe entire surroundings were submerged, and the destroyed houses, destroyed shops and streets became thicker and shortness of breath.
But An abnormal response from disaster arose. Young people, many of them still came to the mass to clean up the garbage, carry water, and to comfort the strangers.
Photographer Roul pelininAt first he went to help a friend who was flooded with a house, and he could not look away. Moved by the resolution of volunteers, Belinjan established a white background to document these anonymous heroes In deep intimate images.
“These volunteers represent unity, empire, but trust. They showed them with them separately and collectively Your dedication to achieve the unusual effort very good, polite and friendly world“Belinjan explains the ‘Euro -Culture’.
He As a result, “Los Angeles de Mut”Later in the portrait section has received international recognition, including the second prize Los Sony World Photography Awards This year.
Speaking to Belinjan about the power of ‘Euro -Cultural’, why, before the enormous political failure, it is A generation moved a step further from “weak” His hands were dirty.
‘Euronaws Culture’: You described those 72 hours in the Biporta as a descent for hell and at the same time an expression of the bright side of mankind. What are the most difficult moments for you in those days?
Roual Belinjan: There were very difficult moments when the days passed, and what had happened, and the amount of nature and its effects. If you find out what family or friends are affected, you don’t believe what happened.
I went to help the friend who gave me a loan Your house was damaged in the PippordThe zero zone, known as the SO- of the disaster. The first days and weeks of the total confusion, I used the house as the basis for working. It was hard to be so destructive day by day. Looking at the faces of the people, the elderly walking on the streets full of mudslides, the tails for getting the goods and a warm meal, and emotionally affected me. It reminded me of a war zone.
What led him to establish a white background at the foot of the bridge of unity?
After an extreme week of working in the zero zone, I reached the end of the day, without a clear idea of how to focus on work. Everything was destroyed and covered with mud. A large brown soil place occupied everything. Surprisingly, how the power of the cars was accumulated on the streets. Photographers, professionals and curious everywhere are those Dandesk scenes are immortal as a dystopian film.
I felt the need to get out of there, but something attracted my attention: the groups of young people who went to the mass of the disaster, ready to help, to distribute food and the first demand distribution. That The wave of young volunteers who left the city Even from other cities in Spain and students from other countries (Erasmus), my attention is to think that the story I want to say is: the history of unity and hope. I had to work on a positive topic amidst very extinction.
How and where did it come. I was The neighborhood of the bridge of unityThis connected the city with the affected people; It was like crossing the hell of heaven. At the time, the pictures of the news were filled with how the bridge was filled with volunteers.
The point of passing those who walked it was, I thought I had to work. I got that white background, because I usually use it to photograph the animals for the adoption of the animal shelter managing the Valencia City Council, and from the very beginning, I know that the white background should be depicted, and after they returned, after a serious work day, they were exhausted from removing the soil.
White background again as a unity canvasFirst to the animals that need adoption and then volunteers who helped the most needed after the flood.
AdvertisementThat white background helped me to eliminate the volunteers of the place and highlight it without distractions, His exhausted facesOvarian Uniqueness of their manifestationsOvarian Specific testimony of their eyesOvarian Wrinkles in mud brands and their clothes. There is no doubt that Aveen’s “West American” films came to mind in those days. He kept the book in the house, and was watching his wonderful images and how the human figure is upgraded when photography is photographed with white and clean background.
There is a quiet ka ity ravam in every portrait, a silence. How did you work with volunteers to create that tone? Did he allow instructions or to appear as they wanted?
I placed a white background on a wall near a jazz school, which was affected by water and soil, 50 meters from the passage of volunteers and a bridge of unity. I approached them and told them about the plan I was doing, and everyone is very cooperative. I had a few meters from the place where I kept the background, there was a source, and there I found Many volunteers ready to wash and remove the mud.
I asked him to take a photo before. When photographing them, I do not offer instructions; I asked some people to go out with their work equipment or photograph them as groups. There is a greater relevance to the success of photography at the time to return home after a serious day in a quiet tone, where fatigue, fatigue and psychological burden reflected on their faces.
AdvertisementAs you mentioned, most volunteers were young, students. What showed him his generation about the value and responsibility that others had forgotten?
They paid tribute to their own humanity, by their actions. They destroyed a “glass generation” stigma, which is said to be brittle and indifferent, and I wanted to pay tribute to my photos. Each of these volunteers Indicates unityThe EmptyismBut Escheransa. Separately and collectively, they proved their commitment to achieving the world of good, decent and friendly, with their extraordinary effort.
Did you find that they turn into volunteers until they cross the bridge again?
They arrived early in the morning, clean, energy, sophisticated, and disappeared with daytime, as the ghosts of the soil angels, with the trembling body, with physical effort and soul emotion. They passed a long catwalk that combined Zero zone with the urban embryo of ValenciaFrom confusion to order, from hell to heaven.
AdvertisementYou refer to “the injustice and inefficiency of politicians.” Do you consider this project to be an act of opposition or documents against corporate dysfunction?
Failure begins with a lack of prevention, because most of the disaster and loss of human life may have been avoided; It is a management job Did not make corporations and politicians. I would have wanted that prevention before the volunteers’ virtuous response, and this is what I am addressing this project. My task refers to the friendly face of sadness.
If photography is a way of telling stories, what kind of story do you think of ‘mud angels’ tell?
‘Mut Angeles’ focuses on the faces and unity of those who showed up and not staying at home, but went to the offer Help those who are most needed. The story of the anonymous heroes, by their efforts, came in the first days, and many of the victims felt abandoned.
AdvertisementWhat do the visitors of ‘mud angels’ expect? Is this a record of what happened, or is it a call for action?
The ‘soil angels’ speak of hope and unity, and the disaster and destruction will see something positive when all occupies. This is what continues to believe in humanity and in a very good and tender world, instead of getting people help. Should The viewer reflects Ask questions to see these photos; For me, that’s the act.
How did volunteers respond to their portrait? What are your reactions?
Very positive. One of my duties for them is to provide them with their portraits for cooperating with the project. They are grateful for being part of her And volunteers are aware of the importance of seeing their work.
AdvertisementWhat did you feel when Sony has received recognition from the World Photo Awards?
The previous year I was a final contestant, so I received the gift message with great enthusiasm because they recognize my photographic tasks again, and this makes me a special illusion that this project could be shared with the work and effort done by volunteers. In the middle of a natural disaster.
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