Series description
Nothing in the world could have prepared Raúl Belinchón for what he was about to experience in the days that followed the most catastrophic flooding in the history of Spain’s Valencia region. The natural disaster affected 80 municipalities resulting in more than 220 deaths and over 100,000 cars destroyed. Over a 72-hour period in the municipality of Paiporta, Belinchón witnessed the fierce determination of young volunteers who refused to turn away from the catastrophe. Armed with mops, buckets, brushes and shovels, they cleaned houses, stores and streets; they brought medicine to the sick, food to the hungry, and clothes to those who had lost everything. Setting up a white background by a long footbridge renamed the ‘Bridge of Solidarity,’ Belinchón photographed the volunteers on their way home, paying tribute to the caring ‘Mud Angels.’
Biography
R.B (Valencia 1975) International photographer awarded with the World Press Photo and Fuji Euro Press Photo Awards, among others, he has maintained throughout his extensive and recognized career the condition of photography as a means to represent another reality.
He has a degree in History of Art by in Valencia and at the present time he works as a freelance photographer.
His work has been published in Der Spiegel, Republica delle Donne, El País Semanal, Next Level, Squire.
The Mud Angels
Lucía David (19), Ofelia Martínez (19), Marta Bernat (18) and Lluna Benavent (18). These four teenagers from Valencia went as volunteers to Catarroja, one of the towns most affected by the flooding. As Lluna explained, 'We’re like a big family. We’re moved by empathy and the desire to help.’
© Raúl Belinchón, Spain, 2nd Place, Professional competition, Portraiture, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
The Mud Angels
Óscar Colman (45), who works in online sales, and Marcos Colman (14), a third year ESO (secondary school) student. This father and son travelled from Guadarrama, Madrid, to Catarroja, one of the towns most damaged by the natural disaster in Valencia. ‘My experience was quite sad,’ said Marcos. ‘I saw many people helping to clean up and remove piles of belongings that are no longer useful.’
© Raúl Belinchón, Spain, 2nd Place, Professional competition, Portraiture, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
The Mud Angels
Joan Seró (29) is a school teacher from Valencia. He spent seven days as a volunteer in Paiporta, a town described as ‘ground zero’ following the natural disaster. ‘I blamed myself for weeks for not having been able to do more, for not having saved anyone,’ he said.
© Raúl Belinchón, Spain, 2nd Place, Professional competition, Portraiture, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
The Mud Angels
Sergio Ponce (19) is a cooking student and chef from Valencia. He volunteered for seven days in Paiporta, Massanassa and Catarroja, three of the towns most affected by the flooding, and ‘was able to discover that civil protection is my true vocation.’
© Raúl Belinchón, Spain, 2nd Place, Professional competition, Portraiture, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
The Mud Angels
Biruk Caballer (20) is an electronics engineering student from Valencia. He volunteered for ten days in Paiporta, Catarroja, Masanasa and Sedaví, and described how ‘We got to work so hard that the body could not support itself.’
© Raúl Belinchón, Spain, 2nd Place, Professional competition, Portraiture, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
The Mud Angels
Camila Jiménez (17) and Paola Toledo (16) are both students from Valencia, in the fourth year of ESO, who volunteered in Paiporta for five days. ‘What impacted me the most was the mud, but what I remember the worst is the smell,’ said Camila.
© Raúl Belinchón, Spain, 2nd Place, Professional competition, Portraiture, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
The Mud Angels
Álex Moreno (30) is a voice dubbing actor from Valencia. He could not remember how many days he had been a volunteer, saying ‘I have not kept count. There is still a lot of help needed in many areas. I see people arriving in Valencia after a whole day of work and changing their muddy shoes for clean ones, to be able to relax, walk, distract themselves or escape from this cruel reality.’
© Raúl Belinchón, Spain, 2nd Place, Professional competition, Portraiture, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
The Mud Angels
Víctor Colomar (25) is a criminology student, while Pablo Pons (25) is training to be a teacher. They ‘saw the images that appeared on social networks and felt a duty to help,’ so travelled from Piles, Valencia, volunteering for more than five days at Picanya and other areas affected by the disaster.
© Raúl Belinchón, Spain, 2nd Place, Professional competition, Portraiture, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards