• The "Heroicas" photography project showcases the lives of women who have moved from the city to the countryside .

• The objective is to transform the stereotypical image of “empty Spain”

Blanca and Marta created the photography project "Blue Light" to explore the reality of rural areas and the people who live and work there. The vision they both aim to convey with their photographs is to demystify the image of the so-called "empty Spain" and show the rural environment as a place of opportunity for the people who settle there.

Positively enhancing the rural environment

The photographic project "Heroicas" is part of La Luz Azul, which showcases the lives and work of 11 women who, contrary to what usually happens, have not undertaken the so-called "illustrated flight" - that is, the move from the countryside to the city - but have instead taken the opposite path: they have left the big cities for rural areas to build a new life there.

Juliana, María, Sheila, Elena, Sandra, Montse, Rosa, Pilar, Inma, Koya, and Marisa. They are the league of extraordinary women who bring a face to these 11 stories of opportunity and dreams come true. Women who, despite having training and career development in the city, chose to move to rural areas in search of a better quality of life. A move that is allowing them to play a fundamental role in the development of the cultural, social, and economic fabric of the rural communities where they settle.

Proper names

María Polo, 42, born in Madrid and a biologist by training, lives in Burgo de Osma and runs a fish farm. She will soon be setting up a canoe rental business on a local lake.

Pilar Nicolás was born in Madrid but moved to Abioncillo de Calatañazor to set up her own ceramics business.

Miriam Koya, 45, from Peru, works in crafts and selling silver jewelry.

Rosa Calavia, 52, from Madrid, owns the only hardware store in Berlanga de Duero…

Their stories show that being a rural woman doesn't necessarily mean being a female farmer, as stereotypes suggest. You can be that. And much more.

If you want to delve deeper into their stories, come and see:

https://laluzazulph.wixsite.com/fotografia

Photos taken by: Blanca Almazán Oteo and Marta Roldán Melgosa