The Saviour Not Made by Hand
Simon Ushakov
This mid–late 17th-c. fresco depicts Spas Nerukotvorny (The Saviour Not Made by Hand), an image understood as a direct imprint of Christ’s face and a sign of his enduring presence. Ushakov follows Byzantine conventions yet introduces soft modeling and spatial depth drawn from Western art. The work reflects a moment when Moscow blended inherited Orthodox forms with new artistic influences to express religious renewal.
The Courtyard of the Wind Palace
Salvador Dalí
Dalí’s surreal installation (1970s) features golden female mannequins resembling votive icons in windows surrounding a central bronze figure of Venus crowned with a ship. This work merges classical motifs with theatrical elements, creating a fantastical vision of fertility, mythology, and voyeurism, showcasing Dalí’s unique blend of art and architecture.
The Prayer
Einar Jónsson
Created in 1909 and later cast in bronze, this sculpture shows a kneeling woman embracing a praying child, merging maternal love with spiritual devotion. Jónsson, pioneer of Icelandic sculpture, wove Nordic symbolism into works that joined earthly care and divine aspiration. His 1909 donation of all his art to the nation ensured the founding of Iceland’s first art museum in 1923, making pieces like The Prayer central to national identity.
Woman with Umbrella
Fernando Botero
A solitary figure walks through a forest, her reflection mirrored below as if suspended between worlds. Her voluminous dress and umbrella contrast with the vertical rhythm of the trees. With surreal calm and poetic symmetry, Botero (1989) transforms a simple stroll into a meditation on solitude, identity, and the quiet theatricality of everyday life.
The Earth
Einar Jónsson
Jónsson’s bronze sculpture, The Earth (1904–1908), features a seated figure cradling a smaller form, reflecting his shift to Symbolism after 1903. It explores themes of life, death, and the cyclical nature of existence. Jónsson, a pioneering Icelandic sculptor, studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, significantly influencing the evolution of Icelandic art.
Cupid Pleads with Jupiter for Psyche
Raphael
In this fresco (1517–18), Raphael depicts the moment when Cupid petitions Jupiter for Psyche’s immortality. Jupiter’s intimate gesture suggests divine consent and compassion, while Cupid’s youthful vulnerability contrasts with the god’s authority. The work reflects Renaissance fascination with classical myths and divine love.
Christ Blessing with Virgin at Prayer
Master of Flémalle
This 15th-c. oak panel by the Master of Flémalle, often associated with Robert Campin, exemplifies early Netherlandish style. It showcases realistic detail through innovative oil paint use. The depiction of Christ blessing and the Virgin Mary at prayer reflects the era’s religious devotion and artistic innovation, marking a pivotal moment in European art’s evolution.
Tomb of Archbishop Scherlatti
Nino Pisano
This marble relief (c. 1300–1350) formed part of the tomb of Archbishop Scherlatti. Christ is depicted in the Imago Pietatis pose, rising from the tomb with eyes closed, flanked by two mourning angels. The scene blends devotional tenderness with refined Gothic elegance, exemplifying Nino Pisano’s lyrical style and the growing emotional realism in 14th-c. funerary art.
Orestes and Apollo at Delphi
Painter of the Birth of Dionysus
This Apulian red-figure volute krater (410–390 BC) depicts Apollo aiding Orestes at Delphi. After avenging Agamemnon by killing Clytemnestra, Orestes seeks refuge from the Furies. Apollo's protection symbolizes divine support for justice. This piece highlights the intersection of myth and morality in ancient Greek culture.
Roman Civilization and the Heroic Virtue of Honor
Mariano Rossi
This illusionistic ceiling (1775) shows a vortex of gods, heroes, and allegorical figures arranged in rising spirals. Rossi organized the composition with deep foreshortening to create a theatrical Baroque panorama. The central burst of light frames scenes of conflict and ascent, indicating how Roman culture linked civic honor with collective greatness.
Uber Eats
Roger Zayas
This photo (2017), taken in the historic Marais district of Paris, captures a striking urban contrast: an elderly woman with a cane passes a food courier bent over a doorway. Zayas underscores generational divides and social invisibility, reflecting on aging and shifting economic realities in the European metropolis.
Judith Beheading Holofernes
Jacopo Tintoretto
This painting (c. 1577) by the studio of Jacopo Tintoretto depicts the biblical scene where Judith beheads Holofernes, an Assyrian general, to save her people. Executed in the Mannerist style, it emphasizes tension and emotion, typical of the Late Renaissance. The scene symbolizes courage and divine justice, reflecting the era’s interest in heroic narratives.
Mérode Altarpiece Central Panel
Robert Campin
This panel (c.1425–1428) shows Mary reading as Gabriel arrives. Domestic details carry layered meaning: the open book signals devotion, the lily purity, and the candle the Incarnation. The water jug with a white cloth evokes Mary’s virginity, while the enclosed garden glimpsed outside recalls her chastity. Named after later owners, the Mérode family, the work unites divine mystery with Flemish household realism.
The Witch of Zascandil
Luis Alberto Acuña
This portrait (1991) shows the Witch of Zascandil, a figure rooted in Colombian folklore. Sharp features and widened eyes create a tense, exaggerated profile. The name Zascandil refers to a trickster or wandering mischief-maker in regional stories. The image indicates how rural mythology blends satire, fear, and ancestral belief.
Cupid and the Three Graces
Raphael
In this fresco (1518), Raphael portrays Cupid with the Three Graces, who embody beauty, charm, and joy. The scene reflects the harmony of love and divine favor, integral to Psyche’s myth. Framed by Giovanni da Udine’s botanical festoons, it blends mythology with Renaissance ideals of grace and abundance.
“When the path is beautiful, do not ask where it leads.” — Zen proverb
Welcome to my travel photography!
“When the path is beautiful, do not ask where it leads.” — Zen proverb
Welcome to my travel photography!
For as long as I can remember, my path has been one of discovery—seeking beauty, timelessness, and connection in every corner of the world. It has also been a journey of deep learning and understanding. I’ve been an avid traveler (or perhaps a travel addict?) for most of my life. My love for travel began long before I ever left home: as a child, I drew a fantasy map of my grandparents’ apartment and “traveled” through it with my cousin Sonya, imagining adventures in every corner. Nearly 90 countries and countless moments of awe later, I’m excited to share this journey with you.
Thanks to the tireless and ingenious programming of Diagilev, we’re now able to present about fifteen percent of the images I’ve accumulated over the years. More will be released in small batches depending on your interest. While the first release leans toward museum photography, later ones will include more nature, architecture, culture, and general travel experiences. If you’d like to receive email notifications about new releases, feel free to reach out—no commercial use, ever.
Throughout my travels, I’ve been drawn to two intertwined kinds of discovery. One is intellectual: learning why the world is the way it is. History became my guide, shaping my perspective and filling my camera roll with museums and old buildings. To me, history is not the past—it is the key to understanding the present and how the world became what it is. The other is emotional: seeking moments of elevation—spirituality, beauty, harmony—often found in nature, monasteries, and ancient sacred spaces. Together, these impulses shape my photography. It invites you to learn, admire, and soar—to rise above the mundane and see the world through a lens of curiosity and wonder.
Much of my later travel became possible thanks to my job with Delta Air Lines, but the wanderlust began years earlier. By the time I joined the industry, I had already visited over 35 countries and lived in several—largely thanks to a backpacking journey around the world with Luis León, whose face appears in many early photos. I grew up in Ufa in the USSR, and since leaving it I have lived, studied, and worked in Latvia, the United States, France, South Korea, Canada, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Japan, and Colombia.
A life of near-constant movement may seem a little crazy, but it has deepened my understanding of the world and produced the photography you are about to see. Over the years, my style has evolved—more intentional, more refined—yet its core remains the same: a search for understanding, timeless beauty, and a connection to those who walked this earth long before us.
I hope these photos stir something in your soul, just as they did in mine. I’d love to hear from you—whether reactions, suggestions, corrections, or a request to be added to the email list for new releases (no commercial use, I promise). You can learn more about my travels here, and my academic life here.
Enjoy our shared journey!