Euclid Teaching Geometry
Rapahel
In this vibrant lower-right scene from The School of Athens (1509–1511), Raphael presents Euclid demonstrating geometric principles with a compass. Painted in Rome during the High Renaissance, this detail celebrates empirical learning as foundational to human knowledge. The intense focus of his young onlookers reflects the Renaissance ideal of rediscovering ancient scientific wisdom through observation and reason.
Portrait of Indigenous Person
Luis Alberto Acuña
This striking 1934 oil painting reflects the artist’s deep engagement with indigenous identity and pre-Columbian heritage. The stoic, symmetrical face, wrapped in a red hood beneath a wide-brimmed hat, evokes dignity and resilience. Acuña, a key figure in Colombian modernism, often highlighted native ancestry as a counter-narrative to Eurocentric ideals.
Museum Courtyard
Luis Alberto Acuña
This eclectic courtyard blends colonial architecture with fantastical sculptures and lush vegetation. Dinosaurs, jaguars, and snakes emerge from the stone paths, reflecting Acuña’s imaginative fusion of pre-Columbian, mythological, and surrealist influences.
The Veil Torn (The Door to Heaven)
Mariano Bidó
In this mixed-media work (2018), a vast crowd moves toward a hill crowned by three crosses under a black veil of smoke. Referencing the crucifixion, the piece evokes mass devotion, suffering, and salvation. The dense humanity contrasts with the distant, divine climax—highlighting faith as both a collective journey and personal reckoning.
The Rape of Proserpina (detail)
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
This gripping close-up from Bernini’s marble group (1621–22) captures Pluto’s hand pressing into Proserpina’s flesh. The marble appears to yield under his grip, a dazzling illusion of softness and force. Bernini’s technical brilliance here transforms stone into living drama, amplifying the sculpture’s emotional and physical realism.
The Council of the Gods
Giovanni Lanfranco
Lanfranco’s grand ceiling fresco (1624–25) fills the Sala della Loggia with divine spectacle. Jupiter reigns at the center, surrounded by Roman deities including Venus, Mars, Pluto, and Juno. Designed to dissolve architectural limits, the illusionistic sky transforms the ceiling into a heavenly theater of Baroque power and myth.
Leda and the Swan
Fernando Botero
This 1996 bronze sculpture reinterprets the myth in which Zeus, king of the gods, seduces or assaults Leda, Queen of Sparta, in the form of a swan. From their union, according to legend, were born Helen of Troy and other heroic figures. Botero’s voluptuous forms soften the myth’s violence, transforming it into a surreal, sensual tableau. His signature style invites reflection on desire, divinity, and the boundary between seduction and power.
Expulsion from Eden
Maître des Médaillons
This French manuscript miniature (early 15th c.) shows Adam and Eve after the Fall, modestly covering themselves with leaves. An angel descends with a robe, while the Tree of Knowledge burns red above them. To the right stands a stone building, symbolizing exile from Paradise. The vivid colors and fine detail reflect late medieval devotional art.
The Council of the Gods (detail)
Giovanni Lanfranco
In this celestial scene from The Council of the Gods (1624–25), Jupiter presides over Olympus, crowned with stars and flanked by his eagle. Surrounding him are Juno, Venus, Mars, and Pluto, their divine forms emerging from clouds. Painted for the Sala della Loggia in Villa Borghese, the fresco evokes the grandeur and illusionistic power of Baroque heaven.
Emperor Hadrian
Girolamo Siciolante da Sermoneta (attrib.)
This 16th-c. fresco from the Sala Paolina depicts Emperor Hadrian in idealized Roman military attire. Portrayed with commanding calm, Hadrian stands framed by classical architecture and winged putti, symbolizing both earthly rule and divine favor. The work affirms his legacy as builder, humanist, and guardian of imperial order—within the very mausoleum he commissioned.
Puffed Star
Frank Stella
Installed before the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro (2016), this metallic sculpture by American artist Frank Stella dazzles with radiating points and mirrored planes. Its star-like form evokes cosmology and perception, inviting reflection on the interconnectedness of space, matter, and human imagination.
Judith Beheading Holofernes
Caravaggio
This canvas (c. 1599) painted in Rome embodies Caravaggio’s radical realism and theatrical chiaroscuro. Judith, a young widow, slays the Assyrian general Holofernes to save her people. Her calm determination contrasts with his violent death and the maid’s aged pragmatism. By staging sacred violence with unflinching naturalism, Caravaggio redefined biblical painting as a drama of human courage and divine justice.
Aún Hay Tiempo
Julio César Ojeda Ariza
This 2021 work blends oil and ink to portray a woman whose hair becomes a lush tapestry of biodiversity and rural life. Symbolizing Colombia’s natural and cultural abundance, it warns of its fragility. The title, There’s Still Time, urges collective action to preserve the environment and ancestral wisdom.
Raphael and Perugino (detail)
Raphael
This section of The School of Athens (1509-11) features a rare self-portrait of Raphael (center) alongside his teacher Perugino (right). Originating from the Italian High Renaissance, the work subtly inserts the artist into the legacy of classical knowledge, aligning painters with philosophers as bearers of intellectual ideals.
Christ Blessing
Bernardino Luini
In this serene image of Christ (c. 1520), Luini captures divine benevolence with a gentle gesture of blessing. The soft modeling of features, rich red garment, and delicate curls echo Leonardo da Vinci’s influence, yet Luini’s style emphasizes a tranquil spirituality. The raised hand unites authority with compassion, inviting personal devotion.
“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!