Horizons
Francisco Antonio Cano
Horizontes (1913) presents an idealized vision of Colombia’s settler frontier. The man's outstretched arm signifies hope and destiny, while the woman and child convey continuity and rootedness. This work by a leading Colombian academic painter uses the peasant family to symbolize national identity and the forging of a future in the Andean landscape.
Archangel Michael Weighing Souls
Rogier van der Weyden
In this panel from the Last Judgment Altarpiece (1445–50), Archangel Michael dominates the scene, balancing souls in golden scales as Christ presides above. Trumpeting angels herald resurrection while the blessed and damned await their fate. Painted for Beaune’s Hôtel-Dieu, the work reminded patients that earthly suffering was framed within the ultimate hope of divine justice and salvation.
The Comedy, Parody, and Tragedy
Rodel Tapaya
This 2018 painting layers crowded shanties, billboards, and tangled walkways with mythic creatures from Philippine folklore. Human figures mingle with spirits and masked characters, blurring everyday life with the supernatural. Bright colors and abrupt shifts in scale evoke noise, congestion, and spectacle. Tapaya unfolds contemporary urban experience as a chaotic folk tale, where comedy, parody, and tragedy coexist in a single scene.
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.
Man, Controller of the Universe
Diego Rivera
This monumental mural (1934) shows a central worker operating a machine that aligns planetary, biological, and industrial forces. Rivera recreates and expands his destroyed Rockefeller Center fresco for a Mexican audience, filling the scene with scientists, workers, and political leaders. The contrast between capitalist luxury and organized labor articulates his Marxist belief that technology should serve collective progress.
Bacchus and Ariadne
Baldassare Peruzzi
Painted c. 1511 in the Loggia of Galatea, Villa Farnesina, this scene depicts Bacchus, the god of wine, with Ariadne, whom he marries after her abandonment by Theseus. The golden mosaic-like background evokes classical luxury, while Peruzzi’s composition aligns with the villa’s mythological and astrological themes. This artwork reflects Renaissance fascination with classical mythology and the interplay of fate and divine intervention.
Chiminigagua Releases Light
Luis Alberto Acuña
Detail from a mural (1960–70s) reimagining the Chibcha creation myth. The supreme god Chiminigagua raises his arms as radiant birds burst forth, bringing light to the cosmos. A glowing sun and celestial rainbow crown the scene, marking the divine act that initiated life and order in the Muisca universe.
The Entombment of Christ
Titian and Palma the Younger
A poignant rendering of Christ’s burial, this oil on canvas (1618) was begun by Titian and completed by Palma the Younger. The composition captures collective grief, emphasizing the physical weight of death and the emotional weight of loss. The figures’ gestures and expressions mirror Renaissance ideals of pathos and human dignity.
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 Rape of Proserpina
Bernini
This angle captures the emotional arc of Proserpina’s resistance as she twists away from Pluto’s grasp. Her outstretched arm and flowing hair dramatize the violence of the abduction. Cerberus, the infernal hound, reinforces the mythological setting, while the composition’s spiral motion showcases Bernini’s virtuosity in carving living flesh from marble.
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.
Fame and Medusa's Victims
Baldassarre Peruzzi
This fresco (1511) shows Fame soaring through the sky, announcing glory with her trumpet. Below, three men and a horse emerge from the clouds, their pallor and stiffness indicating they are victims turned to stone by Medusa's gaze. The composition reflects Renaissance interest in mythology, illustrating the power of reputation and the consequences of divine encounters.
Altar of Saint John Bono
Elia Vincenzo Buzzi
This monumental altar (c. 1763) in the Milan Cathedral honors Saint John Bono, a 13th-c. bishop known for his piety and service. The central figure is framed by angels and crowned by the inscription Ego sum pastor bonus (I am the Good Shepherd), evoking Christ-like compassion and episcopal authority.
Adoration of the Christ Child
Workshop of Domenico Ghirlandaio
This tondo (c. 1485–1490) shows Mary and Joseph adoring the infant Christ, lying humbly on the earth. The sarcophagus-like manger prefigures his Passion, while the ox and donkey fulfill Isaiah and Habakkuk’s prophecy of animals recognizing the Lord. The scene binds intimacy, humility, and cosmic redemption.
Choir of Novices
Luis Alberto Acuña
This sculptural group by Luis Alberto Acuña (1970s) depicts a choir of young novices led by a conductor, rendered in white plaster. Positioned in the courtyard of Casa Museo Acuña, it captures themes of spiritual education, harmony, and discipline. The rigid poses and minimalist forms evoke a timeless reverence, bridging artistic expression with monastic tradition.
“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!