Champán en el río Magdalena
De la Rue & Torres Méndez
This 1878 lithograph depicts a champán, a flat-bottomed river raft common on the Magdalena River, propelled by Afro-Colombian workers using long poles. Wealthy passengers rest under a thatched shelter, highlighting the stark racial and class divisions of the era. The image captures both Colombia’s natural landscape and its colonial labor hierarchies in transition.
Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix
Antonio Canova
Antonio Canova's marble masterpiece (1805–08) depicts Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix, reclining semi-nude on a couch, holding an apple symbolizing Venus's triumph in the Judgement of Paris. Commissioned by her husband, Camillo Borghese, Pauline insisted on being portrayed as Venus rather than Diana. The sculpture, originally designed to rotate, reflects both personal ambition and classical beauty.
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.
Earth
Einar Jónsson
This sculpture (1904–08) depicts a human figure cradling a smaller, draped form, symbolizing the Earth or nature. Jónsson, an Icelandic sculptor, is known for his symbolic and allegorical works exploring mythology, spirituality, and the human condition. This piece reflects his exploration of humanity’s connection to the natural world and the spiritual realm.
The Wedding Banquet of Cupid and Psyche
Raphael
In this fresco (1518–19), Raphael presents the divine banquet:on the left are Neptune, Persephone, Pluto, Juno, and Jupiter receiving a drink from Ganymede. On the right sit Psyche and Cupid, gazing at each other. In the foreground, Bacchus and a young satyr pour wine, highlighting the festive nature of Cupid’s immortal union with Psyche.
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.
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.
Katharsis (detail)
José Clemente Orozco
This explosive mural section (1934) fuses war, lust, and revolution into a single convulsion. Clashing fists, rifles, and machines crush bodies into chaos. The nude woman evokes both violence and moral decay, while fire and protest surge behind. Orozco presents modernity as an inferno—only through destruction can truth emerge.
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.
A Dangerous Whisper
Luis Alberto Acuña
This mural (1950s) by Luis Alberto Acuña depicts a man whispering seductively into a woman’s ear while she listens with a mix of curiosity and restraint. The intimate gesture contrasts with the servant above, who quietly performs her duties, reinforcing themes of gender dynamics, social roles, and the tension between desire and decorum in colonial society.
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
Tintoretto
Tintoretto’s work (1550–1553) depicts the biblical moment of temptation in the Garden of Eden. Eve, holding the forbidden fruit, entices Adam, who hesitates, capturing the tension between desire and conscience. The background suggests their impending expulsion, a consequence of their choice. Dramatic lighting highlights the figures, emphasizing their forms and the scene’s gravity.
St Bartholomew Flayed
Marco d’Agrate
This haunting statue of Saint Bartholomew (1562) shows the martyr after being skinned alive, wearing his own flayed skin like a cloak. The anatomical precision reveals a Renaissance fascination with the human body, while the calm expression evokes spiritual endurance beyond physical torment.
Lenin
Diego Rivera
This mural fragment (1934) shows Vladimir Lenin at the center, joining the hands of workers of different races in a dense crowd. The scene comes from Rivera’s Man at the Crossroads mural destroyed at Rockefeller Center, whose inclusion of Lenin provoked its removal. By recreating the composition at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, Rivera reaffirmed his Marxist political stance.
Loyalty from Los Disparates Series
Francisco Goya
This etching (1815–1823) by Francisco Goya, part of the Los Disparates series, explores themes of chaos and irrationality. Featuring grotesque figures, it suggests blind loyalty or foolishness, reflecting the turbulent era of Ferdinand VII’s reign in Spain. Goya’s use of aquatint and etching techniques enhances dramatic contrasts and textures, providing a dark commentary on the social and political upheavals of his time.
“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!