The Triumph of Galatea
Raphael
In this fresco (c. 1512), Raphael transforms Galatea’s myth into a celebration of divine beauty. The sea nymph rides a shell chariot drawn by dolphins (linked to Venus), while cupids shoot arrows symbolizing love’s universal power. Though the original tale includes jealousy and tragedy, Raphael omits them, presenting an idealized vision of harmony and grace.
Apollo and Daphne
Bernini
Seen from behind, Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne (1622–25) reveals the spiraling tension of flight and pursuit. Daphne’s transformation accelerates—branches burst from her hair as Apollo strains forward, barely grounded. This angle heightens the illusion of motion, capturing the myth’s fleeting climax with lyrical virtuosity.
Venus and Capricorn
Baldassarre Peruzzi
The painting (c.1511) in the Loggia of Galatea depicts Venus, the goddess of love, on a shell surrounded by doves, symbols of love. Beside her, Capricorn, a hybrid creature, represents astrological wisdom. This artwork merges mythological beauty with cosmic symbolism, reflecting the Renaissance fascination with harmony between earthly and celestial realms. The inclusion of Capricorn underscores the era's belief in astrology's influence on human affairs.
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.
Perspective Gallery
Francesco Borromini
Created for Cardinal Spada, this architectural illusion (1653) compresses nine meters into an illusion of great depth. By subtly reducing the size of columns, floor tiles, and ceiling coffers, Borromini crafted a vanishing point that evokes grandeur. The statue at the end, appearing monumental, is just 90 cm tall—transforming scale into metaphysical reflection.
Spoliarium
Juan Luna
This vast 1884 canvas depicts slain gladiators dragged from the Roman arena, their bodies stripped in the spoliarium — the chamber beneath the Colosseum where the dead were despoiled. Luna used the scene as an allegory for the Philippines under Spanish rule, exposing oppression and voicing a nationalist cry for dignity and liberation.
St. Andrew's Church
Bartolomeo Rastrelli
St. Andrew’s Church (1747–54) crowns a Kyiv hill with gilded domes and turquoise ornament typical of late Baroque design introduced by the Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli. Its dynamic composition and elaborate detailing adapt Western forms to Orthodox liturgy. The church stands as a landmark of 18th-c. imperial architecture in Eastern Europe.
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.
Archangel Michael Weighing Souls
Rogier van der Weyden
Detail from the Last Judgment Altarpiece (1445–50), created for Beaune’s Hôtel-Dieu. Archangel Michael holds scales to weigh souls, his calm gaze contrasting with the cosmic drama around him. Trumpeting angels herald resurrection, while Michael’s jeweled vestments and red wings embody divine authority. For the hospital’s patients, this image linked earthly suffering to the hope of eternal salvation.
Archangel Michael
Raffaello da Montelupo
This marble statue (1544) once crowned the fortress, showing the Archangel Michael in the moment of sheathing his sword after ending the plague of 590. The figure’s contrapposto stance and idealized anatomy recall classical sculpture, while the raised wings and military dress assert his role as heavenly protector. The blend of antique form and Christian subject turns a local miracle into a civic symbol of deliverance.
Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix
Antonio Canova
This statue (1805–08) presents Pauline Bonaparte, sister of Napoleon, as Venus, reclining semi-nude and holding the golden apple of victory. Commissioned by her husband Camillo Borghese, the statue blends neoclassical elegance with sensual myth. Its rotating base once allowed viewers to admire it from every angle.
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.
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.
It’s Not Where You Come From, but Where You’re Going
Ramón Calcaño
This oil painting (2018), entitled No importa de dónde vienes, sino hacia dónde vas, Calcaño presents a vast view of informal housing. Central to the scene is a figure holding books, emerging from the margins. The work highlights resilience and the transformative power of education, emphasizing the pursuit of a better future beyond one's origins.
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!