Triumph of Galatea (detail)
Raphael
This portion (1511–12) shows Galatea, the sea nymph of Greek myth, riding a dolphin-drawn shell chariot. Around her, tritons and nereids embody the vibrant energy of the sea. Raphael’s design celebrates Galatea’s beauty and grace, while capturing the joyful movement of the marine procession.
Christ the Redeemer
Salaì
This compelling portrait (1511), often attributed to Salaì—Leonardo’s apprentice—depicts Christ with idealized serenity and ambiguous allure. Sometimes called the male Mona Lisa, it showcases the sfumato technique pioneered by Leonardo. Though some argue it is da Vinci’s own work, its authorship remains debated. It reflects the spiritual humanism of the Renaissance and holds the record as the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction.
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.
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.
The Legend of Agustín Lorenzo (detail)
Diego Rivera
This 1936 fresco dramatizes the legendary outlaw Agustín Lorenzo as a symbol of resistance. Armed revolutionaries clash with government forces, their horses rearing amid smoke and flames. Rivera fuses myth and history, casting Lorenzo as a Mexican Robin Hood whose defiant struggle against injustice became folklore in the national imagination.
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 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.
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.
Musical Angels (detail)
Pinturicchio
In this detail (1484–86), Pinturicchio paints two angelic musicians, one playing a violin and the other a wind instrument. Floating on clouds, they contribute to the celestial harmony surrounding Christ in Majesty. The graceful movement of their garments reflects Pinturicchio’s refined sense of rhythm, light, and divine celebration.
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.
Christ and the Adulteress
Tintoretto
This scene (c. 1555) is from the Gospel of John: Jesus responds to scribes and Pharisees demanding judgment on an adulterous woman. His challenge—inviting the sinless to cast the first stone—teaches mercy over condemnation. Tintoretto’s dynamic style appears in the sharp contrasts of light and shadow, elongated figures, and oblique spatial arrangement that intensify the moral tension. Classical architectural elements frame the encounter, emphasizing the conflict between legalism and redemption.
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.
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.
Cain and Abel
Tintoretto
The scene (1550–53) shows the biblical story of Cain’s jealousy and the murder of his brother Abel. The work reflects the Mannerist style through sharp contrasts of light and shadow, twisting poses, and tense, compressed space. Tintoretto’s hallmark energy appears in the sweeping gestures and urgent brushwork that heighten the scene’s violence, underscoring the enduring power of biblical themes in Renaissance 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.
“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!