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.
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.
Retrato alegórico de la injusticia
Dustín Muñoz
In his powerful Allegoric Portrait of Justice (2018), Muñoz portrays a masked judge seated atop chaos, weighing gold bars against an empty scale. His gavel and gas mask signal institutional blindness and moral decay. Painted in acrylic on canvas, the work denounces injustice as systemic, silencing truth and privileging wealth over human life.
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.
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.
Christ in Glory (detail)
Raphael
The radiant figure of the risen Christ (1508–10) crowns the celestial register of The Disputation of the Sacrament. His raised hand and visible wounds recall both his Passion and his role as judge at the end of time. Encircled by golden rays, he visually affirms the doctrine of the Eucharist as the enduring, real presence of Christ.
The Penitent Magdalene
Caravaggio
This painting (1594–95) shows Mary Magdalene seated in repentance, jewels cast aside at her feet. With downcast eyes and folded hands, she embodies both sensual beauty and spiritual transformation. Caravaggio merges naturalism with sacred symbolism, turning penitence into a deeply human, intimate moment of grace.
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.
Archangel Michael
Rogier van der Weyden
This panel (1445–50) from the Beaune Altarpiece shows Archangel Michael weighing souls on Judgment Day. His youthful calm contrasts with the gravity of divine judgment. The richly patterned brocade and peacock-feather wings reflect Burgundian court opulence, linking celestial imagery with the devotional grandeur of 15th-century Flanders.
Mexican War of Independence (detail)
Juan OGorman
This mural detail (1960–61) depicts Mexico’s struggle against colonial rule. At center, an Indigenous man is crucified on a tree, symbolizing the suffering of native peoples. Around him, women and children grieve, while men collapse in despair. To the right, Miguel Hidalgo in blue and José María Morelos in clerical robes embody the revolution’s leaders, joined by thinkers holding books and scrolls of Enlightenment ideals.
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.
Council of the Gods
Raphael
In this scene (1518), Raphael depicts the gods deciding Psyche’s fate. Right to left: Minerva (helmet), Diana (with crescent moon), Jupiter (eagle below), Juno (blue robe), Neptune (trident), Pluto (bident, dog Cerberus), Venus (semi-nude, pointing), Mars (helmet). On the far left, Mercury (caduceus) leads Psyche to Olympus. Cupid kneels before Jupiter, pleading for Psyche’s immortality. The council embodies divine justice, granting the soul eternal union with love.
The Damned in Torment
Rogier van der Weyden
This detail from the Last Judgment Altarpiece (1445–50) intensifies the vision of damnation. Naked figures twist and collide as they plunge into dark flames, their limbs tangled in chaotic knots. Strained muscles and distorted faces display a studied range of terror and despair. For patients and caregivers at the Hôtel-Dieu, such visceral imagery sharpened awareness of sin, repentance, and the uncertainty of salvation.
The Crowning with Thorns
Caravaggio
This painting (1602–04) depicts Christ humiliated before crucifixion. Crowned with thorns and bound, he stands in silent suffering as soldiers force the reed into his hand and mock him as king. Caravaggio’s harsh chiaroscuro strips away grandeur, presenting raw cruelty and dignity in contrast. The work confronts viewers with the violence of power and the endurance of faith.
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.
“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!