Gheissari fell in love with Russia on his first visit to the country in 1991. He marveled at the vast mountains and rolling plains. He met kindhearted strangers who invited him into their homes. "I was impressed by the generosity and warmth of the people," he said. "I found the country to be so magnificent. Russia gave me an everlasting impression."

For five years, Gheissari worked to capture his impressions on film. He made nine separate trips to the former Soviet Union, traveling through eleven different time zones, visiting the shores of the Baltic, the peaks of the Ural Mountains, the northern plains of Siberia, and the Kamchatka peninsula. He sought out the most fascinating places, capturing on film the lives of the people he met there.

When he returned, Gheissari exhibited his photographs at the Russian embassy in Washington, D. C. Buoyed by the exhibition's success, he decided to create Russia and Beyond in order to share his vision and his experience with a wider audience. Its 128 full color pages sparkle with fascinating images of this magnificent territory. The accompanying maps yield a wealth of unique, practical information for both armchair travellers and those who wish to journey to Russia themselves. The compelling text by author Patricia Raine, lays a vibrant tapestry for these powerful photographs. Russia and Beyond is available in a hardcover edition by ESCOAA Images, Inc. All photographs are available as individual art pieces.

Russia and Beyond follows Gheissari's major portfolio on Africa--a project that sent him to Namibia, Madagascar, Zambia, South Africa, and Botswana. Like his stunning images of Africa, Gheissari's photographs of the former Soviet Union reveal his personal philosophy -- a belief that we can live fuller lives through intense, personal experience of other cultures.

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