Heather Larsen from Golden, Colorado, USA performs a split while walking the slackfline or highline across two towers in the Tower of David citadel complex overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem 02 May 2016. Larsen is one of the world's top female highliners, or slack liners and walked the lines as part of a Kickstarter campaign for an outdoor product. The tower at left was built by King King Herod some 2000 years ago. (Photo by Jim Hollander/EPA)

An Israeli soldier takes part in during a rehearsal for a ceremony to mark Israel's Memorial Day for fallen soldiers at the Mount of Olives cemetery in east Jerusalem, Tuesday, May 10, 2016. Israel will mark the annual Memorial Day in remembrance of soldiers who died in the nation's conflicts, beginning at dusk Tuesday until Wednesday evening. (Photo by Oded Balilty/AP Photo)

A demonstrator uses her phone to take a “selfie” picture during the 12th annual “SlutWalk” march through central Jerusalem on June 14, 2024 to protest against rape culture, including sеxual assault and harassment directed at women, and calling for an end to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and action to release hostages taken captive during the October 7 attacks. (Photo by Hazem Bader/AFP Photo)

Prince Philippe and Princess Letizia of Spain meet with Israeli president Shimon Peres at the presidential residence on April 11, 2011 in Jerusalem, Israel. The Spanish Royal couple is on their first official visit to Israel together. The Prince's parents, the King and Queen of Spain last visited in 1993.

Israeli mounted policemen move crowds of Palestinian protestors during a demonstration marking Land Day in the east of the city on March 30, 2012 outside the old city of Jerusalem, Israel. Land Day, which began in 1976, marks the day Israeli forces killed six Palestinians during a protest against Israeli occupation of what Palestinians consider to be their land. Palestinians around the world will commemorate Land Day with protests and demonstrations. (Photo by Lior MizrahiGetty Images)

Interior designer Zahra Afridi (R) kicks a punching bag during a kickboxing training session at her home in Islamabad February 10, 2014. Afridi runs her own interior design company. Her most recent project was a Classic Rock Coffee cafe in Islamabad. Though instability continues to plague Pakistan and many areas are dominated by social conservatism, some of the country's more affluent residents have worked to fashion a very different kind of lifestyle for themselves. Pictures of men and women taking part in all sorts of activities and professions – from being a pilates instructor, to a textile retail entrepreneur, to a member of a rock band – offer a different view of Pakistan to images of conflict that often make the news. (Photo by Zohra Bensemra/Reuters)

While communism, collectivism, worms, dry rot and casual looting failed to destroy the majestic wooden churches of Russia, it may be ordinary neglect that finally does them in. Dwindled now to several hundred remaining examples, these glories of vernacular architecture lie scattered amid the vastness of the world’s largest country. Just over a decade ago, Richard Davies, a British architectural photographer, struck out on a mission to record the fragile and poetic structures. Austerely beautiful and haunting, “Wooden Churches: Traveling in the Russian North” (White Sea Publishing; $132) is the result. Covering thousands of miles, Mr. Davies described how he and the writer Matilda Moreton tracked down the survivors from among the thousands of onion-domed structures built after Prince Vladimir converted to Christianity in 988.

Marco Fiera from NoFit State Circus tries out the SkyWire, the new zip wire attraction which opens to the public this week at The Eden Project on July 17, 2012 in St Austell, England. The new 740m zip wire, currently the longest in England, allows the public a bird's eye view of the iconic Rainforest and Mediterranean Biome structures as well as the Cornish attractions outdoor gardens. The Eden Project – which opened in 2001 and has attracted over one million visitors – showcases 100,000 plants from around the world in two giant transparent domes, one of which is the world's largest greenhouse, each recreating different climate conditions. (Photo by Matt Cardy)