A small series by illustration Alex Solis remembering those things that used to rule the world.

Nyaueth by Peter Zelewski – £2,000 third prize winner. This was taken near London’s Oxford Street as part of Zelewski’s series Beautiful Strangers. Zelewski explains: ‘The aim of Beautiful Strangers is to challenge the concept of traditional beauty with a series of spontaneous street portraits of everyday citizens who show character, uniqueness and a special inner quality’. (Photo by Peter Zelewski/Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize 2015)

Members of a Star Wars fan club wear costumes of movie characters as they join a midnight premiere of the new Star Wars movie “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” at a cinema in Stuttgart, Germany, late 16 December 2015 night. Numerous fans of the science fiction movie series were gathering to attend one of the midnight premiere screenings all over Germany of the latest movie of the epic series – “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”. (Photo by Nikolai Huland/EPA)

A “Star Wars” superfan has brought the universe to his backyard. Amateur photographer Zahir Batin, from Selangor in Malaysia, added stormtroopers, X-wings and other famous sights to his native Tanjong Karang rice fields. The Malaysian snapper decided to combine his love for his hometown with his passion for the out-of-this-world space opera and, in particular, the toys. The amazing shots show TIE fighters on fire flying overhead and AT-AT walking tanks towering over tiny children, as well as Dark Side forces marching through the countryside. Here: a Nubian Royal Starship hovers over the Malaysian rice fields. (Photo by Zahir Batin/Mercury Press)

Wakodahatchee wetlands, Delray Beach, Florida, US. Equipped with sinewy necks and spear-like bills, great blue herons can lunge with fearsome speed to strike their aquatic prey. Adults will also employ rapid stabbing motions as one aspect of their complex courtship displays; they’re seemingly dangerous moves, but fitting to the intensity of mating season. (Photo by Melissa Rowell/Audubon Photography Awards)

Madson of Santos reacts during the match between Santos and Palmeiras as part of Brasileirao Series A 2022 at Vila Belmiro Stadium on May 29, 2022 in Santos, Brazil. (Photo by Carla Carniel/Reuters)

Chloe Ferry attends the Geordie Shore series 15 “Shag Pad on Tour” cast launch at Tower Bridge on August 16, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)

This combination photo of images released by HBO shows Emilia Clarke portraying Daenerys Targaryen in “Game of Thrones”. The final season of the popular series premieres on April 14. (Photo by HBO via AP Photo)