Nurse's Home, North Brother Island, New York. Photographer Christopher Payne specializes in the documentation of America’s vanishing architecture and industrial landscape. His new book, North Brother Island: The Last Unknown Place in New York City, explores an uninhabited island of ruins in the East River of New York City. (Photo by Christopher Payne)

Only the most intrepid urban explorers cross the tattered ruins of the old Iron Curtain to endure the excessive bureaucracy, military paranoia and freezing winds of the East to hunt for the ghosts of an empire. Rebecca Litchfield is one who couldn’t resist the haunting allure of the ruins of the Soviet Union.

These hilarious images show dogs enjoying a day out exploring New York’s most iconic tourist hotspots Photographer Mark McQueen captured the canines hanging out near landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge, on 5th Avenue and Times Square. Here: Take my picture! Apartment dogs in the East Village are always happy to be out for a walk. (Photo by Mark McQueen/Caters News Agency)

Lady Gaga left her hotel to party in the east end of london for the night on September 10, 2016. She was wearing shiny hot pants and a little crop top showing off some under boob. But had sticky tape covering her nipples. Lady Gaga and Mark Ronson performed her new single “Perfect Illusion” at the General Browning Club in Hackney. Afterwards she went with a few friends to Metropolis strip club in Hackney. Lady Gaga left at 4am and returned to her Hotel. (Photo by Splash News and Pictures)

Soldiers stand in front of a floral decoration during celebrations to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam People's Army at the National Convention Center in Hanoi December 20, 2014. The Vietnam People's Army was founded on December 22, 1944 and led by General Vo Nguyen Giap in Cao Bang province, initially with only 34 members. (Photo by Reuters/Kham)

Belarussians in costumes sing songs during the traditional rite of Shchadrets (Schedry vecher or Generous Eve) in the village of Osovo, some 190 km from Minsk, Belarus, 13 January 2015. Shchadrets is a Belarusian folk holiday celebrated on the New Year's Eve in accordance with the Julian calendar (Old New Year). The holiday is similar to Koliady, when youth in costumes walk from house to house singing holiday songs, performing, and asking for a reward afterwards. (Photo by Tatyana Zenkovich/EPA)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, uses a binocular, as Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, left, and chief of Russia's military's General Staff Valery Gerasimov, right, observe military exercises near the Baikal Lake on Wednesday, July 17, 2013. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/AP Photo/RIA Novosti/Presidential Press Service)