Kieron Connolly’s new book of photographs of more than 100 once-busy and often elegant buildings gives an idea of how the world might look if humankind disappeared. Here: Bodie, Mono County, California. Gold was discovered at Bodie in 1859 (just after the initial California gold rush) and it went from mining camp to boomtown. Its decline began in 1880, when word spread of new boomtowns elsewhere. The Standard Consolidated Mine closed in 1913, and four years later the Bodie Railway was abandoned. By 1940 the population was down to 40. Today, Bodie is maintained in a state of arrested decay as a visitor attraction. (Photo by Alamy Stock Photo)

In this September 30, 2013 photo, farmers wait for customers next to their 1950s Chevrolet loaded with garlic for sale at the 114th Street Market on the outskirts of Havana, Cuba. The market s bustle is a result of economic reforms begun in 2010 by President Raul Castro, which includes relaxing rules on private farming. (Photo by Ramon Espinosa/AP Photo)

Students take part in a fashion and design entrance examination at Hubei Institute of fine Arts on February 28, 2011 in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China. 202 students took part in the exam and only 24, (10 percent) of them will be enrolled in Hubei Institute of fine Arts. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images). WUHAN, CHINA – FEBRUARY 28

The sea leopard. The Antarctic Peninsula. (Photo by Paul Nicklen)

Model Amanda Kaspor of Highland, Michigan poses with the CT&T e-Zone Plus electric car is displayed during the press preview for the world automotive media North American International Auto Show at the Cobo Center January 12, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Bryan Mitchell/Getty Images)

A man in traditional costume tunes his guitar before performing in a traditional Verdiales Flamenco contest on December 28, 2011 in Malaga, Spain. Verdiales is a style of Flamenco thought to originate near the Andalucian port of Malaga, and is performed by groups of musicians known as “Pandas” during the contest held in the outskirts of the city. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

New York nightclub owner Jack L Hickman spends his free time marching around Times Square with a sign that reads “The only good communist is a dead communist”. (Photo by Peter Keegan/Keystone/Getty Images). 26th April 1965

“Red Land: Sunset Cloud Village is one of the most picturesque places in Red Land, China. As its name indicates, it's best to see before sunset. The reddish brown soil turns redder after rainfall and after farmers plow the land”. (Photo and comment by Peng Jiang/National Geographic Photo Contest via The Atlantic)