Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus takes a selfie with fans after winning against Madison Keys of the United States during their women's singles match of the China Open tennis tournament, at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, Wednesday, October 2, 2024. (Photo by Achmad Ibrahim/AP Photo)

American rappers Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B perform onstage during the 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards at Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California and broadcast on March 14, 2021. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Travel photographer Amos Chapple recently crossed into Turkmenistan on a three-day transit visa and was able to photograph many of the sights and monuments in Ashgabat, the capital and largest city. Turkmenistan is a single-party country, a former Soviet state, run by a president at the center of a cult of personality.

Photo: A young couple leave the Alem Entertainment Center in Ashgabat. The current president has a history of breaking obscure records. In 2012 the wheel atop this complex was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest enclosed Ferris wheel. The structure was built at a cost of $90m. (Photo by Amos Chapple via The Atlantic)

Wai Ching Jason Poon of Hong Kong competes in the Men's 1m Springboard preliminary round during Day One of the 14th FINA World Championships at the Oriental Sports Center on July 16, 2011 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images)

Linda Cerruti of Italy competes in the Synchronized Swimming Solo Tech preliminary round during Day Two of the 14th FINA World Championships at the Oriental Sports Center on July 17, 2011 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Uma Thurman visits 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon' at Rockefeller Center on April 8, 2011 in New York City.