The Arc de Triomphe, from close by (above) and afar (below)
Perspective. It can lend clarity to everything from emotional and life matters to visual and memory perception. In the case of this photo collection, landmarks and cityscapes are viewed from near and far, which can make a significant difference in how they are perceived. What seemed remotely located appears that way no longer when observed from a distance. A visual pattern that looks as if it repeats for miles abruptly stops as viewed from above. The concept is analogous to life, as what can seem like an insurmountable obstacle or devastating loss can be viewed as a minor bump in the road when considered in retrospect.
See more landmarks and landscapes in perspective in this article.
Sagrada Familia, Spain
If you look at the satellite image in Google Maps, the surrounding area is quite beautiful.
But looking at the camera angle, that "wasteland" pic was probably taken from somewhere in that patch of dry riverbed on the horribly-polluted Yamuna River that I've marked out. (Just a guess, though.)