The past photographer chose the locations and angles because they were interesting or picturesque (at least relative to other options nearby). The present photographer doesn’t have the option of comparing modern beauty to past ugliness, since obviously nobody in the past went around systematically photographing scenes that were ugly or nondescript (or empty) in 1910 but would show the modern Paris or New York to best advantage.

After living in Geneva for a year, I bought a book like this. (Genève: Passé Et Présent Sous Le Même Angle) The contrasts there were more pronounced. And I think one could go back today and redo those photos and still find yet more changes. Even just in the decade since I’ve lived there, there has been considerable change, I think much of it as the city has dealt with public transportation and adjusting the circulation of traffic. Of course, this might not change the architecture per se, but it’s not necessarily trivial for the layout of streets and other public areas.