This is a fantastic interactive map that compares aerial photography in the Ocean State from 3 different time periods.  Pictured above is Rocky Point which was a vibrant locale in the 1972 imagery, but shows signs of disrepair and total abandonment in the 2011 color imagery.  Aerial photography can be quite beautiful, as can satellite imagery.  These are more than just pretty pictures; interpreting aerial photography and satellite imagery is not easy; here is a great article that gives an introduction on how to interpret satellite imagery.  With a little training, satellite images become  rich data sources.  This is a similar interactive map that uses a global data set; it compares satellite imagery from different time periods and analyzes the change over time. 

See on edc.maps.arcgis.com