This look is usually caused by a combination of viewpoint, lens choice, and visual ambiguity.

A long focal length (telephoto) compresses depth, making elements at different distances appear closer together and more on the same plane. That “flattened” perspective is why hillsides, cliffs, or rows of buildings can look painting-like or stacked together. A tight crop can create a similar look, though with lower resolution than using an actual long lens.

The shooting position matters too. A high or unusual vantage point can remove familiar depth cues, and some landscapes are naturally confusing when seen from above or from far away.

The rest is perception: when a photo lacks clear scale, horizon references, or obvious perspective lines, your brain tries to organize the scene and may interpret it as a wall, a fold, or some other impossible shape. Strong tonal or color transitions can add to that effect.

So it’s not usually a special trick—mostly telephoto compression, selective framing/cropping, and a landscape/viewpoint that hides normal depth cues.