Not directly related, in cause at least. This (photos showing up later than observation) has been a thing for a time period measured in whole years. The “can’t open observations without photos” issue started a few days ago (see https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/can-t-load-observations-that-lack-photos/52645).
It is indirectly related though in that now these observations with a photo not yet shown up can’t be opened either. (Though they can still be surfaced through, and IDed/commented on, through the Identify page.)
EDIT: For some reason I was conflating this bug report you and I are conversing under with https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/suggest-id-infinite-loop/52506. 
Though the takeaway still holds true. I’ve personally noticed the delayed photos for several weeks. It may have been happening for longer (some of the older observations with no photo but a CV suggestion seem to indicate that is a possibility), though I myself only started paying attention to it a few weeks ago.