The Papal Ceremony Shows an Abundance of Smartphone and Tablet Cameras

It's amazing how much can happen in eight years, especially when it comes to the evolution of technology. One of the most striking examples recently has been the reveal of the latest Pope of the Catholic Church. Comparing crowd shots from the recent unveiling to the one in 2005, we can see a huge difference in the use of phones as cameras.

The first picture, from AP photographer Lance Bruno, shows an attentive crowd and, as far as we can see, a single cell phone photographer. The second picture, from 2013, shows a crowd where it seems like everyone is taking pictures. It's a sea of screens and, for better or worse, a definite sign of the times that we're living in.