Photographer reveals the secret of the Windows XP grassy hill wallpaper

[Kaido]

Scroll down for video:

http://sploid.gizmodo.com/photographer-reveals-the-secret-of-the-windows-xp-deskt-1561984824

Been bugging me for 13 years :thumbsup:

 

[Printer Bandit]

RiP Bliss, you will be missed, but never forgotten.

 

[Rakehellion]

He probably got paid $15 for it.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I wonder if there is a high res version of that somewhere. Would be funny to use it for my Linux machine.

 

[Kaido]

I wonder if there is a high res version of that somewhere. Would be funny to use it for my Linux machine.

http://www.instructables.com/files/orig/FOF/IC5Z/FVIP7C1D/FOFIC5ZFVIP7C1D.jpg

 

[videogames101]

very cool video, thanks!

 

[JManInPhoenix]

Interesting link, thanks for posting.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

very cool video, thanks!

The part when he was talking about anyone after 15 got me. That's meee!

 

[Colt45]

not watching video to find out what one sentence could say

where was it

what is the magic

 

[videogames101]

not watching video to find out what one sentence could say

where was it

what is the magic

the irony of your avatar is overwhelming

 

[SPBHM]

I still use this as my wallpaper on windows 8 :biggrin:

 

[Berliner]

It was a secret?

 

[Murloc]

honestly I hate that kind of landscape pics with very strong colours, they look depressing.

Cool story though.

 

[lxskllr]

honestly I hate that kind of landscape pics with very strong colours, they look depressing.

Cool story though.

I don't like it either. I use landscape pics almost exclusively. but I favor dark colors. For a default wallpaper, I like abstract designs. Ubuntu usually has nice default wallpapers. This is what I'm currently using. It's a spring time favorite for me...

 

[Ichinisan]

I read a similar article a long time ago. He wouldn't disclose how much Microsoft paid him. Said the photo was not digitally enhanced.

Now I'll read this one...

 

[SlitheryDee]

not watching video to find out what one sentence could say

where was it

what is the magic

It says the secret right below the video.

Perfect Camera
Perfect Hill
Perfect Day
...
Profit.

 

[waggy]

honestly I hate that kind of landscape pics with very strong colours, they look depressing.

Cool story though.

I love that picture. though i agree i can't use it long as a background. though it is one i put up every now and then.

knowing it was skill that took such a great picture makes it even better.


edit lol i have just a solid blue background. heh

 

[JulesMaximus]

That was pretty cool. Thanks for sharing it! :thumbsup:

 

[OCNewbie]

I don't like it either. I use landscape pics almost exclusively. but I favor dark colors. For a default wallpaper, I like abstract designs. Ubuntu usually has nice default wallpapers. This is what I'm currently using. It's a spring time favorite for me...

Where was that desktop photo taken?

 

[SKORPI0]

I wonder if there is a high res version of that somewhere. Would be funny to use it for my Linux machine.

http://www.instructables.com/files/orig/FOF/IC5Z/FVIP7C1D/FOFIC5ZFVIP7C1D.jpg

That's so 90s with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Used a 16:9 from another source at 2560x1440. :awe:

I still use this as my wallpaper on windows 8 :biggrin:

Just switched mine to Bliss too. ^_^

The Story Behind the Windows XP "Bliss" Background = article dated Nov 2011.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bliss_%28image%29

The approximate location is 3101 Fremont Drive (Sonoma Highway), Sonoma, California. 38°15'00.50"N 122°24'39.00"W

 

[Murloc]

I love that picture. though i agree i can't use it long as a background. though it is one i put up every now and then.

yeah that's what I mean, I can't stand them as backgrounds.
The pics themselves are cool.

I have a pic of my cat as background. On the laptop, it's a pic of some rock formation with the sun. But not a landscape. I have used macro pics of mushrooms, a picture of a tree, and other stuff like that. Never those pics taken from lake-level with the mountains reflecting on the water.

 

[darkxshade]

It was a great default background that made XP stood out when I saw the OS for the first time but I didn't really stick with it long. I generally don't like bright backgrounds cause it clashed with my desktop shortcuts.

Microsoft should definitely go back to him for another photo to put on the next Windows.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I read a similar article a long time ago. He wouldn't disclose how much Microsoft paid him. Said the photo was not digitally enhanced.

Now I'll read this one...

It was an amount that FedEx and UPS would not insure so any one know their max?

 

[Markbnj]

That's an awesome story. Thanks for posting it. To whoever above quipped that he got paid $15 for it: he got paid enough that FedEx didn't want to carry the negative! I imagine it was a pretty good sum.

 

[AViking]

I took a very similar picture on the drive from Petaluma to Pt Reyes. You have to time it just right. It gets so dry so fast.