Anyone who has used Windows operating systems for a long time knows that every version comes with a default wallpaper from the factory. But not everyone likes to customize the screen background with their own or third-party images, preferring to keep the original system wallpaper.
Of the many iconic portraits that have passed through Microsoft systems, this is the most famous and most remembered. It is the beautiful green space with blue skies of Windows XP, released in 2001.🇧🇷
But do you know where the place is and what is the story behind the recording? We will tell you right away!
wallpaper source
For those who don’t know, the photo of the beautiful landscape of Windows XP was actually taken in an existing location. The recording was signed by the former National Geographic photographer and Napa Valley resident. Charles O’Arkathroughout 1996.
The photographer encountered the beautiful scenery of the winery on his way to his girlfriend’s house the day the photo was taken. That’s when he decided to stop the car on his shoulder and click. O’Rear used a special film called Velvia that applied a montage effect to the photo. Since it is 100% original according to the author, no editing has been done on it.
greenish area known as happiness (which in the free translation can mean “fullness” or “happiness”) is available on Windows XP in Sonoma County, California, United States.
bonuses and loads
Within minutes of recording, the photographer sold his business. corbisAn image bank service acquired by Bill Gates in 1989 where part of the collection was moved to GettyImages due to its closure in 2016.
That’s when the founder of Microsoft became interested in photography. However, other sources claim that the engineers of the Redmond-based giant were responsible for choosing the image and using it by default in Windows XP.
But all is not rosy in this story. At the time, Charles O’Rear actually sold his image for a price below its worth, and Bliss was seen by billions of people who bought or downloaded Microsoft’s operating system.
In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald in 2014, O’Real explained what would be a disappointment to him. See it in your own words.
“I had no idea it would become the world’s most viewed and recognized photo. […] If I had known how popular it would be and how many computers it would have with it, I would have struck a deal and commented ‘give me a few bucks every time you see it’. That would be a better deal.”
It is not known how much Charles O’Rear received for the recording, but some experts say the photo would be worth more than $10 million if he had been charged 1 cent for each image shot.
And how is the place right now?
While Bliss has bright, bold colours, the scene is no longer as vibrant as it used to be. You can check by location Google Street View🇧🇷 Check the result below. Image is dated April 2021.
Pretty different, right? Did you already know the story behind the Windows XP splash screen? Check out TecMundo’s social networks and leave your comment!
Source: Tec Mundo
