: As support for Windows XP ended in 2014, the image remained a symbol of early 2000s computing, sparking numerous "recreation" projects by artists and photographers. The History of Windows XP - Lobsters
The photograph was captured in by former National Geographic photographer Charles O'Rear . While driving through Sonoma County, California, to visit his girlfriend, O'Rear pulled over along Highway 12/121 to photograph a lush, rolling green hill under a brilliant blue sky. 1920x1200 The History Behind Microsoft XP's “Bl...
: While the exact amount is confidential, reports suggest it was the second most expensive license ever paid for a single photograph at the time. : As support for Windows XP ended in
: Microsoft engineers selected the image to be the default wallpaper for Windows XP (codenamed "Whistler"). : While the exact amount is confidential, reports
: Because the original film was so valuable, no shipping company would insure it for the full amount. O'Rear had to personally fly to Microsoft’s headquarters in Seattle to hand-deliver the transparency. Cultural Impact
: The hill, located in the Los Carneros American Viticultural Area, was temporarily covered in grass because the grapevines had been removed following a phylloxera infestation . Today, the site is once again a working vineyard and looks significantly different. Selection by Microsoft
The iconic " Bliss " wallpaper, originally titled , is arguably the most-viewed photograph in history, with Microsoft estimating it has been seen by over one billion people. The Moment of Creation