Windows Xp Background -

The , officially titled " Bliss ," is widely considered the most viewed photograph in human history, having appeared on over a billion computer screens since the 2001 release of Windows XP. This iconic image features a serene landscape of lush green rolling hills under a vibrant blue sky filled with wispy cirrus clouds. The Story Behind the Shot

In 2000, purchased the full rights to the image (originally titled Bucolic Green Hills ) for an undisclosed sum, rumored to be one of the highest ever paid to an individual photographer. The value was so high that O'Rear had to personally fly the original film to Microsoft's headquarters because standard couriers refused to insure it. windows xp background

The photo was captured in January 1996 by former photographer Charles O'Rear . While driving through Sonoma County , California, to visit his girlfriend, O'Rear was struck by the "perfect" vibrancy of the hills near Highway 121. The , officially titled " Bliss ," is

Interestingly, the hill was only covered in grass because a had forced local vineyards to clear their vines years earlier. O'Rear used a medium-format Mamiya RZ67 camera and highly saturated Fujifilm Velvia film to take the shot, which he famously maintains was never digitally manipulated. Acquisition and Legacy The value was so high that O'Rear had