Have you ever thought about the origin of the standard wallpaper Windows XP?
One of the most famous wallpapers, of course, is the standard image of Windows XP, which captures the blissfully relaxing view of the green hills and is bluer than the blue sky. This wallpaper - probably one of the most viewed images of all time - aptly named "Serenity." Search Google for images of the word “serenity,” and the first result will be Windows wallpaper.
But for Dutch users of Windows, the image is called “Ireland”, which mistakenly led many to believe that it was there that the photo was taken.
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Have you ever stopped to wonder where and by whom this photo was taken? In fact, the image is so sharp that you might have assumed that it was not real at all.
The man behind the camera was an American photographer Charles O'Rear. Do not let his name make you think that the photo was taken after all in Ireland. Serenity, as it turned out, is in California. In Sonoma County, to be exact.
The photo was taken in 1996 - years before the release of Windows XP and before the area was transformed into a vineyard. A photograph taken 10 years later from the same point from which the "Serenity" was captured shows a disappointingly depressing appearance:
Since then, the image can be found in the most unexpected places. O'Rear himself saw the image in the window of a Thai village restaurant and on the background of a TV interview with the Venezuelan president.
How much did O'Rier get for being considered one of the most famous photos of all time? The non-disclosure agreement does not allow him to disclose real figures, but according to the Napa Valley Register , O'Rear stated that the amount was “exceptional” and conceded only to the photographer who captured then-President Bill Clinton in his arms with Monica Lewinsky.
The most surprising fact is that, according to O'Rear, made by a medium format camera, this image was not digitally processed.
In any case, today's reality is very far from the idyllic image, which was abandoned in Windows Vista.
Jan Willem van Wessel found the exact coordinates of the location, and thanks to Google Street View, you can see the panorama of this area and see exactly what it looks like now:
Behind the point where O'Rear stood, you can see more vineyards:
And on the left and right sides is nothing but endless highways:
If you want to see for yourself, just go to Google Maps and enter the coordinates 38.248966, -122.410269.
But for Dutch users of Windows, the image is called “Ireland”, which mistakenly led many to believe that it was there that the photo was taken.
')
Have you ever stopped to wonder where and by whom this photo was taken? In fact, the image is so sharp that you might have assumed that it was not real at all.
The man behind the camera was an American photographer Charles O'Rear. Do not let his name make you think that the photo was taken after all in Ireland. Serenity, as it turned out, is in California. In Sonoma County, to be exact.
The photo was taken in 1996 - years before the release of Windows XP and before the area was transformed into a vineyard. A photograph taken 10 years later from the same point from which the "Serenity" was captured shows a disappointingly depressing appearance:
Since then, the image can be found in the most unexpected places. O'Rear himself saw the image in the window of a Thai village restaurant and on the background of a TV interview with the Venezuelan president.
How much did O'Rier get for being considered one of the most famous photos of all time? The non-disclosure agreement does not allow him to disclose real figures, but according to the Napa Valley Register , O'Rear stated that the amount was “exceptional” and conceded only to the photographer who captured then-President Bill Clinton in his arms with Monica Lewinsky.
The most surprising fact is that, according to O'Rear, made by a medium format camera, this image was not digitally processed.
In any case, today's reality is very far from the idyllic image, which was abandoned in Windows Vista.
Jan Willem van Wessel found the exact coordinates of the location, and thanks to Google Street View, you can see the panorama of this area and see exactly what it looks like now:
Behind the point where O'Rear stood, you can see more vineyards:
And on the left and right sides is nothing but endless highways:
If you want to see for yourself, just go to Google Maps and enter the coordinates 38.248966, -122.410269.
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/127316/
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