[Barryrich]

I thought this was interesting.

http://www.petapixel.com/2012/08/03/...o-of-all-time/

Ever wonder what the most viewed photograph of all time is? One leading candidate is Bliss, the photograph chosen by Microsoft to be the default wallpaper of Windows XP. Showing rolling green hills in Sonoma County, California, the image was shot by the side of a highway by professional photographer Charles O’Rear using a medium format camera. It has reportedly been viewed by over 1 billion people since it first emerged in 2002.

It’s unknown exactly how much money Bill Gates shelled out for rights to the photograph, but O’Rear has stated that the price was “extraordinary” (guesses, anyone?).
If you’re interested in paying a visit to the location, look up the address 3101 Fremont Dr. (Sonoma Hwy.), Sonoma, CA. The hill’s exact coordinates are 38.250124,-122.410817.
You won’t be the first though: many photographers have journeyed to the spot to recreate the iconic image.

[MidwestMadman]

I always thought that photograph looked sterile and boring.

[R1king]

I always thought that photograph looked sterile and boring.

Yes, very. And over-saturated. Judging from some of the other pictures it looks like it went through quite a bit of photoshopping.

[MineOffedOvex]

Yes, very. And over-saturated. Judging from some of the other pictures it looks like it went through quite a bit of photoshopping.

I think when that pic was taken it was grass, now it looks like its been turned into arable land.

[sportsbettinge]

I think when that pic was taken it was grass, now it looks like its been turned into arable land.

[FateHostera]

Nice article, the land looks so different now. I think I only used Bliss as my background after first installing XP in 2001, only for a few weeks if I recall correctly.