Charles O'Rear, the photographer of the renowned ‘Bliss’ wallpaper featured in Windows XP, has expressed mixed feelings about the deal that made his image one of the most viewed photographs in history.
While visiting his girlfriend in San Francisco, back in 1996, Charles noticed a picturesque scene in Sonoma County, California.
He pulled over to capture the moment using his Mamiya RZ67 camera and Fuji Velvia film, which he believed enhanced the image's vibrant colors.
At that time, he had no idea whatsoever that this spontaneous shot would become such a global icon.
The image, initially titled 'Bucolic Green Hills', was made available through Charles’ agency, Westlight, and then bought by Bill Gates in 1998. In 2000, Microsoft obtained full rights to the photograph, and it was selected as the default wallpaper for Windows XP.
Despite its worldwide success, Charles has regret over the financial terms of the agreement.
While the exact amount Microsoft paid remains undisclosed, estimates suggest it was in the low six figures.
Charles has since realised he would have been better off negotiating a royalty-based deal where he received a small payment each time the image was used.
If I had known how popular it would become and how many computers it would’ve been on, I should’ve negotiated a better deal.
Before anyone knew where the photo was actually taken, people were throwing out all kinds of guesses - Ireland, France, England, Switzerland, New Zealand, Washington, even Germany. Some people weren’t even sure it was a real photo.
The simplicity of the image resonated with users worldwide, making it a staple and defining feature of the company.
Over the years, ‘Bliss’ has been celebrated as a symbol of serenity and natural beauty. In 2023, Microsoft released a 4K version of the wallpaper, allowing a new generation to experience the iconic image in high definition.
