Live data from Hacker News

Windows 10 wallpaper was physically built and photographed (2015)

gmunk.com

151–160 of 291 posts

Re: Windows 10 wallpaper was physically built and photographed (2015)

#151

When I saw the headline I confused it with the one from XP [0], and was imagining a team constructing that hill, laying the grass, etc. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bliss_(image)

More details about the Bliss wallpaper: https://windowswallpaper.miraheze.org/wiki/Bliss

> With Bliss, Microsoft went a step further than merely licensing it: they bought the full rights to the image meaning no company would ever be able to license the photo from Corbis again, as the image was often used as part of XP's marketing and the Luna theme is modelled around its color scheme. It was purchased for an undisclosed amount of money in the low six figures; O'Rear cannot reveal the exact amount without violating a non disclosure agreement. He did not receive the full cost as Corbis handled the sale. As a result of its Microsoft acquisition, it was permanently removed from Corbis' website and has never been available on Getty Images or other sites that Corbis cross-licensed photos to. The vertical shot was also included in the acquisition, as O'Rear cannot release it due to his agreement with Microsoft.

Re: Windows 10 wallpaper was physically built and photographed (2015)

#152
post #82

I've been spending a lot of time on photography (though mostly w/ film cameras) during recent years, and only recently realized this is actually photographed. (It took long because I'm a long-time Linux user, so I barely seen the image.) Many people say this would've been easier with VFX, but I disagree. The image has highly convincing details that would take a long time even for highly talented VFX artists to nail.…

Here's someone recreating the same wallpaper on Blender in 13 minutes: https://youtu.be/EIfrP365iTQ

Re: Windows 10 wallpaper was physically built and photographed (2015)

#153
The alternative versions of this wallpaper are extremely pretty. I think it's awesome that they've been made available like this, I just wish they were available at a higher resolution. Would love to use one of the red or purple ones on my 4K display.

Re: Windows 10 wallpaper was physically built and photographed (2015)

#154

Shame MS don’t spend this much time on effort on… every other part of their design for everything.

Imagine if they spent the same time for fixing/improving the search bar on Windows instead of the recently announced Recall feature.

Microsoft aggressively filters out this type of substandard employee in their interview process.

Re: Windows 10 wallpaper was physically built and photographed (2015)

#155

When I saw the headline I confused it with the one from XP [0], and was imagining a team constructing that hill, laying the grass, etc. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bliss_(image)

See also: The search for Autumn https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/02/autumn200702

That’s a cool read! Followed the VF article and eventually landed on this Reddit post where they shared the full res. https://www.reddit.com/r/windowsxp/comments/s2i9ta/finally_w...

Re: Windows 10 wallpaper was physically built and photographed (2015)

#156
post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nah that's post hoc rationalization. The amount of busy-work that went into it is ridiculous. Just because a colossal amount of effort was poured in this wallpaper doesn't mean that they used the right tool for the job or that the output was better because of it.

You're thinking like an engineer, and speak as if there is a right amount of time to spend on artistic endeavours; if you cross this threshold for you it is a "ridiculous and colossal amount of effort". Budget aside, art isn't constrained or criticized by how much effort the artist put in. All that matters is the result. A wallpaper or any other artistic creation isn't less beautiful or evocative because the artist s…

No, he's just being realistic.

Even without getting into semantics about "what is art", the reality is that this is promotional material for advertising. This wasn't commissioned by a rich patron to put up on exhibition for MoMA.

This isn't to take away from the artists skill, effort, creativity etc. but the context of this is inherently a business and economic decision. There's no artistic impetus, no political/social/cultural message.

It's a computer wallpaper that monopolistic megacorp funded to show off how wealthy it is. It's a very typical "look at how much money we spent" exercise to showcase success or whatever.

Re: Windows 10 wallpaper was physically built and photographed (2015)

#157
post #82

I've been spending a lot of time on photography (though mostly w/ film cameras) during recent years, and only recently realized this is actually photographed. (It took long because I'm a long-time Linux user, so I barely seen the image.) Many people say this would've been easier with VFX, but I disagree. The image has highly convincing details that would take a long time even for highly talented VFX artists to nail.…

Here's someone recreating the same wallpaper on Blender in 13 minutes: https://youtu.be/EIfrP365iTQ

The time lapse is 13 minutes long.

Re: Windows 10 wallpaper was physically built and photographed (2015)

#158
post #82

I've been spending a lot of time on photography (though mostly w/ film cameras) during recent years, and only recently realized this is actually photographed. (It took long because I'm a long-time Linux user, so I barely seen the image.) Many people say this would've been easier with VFX, but I disagree. The image has highly convincing details that would take a long time even for highly talented VFX artists to nail.…

Here's someone recreating the same wallpaper on Blender in 13 minutes: https://youtu.be/EIfrP365iTQ

Copying is a lot easier than creating though, the Windows team had to start from scratch

Re: Windows 10 wallpaper was physically built and photographed (2015)

#160
post #82

I've been spending a lot of time on photography (though mostly w/ film cameras) during recent years, and only recently realized this is actually photographed. (It took long because I'm a long-time Linux user, so I barely seen the image.) Many people say this would've been easier with VFX, but I disagree. The image has highly convincing details that would take a long time even for highly talented VFX artists to nail.…

Here's someone recreating the same wallpaper on Blender in 13 minutes: https://youtu.be/EIfrP365iTQ

Not that I'm saying the video doesn't show some skill, but creating a fresh image from scratch is quite a different task from recreating an existing one directly from a reference.
Post reply on HN