The maker of Bliss, the world’s most viewed picture, has created the next generation of background photos.
In the mid 90s, Chuck O'Rear pulled his car aside somewhere along Sonoma Highway to take one of the world’s most iconic pictures called Bliss, most popularly known as the default computer wallpaper of Microsoft's Windows XP operating system.
The Bliss image that was taken in 1996
The famous Bliss Image.
Twenty-one years later, airline Lufthansa released New Angles of America, where Chuck brings the next generation of wallpapers to life.
The places that are represented in New Angles of America are Maroon Bells (Colorado), Peek-A-Boo Slot (Utah) and White Pocket (Arizona).
“I am turning 76 and realise how much the Microsoft “Bliss” photograph has meant to my life. As the photographer of the most viewed photo in history, I have enjoyed every minute of the fame.
“I am thrilled to create for Lufthansa a sequel to the ‘Bliss’ photo on smartphones so my views of other beautiful places can continue to be enjoyed by millions of people. Smartphones have become the primary place for the world to see new and interesting photography,” says Chuck O'Rear.
Despite O'Rears extensive career, with countless assignments for National Geographic and other high profiled magazines, Bliss will probably be his most remembered achievement. Anna Ström, Head of Experiential marketing at Microsoft Western Europe, said the Bliss photo came to mean more to Microsoft than we ever could have imagined.
“That one photo has grown into a pop-cultural phenomenon of its own with its own clear fan base. With that in mind, it’s pure joy to see an initiative like Lufthansa´s New Angles of America”, says New Angles of America covers three unique destinations in North America.
Kristina Oestroem, Director Marketing EMEA, Lufthansa Group, said the airline thrives to inspire travel in people’s everyday lives.
“The American landscape has so many beautiful scenic places, that our biggest challenge was deciding on just three locations to photograph.
"Together with our partner United we were able to travel easily to all these beautiful regions we want our customers to discover, which will become more famous through Chuck’s pictures,” she said.
The new images:
White Pocket by Chuck ORear.
Maroon Bells by Chuck ORear.
Peek A Boo Slot by Chuck ORear.