Man spends year searching for the actual source of a Windows XP wallpaper

[zekrahminator]

Someone has dedicated the past year of their life to searching for a very simple thing: the actual place where a Windows XP wallpaper was shot. New York resident Nick Tosches took one look at "Autumn", and knew he wanted to find the place where Microsoft photographers got the picture. He searched long and hard, calling Microsoft PR's, inn owners, and local farmers. He eventually found the background "just west of Toronto in the Burlington suburb of Kilbride". In regards to his search, Tosches says "It was insane. Something that would appear very simple at first probably turned out to be one of the most difficult searches of my life." The picture of the actual Windows XP background is below.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[L|NK|N]

obsess much? Now thats dedication!

 

[BXtreme]

1 year, woah, now that's curiosity imo, and nice to see ms has many things that attract ppl

 

[Frogger]

that's just done the highway from my house... next time i'm out that way going to have a look and see if it still looks the same or if they cut down the trees .. to build a condo..

 

[Dark Ride]

His shot looks fake. The pictures are 100% identical, which is impossible.

 

[zekrahminator]

There are less leaves in the second one, the lighting is different...either that or I should get rid of the second picture and we can pretend it never happened .

 

[BXtreme]

well, it can be photoshopped, but someone's find must not be doubted like that, as i'm doing lol, j/k.

 

[muon]

The shots are identical. Look at visible branches above. The exact same ones. The leaves' positions are also identical.

edit: ive reread the article, the one to the right is actually the wallpaper.

 

[zekrahminator]

Alright I'll make second picture go away .

 

[Dark Ride]

I figured it out by reading the original article on The Star. The second picture is the original picture shot by Peter Burian in October 1999. The XP Wallpaper version is the same picture, only cropped and the colors/contrast is adjusted.

 

[Guttboy]

This was on the AM station I listen to driving to work...they stated he went all over and ended up discovering from Microsoft's assistance..the Canadian photographer that took the photo. When they got in touch he was provided with the photographers information and made contact. The rest is the ..... end of the road...LOL

 

[Alcpone]

Its a pretty picture, if I would spend a year of my life looking for it, I dont think sooo...

Why didnt he use his brain abit better and try and find who the photographer was from the start, would of saved alot of time and money!

 

[Jess Stingray]

Hmm.. he must really of liked that picture.

 

[killatia]

my god how bored was this guy?

 

[WarEagleAU]

Beautiful picture, but I think this just goes to show how bad Obsession can be.

 

[J0N]

At least he was only stalking trees. I'd prefer he stalked trees instead of little girls.

 

[Completely Bonkers]

What TWO pictures are you comparing?

Because the picture in the STAR article is the same as the picture on techpowerup. Only color differences. And when you go to VANITY FAIR ONLINE you get to TWO versions of the picture. ONE of them was licensed from MS. The others were not.

Don't confuse the guy who wrote the article with the original photograhper.

Article: Nick Tosches
Photo: Peter Burian

AND

There wasn't a fanatic looking for the picture for a YEAR. It a misunderstanding of the article. The guy that was looking for the picture IS A JOURNALIST... who happens, on business, to go all over the world... and names some nice places... and HE PHONED MS to get the name of the photographer.

This is NOT A NEW ITEM. It is just journalism. It should be removed from techpowerup.

WHAT IS HAPPENDING TO THE QUALITY OF THE NEWS ITEMS!!!! OMG
Different guys!

 

[regan1985]

Could Have Just Asked The Bloody Fool Lol

 

[Guttboy]

I liked Zek's article....dont have a problem with that here at times at all. Just my 2.5 centavos....

 

[newtekie1]

And to think, he could have been using that time looking for something much more useful, like my damn car keys...

 

[spectre440]

some people just have WAY too much time on their hands...

instead of like... finding a cure for cancer, or working on an alternative fuel source, or something like that, they spend their time tracking down places like this...

though, you gotta appriciate the determination this guy had and the time he put in.

 

[NympH]

The man with no life!

 

[Pinchy]

and this is why America's unemployment rate is high

j/k

 

[FLY3R]

that's just done the highway from my house... next time i'm out that way going to have a look and see if it still looks the same or if they cut down the trees .. to build a condo..

It says you live in canada lamoafo, a bit far away, any hoot, wuts at the end of the path?