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The origin of the iPhone 6’s new milky way wallpaper (Interview)

For most people, the decision of which wallpaper to choose for your iPhone is just a matter of going through your photo library to find the right picture. For Espen Haagensen, however, the process just became a whole lot easier. Starting September 17th, a photo of the Milky Way he captured while in Norway will become the default wallpaper in iOS 8, software that will be downloaded hundreds of millions of times by users all around the world.

Two days later, on September 19th, countless iPhone 6 and 6 Plus units will begin shipping out to customers, all preloaded with the same shot. I talked to Espen about the photo’s origins and how it feels to be so prominently featured by Apple.

Haagensen’s original photo (left) and Apple’s version (right). [Photo Credit]

According to Haagensen, the image was captured last December during a ski trip with a mountain group in the Norwegian Trekking Association:

Every year we take the train up in the mountains and ski for 5-6 hours to get [to] the Demmevass hut. The hut is very remote and old and is situated close to a glacier. After we get there we prepare traditional Norwegian Christmas food. The next day we ski back to the railroad before we take the train home.

I do quite a lot of starscapes and Milky Way shots but this was the first time I brought a decent wide angle and full size tripod to Demmevass. There was a rather big moon so the Milky Way was faint, but around midnight there were some skies and the moon disappeared and I was able to capture a nice series.

The Demmevass hut Espen speaks of is the small building pictured in the original photo above. Apple removed the structure from the shipping version of the wallpaper, likely to create a more simple image.

Espen originally shared the image on the photography site 500px, where the image garnered a lot of attention. While he never asked Apple how they found the image, he suspects it was thanks to its popularity. Espen describes how Apple approached him about the photo:

I was approached a couple of months ago by Apple, they wanted to license the image for non-broadcast use. Then some time in July they wanted to extend the license to also include broadcast use. I didn’t know before yesterday what they were going to use it for. A colleague called me during the Apple presentation.

Imagine the shock of Apple using your image to promote the brand new iPhone 6. Espen say’s that it’s a bit weird knowing so many people will see the image, but it’s definitely a proud accomplishment.

You can read more about the location the photo was taken here (Google Translate link), along with some alternate shots from the same night.

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Comments

  1. optimaximal1 - 10 years ago

    A bit extreme of Apple to bury the house in an avalanche…

    • 89p13 - 10 years ago

      They were using Androids in that house.

      • Bruno Fernandes (@Linkb8) - 10 years ago

        Everyone knows an avalanche won’t work. You have to sever the spinal column at the neck.

      • herb02135go - 10 years ago

        That house is why Apple’s product rollout had such problems!

    • aeronperyton - 10 years ago

      Not as extreme as Apple obliterating multiple stars from the galaxy wallpaper for OS X.

    • Raul Huerta (@mazinger4) - 8 years ago

      it’s a beautiful picture of the milky way. Seems a capture taken facing northwest maybe at the Summer Triangle. Vega, Altair and Deneb. Am I right?

  2. luckydcxx - 10 years ago

    great story! and a great picture! i would love to know how much Apple paid him.

    • He didn’t want to tell the press, but he said it was more then what he’d usually get paid as a freelancer…

      • PMZanetti - 10 years ago

        No kidding. “Who did you say this was? Apple? As in THE Apple? Yes you can license this photo. For 1 million dollars”

  3. hipshotau - 10 years ago

    WSJ had a telling article. Resolution is higher on Samsung S5, 1m thicker….and not tied to the app store.

    • lovetogetcrap - 10 years ago

      What does that have to do with a story about a photo? Go collect your sponsors check and go away. That is just pathetic.

    • PMZanetti - 10 years ago

      Not tied to the App Store. What a fun mental gymnastics you people do. “Unable to benefit from the 1.3 million curated Apps designed to actually work for your device” is somehow a benefit.

      Oh but you can install malware, and no one will even ask you for a password first!

    • herb02135go - 10 years ago

      Can you post the link?

      • hipshotau - 10 years ago

        front page of B section. No. I dont take the online version its behind a firewall or pay wall.

      • herb02135go - 10 years ago

        Thanks I’ll look for it.

        DPreview

    • But tied to a less quality Play Store…. Yes, you are sooooo much smarter!

      • hipshotau - 10 years ago

        less quality? its full of the same bull shit in the itunes shop Grow Up, Man up. Stop being a bitch. I was talking about the tech specs. I was underwhelmed. That said I am still long on Apple stock but not because of the sub par wannabe fan boi phone.
        What the fuck did you do b4 the internet you little troll.

  4. do7887 - 10 years ago

    The hut looks a bit like the Xiaomi’s logo

  5. Taste_of_Apple - 10 years ago

    Pretty nice!

  6. herb02135go - 10 years ago

    I’m not thrilled with the photo (space shots aren’t my cup of tea) but congrats to him.
    Also, thanks Michael for sharing the story. I appreciate the work that went into the photo and knowing the backstory.

    Did you know the Windows image (rolling hills) is from Napa, CA?

  7. standardpull - 10 years ago

    It’s a great picture with our without the house. I think I understand removing it as Apple photos are usually just nature.

  8. Great walls! Here is where you can find the rest stock walls iphone6wallpaper.com

  9. Kevin (@blogfisher) - 8 years ago

    Interesting to see that original photo was taken with 5D MkIII, thought it was from iphone 6 :)

Author

Avatar for Michael Steeber Michael Steeber

Michael is a Creative Editor who covered Apple Retail and design on 9to5Mac. His stories highlighted the work of talented artists, designers, and customers through a unique lens of architecture, creativity, and community.

Contact Michael on Twitter to share Apple Retail, design, and history stories: @MichaelSteeber