Previous news story Next news story

Behind the photo: Apple's Retina MacBook Pro zebras...

Jul 9, 2012 at 02:22:38 GMT

ARTICLE APPLE

Pin It

Print view

When Apple's new MacBook Pro with 'retina' screen was launched recently, it was displayed with an arresting image as a desktop background, showing zebras galloping through long grass. In this article the photographer behind the photograph, UK-based Steve Bloom, explains how he got the shot.

Zebras on the MacBook Pro - how the picture was taken

Comments

Total comments: 28

He post the answer in his blog.

steve says:
July 10, 2012 at 5:55 am
Fuji Provia. At 100 ISO it allowed me to use a high shutter speed (in excess of 1000 second, essentiual for helicopter work). It was my film of choice – not too saturated while failry fine grained. Scanned on an Imacon scanner.

Comment edited 3 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

great image, but being apple i was expecting sheep

2 upvotes

not funny. at all

2 upvotes

Sure it was. ;0

1 upvote

A lot of discussion weather this was captured on film or a digital sensor. Rather ironic since Steve is well known for his "artistic images" e.g. his book Untamed.

Some of us like it unaltered, some are more pragmatic and don't mind a bit of "nip-and-tuck".

Being a fundamentalist myself, I stopped buying his books after I discovered too much "artistery" in his book Untamed. The Apple images is nontheless stunning.

0 upvotes

They used Instagram...

3 upvotes

Most likely Velvia

0 upvotes

Even before I read the comments below, my first thought was, "Take helicopter, fly over herd of zebras, take shot."
Yes, it's a nice photo, but I have seen FAR better images to the right in the Challenges from amateur readers. There's nothing special about this one. There's not enough in it to make it stand out from the er, herd.

Comment edited 46 seconds after posting

4 upvotes

Uh......no.

0 upvotes

Yeah I know right, because the people who post pics here have film shots of zebras taken from a helicopter posted ALL the time.
Is this a beautiful image? Definitely. Is it the greatest picture ever that deserves all the attention? Not really. So what? I see garbage from "so and so Photography"'s page get all the likes and I'm all mad because there's way better stuff out there.

0 upvotes

I'd say he jumped in a helicopter and then scared the crap out of a bunch of zebras...then he pointed the camera downward. That is how he got the shot.

10 upvotes

Well. I made a comment last night, but it appears that it has disappeared.

So why is it, again, that a photo taken on film made news at Digital Photography Review?

1 upvote

That, no matter how nice the digital camera sensors are theses days, or how beautiful monitors become, that images captures on film still stand out gorgeously?

1 upvote

Seriously? You had to post that question? Like it hasn't been asked a million times "why is a digital photo site posting articles about X?"

It's a gear and photo tech site- people you know, use computers to look at their digital images- and those Apple people came out with one of those new Apple computers.

2 upvotes

It's a nice photo... now for my ticket to Africa, personal helicopter pilot, and 70-200 2.8.

1 upvote

Another case of "If only I had a [...], I would totally [...]" ?

1 upvote

Too bad there was no story on how Apple chose his shot.

2 upvotes

Thanks for sharing!

Comment edited 3 times, last edit 12 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

My mum's recently deceased friend has got a photo realistic painting (I think) that looks uncannily like this photo! I couldn't tell if it was a painting for afar. I could, however, be mistaken. Excellent photo. It really looks 3 dimensional. At least it did when I was viewing the photo up close hanging on a wall at her house.

0 upvotes

A great image that was captured on film! (Using an EOS1N film SLR)

At least it stops the silly debate on what sensor was used... so now just argue on F5 vs 1V...

6 upvotes

F5 vs 1v vs Dynax/Maxxum 9 ? :-)

2 upvotes

Perhaps 1Vhs?

0 upvotes

My first thought is that this is a thinly veiled advertorial. Would Bloom's work have been showcased without his connection to Apple???

4 upvotes

I think the apple came before the cart ;-) I think it's a great image, but what also makes it interesting is that it was selected to be on the apple product launch. The apple exposure is what brought Bloom's work to the foreground making it news worthy. There are millions and millions of compelling photographs out there, the apple endorsement is what sets this image apart.

Comment edited 17 seconds after posting

3 upvotes

I've seen countless articles on the story of Windows XP default screen image. This stuff just happens...it's a legitimate connection to high res display technology that should benefit photographers.

0 upvotes

And speaking of the XP background image, wasn't that shot on film as well?

1 upvote

not sure, but has anyone else noticed how doctored that xp background image is? You can clearly tell at least one car has been removed from it (there is a road at the bottom of the hill, google xp background image location).

0 upvotes

Gyadamned Conspiracy theories.... Doesn't the i hate apple garbage belong on the tech blogs....

0 upvotes

Total comments: 28


Eric Kim: 10 lessons William Klein has taught me about street photography May 1, 2013	Carsten Krieger takes us on a photographic tour of Ireland Apr 19, 2013	Review in progress: Pentax K-5 II and K-5 II S Apr 16, 2013	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 Public Beta hands-on preview Apr 15, 2013

	Samsung NX2000 May 1, 2013
	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V Apr 24, 2013
	Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Apr 24, 2013
	Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1 Apr 24, 2013
	Ricoh GR Apr 17, 2013
	Samsung NX1100 Apr 11, 2013
	Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6 Apr 9, 2013
	Fujifilm FinePix S8400W Mar 22, 2013
	Fujifilm FinePix XP200 Mar 22, 2013
	Canon EOS 100D (EOS Rebel SL1) Mar 21, 2013
	Canon EOS 700D (EOS Rebel T5i) Mar 21, 2013
	Canon PowerShot SX270 HS Mar 21, 2013
	Canon PowerShot SX280 HS Mar 21, 2013

Recommended Photoshop Alternatives?	96
Adobe is WRONG!	90
Are we fooling ourselves?	78
From first effort at street.	69
Not completely satisfied with my X100S	58
Sold my RX100 - this is why	55
All this Adobe flaming	53
M43 and DOF with a fast lens	48
Primes vs Zooms	47
24mp sensor for m43? 3.2micron pixel pitch!	45
When I increase the aperture my screen goes ...	42
Anybody out there who does not use Photoshop ...	42
A99 Short Film "Survival of the Fittest" Hi-ISO	41
Nikon 1 lens road map...anyone?	37
Alternative to Adobe software	35
Nikor 24-120 F4	33
Tempted by the price of the SAMYANG 14mm f2.8 ...	31
Colors in B/W!!!...	30
Who own the copyright and why?	29
X100s exposure inconsistency	28

Your email address:
Your name: