14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 7 and the mother of the Swiss nation are concepts that work perfectly well in a mix. And photographer Noe Flum hesitated little at the chance of shooting Helvetia and Windows together for a desktop background.
Just click on the thumbnail to the left, and you will be able to download the full size wallpaper (1920x1442) of an interpretation of Helvetia with a strong affinity for the Windows operating system. For the shoot, Flum turned to Swiss model Raquel Alvarez for the role of Helvetia, nothing less than the female personification of Switzerland.
“What is the result when a national Top Photographer with a Top Swiss Model is asked to create his own Windows Desktop Background?” asked Microsoft’s Michael Epprecht. “Photographer Noë Flum, together with Model Raquel Alvarez created a Helvetic modern work of art on the San Bernardino. What becomes clear when looking the Making-of Video is that there is no computer wizardry being used here. The whole scene was fully created on-location, using only a camera and props.”
Flum’s Windows 7 Helvetia wallpaper is not necessarily that recent. In fact, it dates back to the start of July 2009, when Microsoft was attempting to stir up the interest of Swiss photographers over a desktop background contest for the latest iteration of the Windows client. At the bottom of the screen, via the embedded video, you will be able to see the work that went into making the Windows 7 Helvetia wallpaper.
Helvetia, also referred to as the mother of Switzerland, is traditionally depicted as dressed in a gown, holding a spear, and a shield with the Swiss flag. Of course, as you can see, Flum’s interpretation involves a spear complete with a mouse pointer, and a shield emblazoned with the Windows logo.
Making of Windows.ch from msn_switzerland on Vimeo.