{"id":1471,"date":"2021-12-03T14:45:55","date_gmt":"2021-12-03T21:45:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/?p=1471"},"modified":"2025-05-23T12:30:40","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T19:30:40","slug":"stock-backgrounds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/stock-backgrounds\/","title":{"rendered":"How memorable can a stock background photo be?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-columns stocksy-intro-text\" id=\"block_aef7c138026412281ce3b683f6373012\">\n    <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:8%\"><\/div>\n    \n    \n    \n    <div class=\"wp-block-column has-large-font-size\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n        <div class=\" margin-bottom-lg\">\n<p>In the year 2000, a photographer by the name of Charles \u201cChuck\u201d O\u2019Rear sold one of the most expensive single pictures in history. Although the price remains undisclosed to this day, the negatives were so valuable \u2014 and the insurance so high \u2014 that no shipping company would deliver them. O\u2019Rear himself took a plane to bring the photograph to the buyer in person. The buyer paid for the flight, of course.<\/p>\n<p>And who was this mysterious buyer? Microsoft. The background photo is called\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bliss_(image)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Bliss<\/em><\/a>, though you probably know it best as the classic Windows XP desktop image. You remember \u2014 a rolling green hill, combined with a perfect blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-lg relative single-image\">\n\n    <\/div>\n    \n    \n    \n    <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns stocksy-image-contained\" id=\"block_701e9e75cedc95e5b9236371ea6a974e\">\n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:8%\"><\/div>\n  \n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:92%\">\n    <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/222713\/aprils-fog\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"buy_url\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/cloud-city-background-222713-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"A rare scene in Dubai during the month of April 2014 where fog invaded the city during Sunrise moments\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/cloud-city-background-222713-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/cloud-city-background-222713-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/cloud-city-background-222713-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/cloud-city-background-222713.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\n              <\/a>\n            <figcaption>\n                      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/edwardadios\/showcase?page=1\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"image-author\">\n              Edward Adios\n            <\/a><br>\n                          <\/figcaption>\n    <\/figure>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns stocksy-generic-text-image\" id=\"block_d48c7b5edac9029c807c2e5e0c5ce598\">\n\n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:24%\"><\/div>\n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:58%\">\n\n    \n              <p>The iconic image has likely been viewed more than any other photograph in the world. Unlike many other famous works of art, Bliss didn\u2019t hang on a gallery wall; instead, it lingered in the background, informing the daily lives of over a billion people. \u201cI\u2019ve seen it in the Situation Room at the White House,\u201d O\u2019Rear told<a href=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/technology\/2014\/04\/charles-o-rear-is-the-photographer-who-took-the-windows-xp-wallpaper-photo-in-napa-valley.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a0Slate<\/a>\u00a0in 2014. \u201cI\u2019ve seen it in shots in the Kremlin.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Since the release of Windows XP in 2001, our relationships with screens \u2014 on our computers and on our phones \u2014 has only deepened. It wouldn\u2019t be a stretch to say that, to some extent, our desktop and phone wallpapers are some of the most important images in our lives. They\u2019re certainly the most present. And thanks to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/stock-photos\/?s=background+or+wallpaper+-macro+-face+-portrait+-woman+-man+-boy+-girl&amp;sort=curated&amp;t=backgrounds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stock backgrounds<\/a>, the possibilities are endless.<\/p>\n<p>Is there a formula for creating and selecting the right stock background photo? That\u2019s up to you. But there are a few key ingredients that make a background pleasing to the eye. Let\u2019s take a look at just four things that can make for a stellar image, whether it\u2019s displayed in a museum or in an ad.<\/p>\n\n      \n              \n        \n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\"><\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- Images Block -->\n\n<div class=\"block-images\"  id=\"block_6cf7eadec610b0426c5071524a5c4192\">\n  <div class=\"container\">\n    <div class=\"block-images-flex portrait-two\">\n\n      <div class=\"image-portrait\">\n\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/2538315\/view-on-rice-terraces\" target=\"_blank\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/flooded-fields-background-2538315.jpg\" alt=\"View on rice terraces of scenic spot in Yuanyang, China\">\n              <\/a>\n      \n        <div class=\"image-details\">\n          <div class=\"details-content\">\n                                                      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/bisualstudio\/showcase?page=1\" target=\"_blank\">\n                          Bisual Studio\n                      <\/a>\n                                            \n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"image-portrait\">\n                  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/2490625\/calla-lily\" target=\"_blank\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/cala-lilies-background-2490625.jpg\" alt=\"Calla Lily\">\n                  <\/a>\n        \n        <div class=\"image-details\">\n          <div class=\"details-content\">\n                                                      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/TatjanaZlatkovic\/showcase?page=1\" target=\"_blank\">\n                          Tatjana Zlatkovic\n                      <\/a>\n                                            \n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<span data-block=\"block_4bb701cd62c659ef19e63edfe0b69a5a\" class=\"toc-titles\" data-title=\"KEEP IT SIMPLE\" style=\"display:none\"><\/span>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns stocksy-generic-text-image\" id=\"block_4bb701cd62c659ef19e63edfe0b69a5a\">\n\n\n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:42%\"><\/div>\n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:68%\">\n    \n              <h2>KEEP IT SIMPLE<\/h2>\n<p>O\u2019Rear has admitted that he can only guess as to why Microsoft chose Bliss, but he has wondered if it had something to do with the fact that the photograph is \u201cpeaceful\u201d and \u201chas no tension.\u201d It\u2019s been more than twenty years since he made that picture, but his comment feels surprisingly modern.<\/p>\n<p>We consume more images now than ever, whether they\u2019re in advertisements, in the news, or on our social media feeds. As a result, simple and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/stock-photos\/?g=150433&amp;page=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">uncluttered stock photos<\/a>\u00a0hold a unique appeal. We can see it in the popularity of all things \u201cminimal\u201d on Instagram, and we notice it in the upper echelons of the art world as well. In 2016, The Guardian\u2019s Jonathan Jones devoted an<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2016\/jan\/27\/why-does-contemporary-art-look-so-simple-google-answer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a0entire story<\/a>\u00a0to answering one frequently-asked question on Google: \u201cWhy does contemporary art look so simple?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In essence, we like simple art because the real world is chaotic. We\u2019re too busy to spend much time taking in and analyzing new information. We crave clear messages, and we want them delivered concisely \u2014 especially when it comes to our computers, phones, and tablets. A simple but dynamic background\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/what-is-stock-photography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stock photo<\/a>\u00a0catches our attention without diverting it entirely from the task (or the app) at hand.<\/p>\n\n      \n              \n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- Images Block -->\n\n<div class=\"block-images\"  id=\"block_cefaccc03fcb479a53c9e9125809d1f2\">\n  <div class=\"container\">\n    <div class=\"block-images-flex left-landscape\">\n\n      <div class=\"image-landscape\">\n\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/506099\/golden-pyramid\" target=\"_blank\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/mountain-peak-background-506099-1024x683-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Golden Pyramid first light of the day on the mountain peak\">\n              <\/a>\n      \n        <div class=\"image-details\">\n          <div class=\"details-content\">\n                                                      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/RGBImages\/showcase?page=1\" target=\"_blank\">\n                          Ibex.media\n                      <\/a>\n                                            \n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"image-portrait\">\n                  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/1935733\/bright-stream-among-hills\" target=\"_blank\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/valley-background-1935733-683x1024-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Bright Stream Among Hills Iceland\">\n                  <\/a>\n        \n        <div class=\"image-details\">\n          <div class=\"details-content\">\n                                                      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/Bor\/showcase?page=1\" target=\"_blank\">\n                          Bor Cvetko\n                      <\/a>\n                                            \n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns stocksy-image-contained\" id=\"block_92265e18b25ef3f3a84dcdf81543530b\">\n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:8%\"><\/div>\n  \n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:92%\">\n    <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/2383850\/rainbow-building?vs=1\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"buy_url\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Stocksy_comp_2383850-1024x682.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"facade of a rainbow building\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Stocksy_comp_2383850-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Stocksy_comp_2383850-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Stocksy_comp_2383850-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Stocksy_comp_2383850.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\n              <\/a>\n            <figcaption>\n                      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/nito\/showcase?page=1\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"image-author\">\n              Juan Moyano\n            <\/a><br>\n                          <\/figcaption>\n    <\/figure>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<span data-block=\"block_f32823e0eec2954ff3973a6573448f62\" class=\"toc-titles\" data-title=\"LOOK FOR EMPTY SPACE\" style=\"display:none\"><\/span>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns stocksy-generic-text-image\" id=\"block_f32823e0eec2954ff3973a6573448f62\">\n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:8%\"><\/div>\n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:58%\">\n    \n              <h2>LOOK FOR EMPTY SPACES<\/h2>\n<p>When we see a person in a photograph, our brains will focus the majority of our attention onto that person. Conversely, when we see a picture of a wide-open landscape with no people present, our eyes can wander freely. We can admire its details without feeling distracted by anything in particular.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s more, we can, to some extent, \u201cinhabit\u201d empty landscapes using our imaginations. Speaking to Katharine Schwab of Fast Company in 2016, the neuroscientist Ed Vessel\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/3062926\/why-do-we-love-images-of-empty-spaces-neuroscientists-and-artists-explain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">explained,<\/a>\u00a0\u201cLooking at a space where there are the telltale signs of human life but no humans, we do inevitably project experience into there [\u2026] It happens almost as time-lapse in our head\u2013a full day passing in a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/stock-photos\/?s=background+or+wallpaper+-macro+-face+-portrait+-woman+-man+-boy+-girl&amp;sort=curated&amp;t=backgrounds&amp;page=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Stock backgrounds<\/a>\u00a0with ample negative space appeal to our desire to wander and explore. During a stressful work day, a glimpse at a beautiful landscape can offer a temporary escape, almost as if we were there ourselves.<\/p>\n\n            \n              \n      <\/div>\n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:34%\"><\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- Images Block -->\n\n<div class=\"block-images\"  id=\"block_da9ebdcb459f268e6257d94118ed16ee\">\n  <div class=\"container\">\n    <div class=\"block-images-flex landscape-two\">\n\n      <div class=\"image-landscape\">\n\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/2345761\/double-rainbow\" target=\"_blank\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/rainbow-field-background-2345761-1024x683-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Double Rainbow Stormy clouds and a brilliant rainbow in the Kootenai Wildlife Refuge in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.\">\n              <\/a>\n      \n        <div class=\"image-details\">\n          <div class=\"details-content\">\n                                                      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/justinmullet\/showcase?page=1\" target=\"_blank\">\n                          Justin Mullet\n                      <\/a>\n                                            \n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"image-landscape\">\n                  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/2127112\/awesome-football-field-in-moscow-russia\" target=\"_blank\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/green-aerial-court-background-2127112-1024x683-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Awesome Football Field In Moscow, Russia\">\n                  <\/a>\n        \n        <div class=\"image-details\">\n          <div class=\"details-content\">\n                                                      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/Away\/showcase?page=1\" target=\"_blank\">\n                          Sergey Lukankin\n                      <\/a>\n                                            \n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- Images Block -->\n\n<div class=\"block-images\"  id=\"block_50ce6847c7eca30dcdd4080c8124e2a1\">\n  <div class=\"container\">\n    <div class=\"block-images-flex portrait-two\">\n\n      <div class=\"image-portrait\">\n\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/1092566\/aerial-view-of-nazare-beach-portugal\" target=\"_blank\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/beach-background-1092566-683x1024-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Aerial View Of Nazar\u00e9 Beach, Portugal\">\n              <\/a>\n      \n        <div class=\"image-details\">\n          <div class=\"details-content\">\n                                                      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/heygiul\/showcase?page=1\" target=\"_blank\">\n                          Giulia Squillace\n                      <\/a>\n                                            \n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"image-portrait\">\n                  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/457652\/ken-river-canyon\" target=\"_blank\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/rocks-background-457652-1-683x1024-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Ken River Canyon Ken Gharyal Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh, India\">\n                  <\/a>\n        \n        <div class=\"image-details\">\n          <div class=\"details-content\">\n                                                      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/alexgrabchilev\/showcase?page=1\" target=\"_blank\">\n                          Alexander Grabchilev\n                      <\/a>\n                                            \n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<span data-block=\"block_483873867b281bc080aa5730a1264c9d\" class=\"toc-titles\" data-title=\"OPT FOR VIVID COLORS\" style=\"display:none\"><\/span>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns stocksy-generic-text-image\" id=\"block_483873867b281bc080aa5730a1264c9d\">\n\n\n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:42%\"><\/div>\n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:68%\">\n    \n              <h2>OPT FOR VIVID COLORS<\/h2>\n<p>People without knowledge of the O\u2019Rear landscape sometimes assume it\u2019s Photoshopped. But Bliss is a real place in California\u2019s Sonoma County! One must admit though, those colors seem preternatural. So where did those stunning hues come from? Firstly, the grass was, in reality, quite a vivid green. Second, the artist chose a film famous for its rendering of color, and third, Microsoft\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.artsy.net\/article\/artsy-editorial-story-worlds-famous-desktop-background\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">did enhance<\/a>\u00a0the green for the desktop version.<\/p>\n<p>The field of color psychology investigates why we respond strongly to colors, from the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/blog\/spring-summer-color-2019\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">calming effects of blues to the energizing influence of reds<\/a>. But vast expanses of color, like those found in abstract paintings, for example, seem to strike a particular emotional chord. In the 1950s, the color field paintings of Mark Rothko famously brought people to tears. They still do.<\/p>\n<p>Daily life can be monotonous and draining, especially if we spend most of it in front of our computers, but a healthy dose of color goes a long way in awakening the spirit and triggering the creative mind. Use that to your advantage.<\/p>\n\n      \n              \n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- Images Block -->\n\n<div class=\"block-images\"  id=\"block_8291325eb83b8d098cfe26da655bddcd\">\n  <div class=\"container\">\n    <div class=\"block-images-flex portrait-two\">\n\n      <div class=\"image-portrait\">\n\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/2172325\/vibrant-colorful-succulent-plants\" target=\"_blank\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/vibrant-succulent-background-2172325.jpg\" alt=\"Vibrant colorful succulent plants; Colorful flower background\/texture\">\n              <\/a>\n      \n        <div class=\"image-details\">\n          <div class=\"details-content\">\n                                                      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/Wizemark\/showcase?page=1\" target=\"_blank\">\n                          Wizemark\n                      <\/a>\n                                            \n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"image-portrait\">\n                  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/2217881\/tokyo-city-surreal-architecture-view\" target=\"_blank\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/window-reflections-background-2217881.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of the building in the business center in Tokyo. Abstract art colorful architecture view picture. Downtown. Travel in Japan.\">\n                  <\/a>\n        \n        <div class=\"image-details\">\n          <div class=\"details-content\">\n                                                      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/kaponia\/showcase?page=1\" target=\"_blank\">\n                          Yulia Shur\n                      <\/a>\n                                            \n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video autoplay controls loop src=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2709973.mp4\"><\/video><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/2709973\/colourful-sunbeams-on-the-water-surface-of-the-sea\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LUIS VELASCO<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<span data-block=\"block_3046b6767689fe9cf559d28fdb24d24b\" class=\"toc-titles\" data-title=\"ADD SOME MYSTERY\" style=\"display:none\"><\/span>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns stocksy-generic-text-image\" id=\"block_3046b6767689fe9cf559d28fdb24d24b\">\n\n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:24%\"><\/div>\n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:58%\">\n\n    \n              <h2>ADD SOME MYSTERY<\/h2>\n<p>Research tells us that the human brain enjoys surprises. What\u2019s more, surprises can also make us more focused. We like novelty and, as some<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scientificamerican.com\/article\/learning-by-surprise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a0studies suggest<\/a>, the simple act of taking in imagery we\u2019ve never seen before can actually help us to retain more information. That could be one reason why people like changing their phone and desktop wallpapers on a regular basis.<\/p>\n<p>Simplicity and emptiness, when done right, are never predictable. On the contrary, they often breed an air of mystery. If a photo continues to offer intrigue and a different perspective every time you see it, that\u2019s a tell-tale sign that it will make a great background.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have a theory that anybody now, from age 15 on, for the rest of their life, will remember this photograph [Bliss],\u201d O\u2019Rear told Slate in that conversation five years ago. While we might not be able to place exactly where we\u2019ve seen it, he predicted that we\u2019ll always be able to recognize it from somewhere, 20 or 50 years down the line. A successful image is, above all, memorable. While it may be content to stay in the background, it always leaves a lasting impression.<\/p>\n\n      \n              \n        \n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\"><\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns stocksy-image-contained\" id=\"block_f1cc931ca53c95a16fe1fcca3b9d4b30\">\n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:8%\"><\/div>\n  \n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:92%\">\n    <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/2335544\/the-tree-trunks-of-the-courtyard-are-seen-through-the-black-walls-and-windows-a-special-perspective-in-sri-lanka\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"buy_url\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/interior-outside-background-2335544-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"The Tree Trunks Of The Courtyard Are Seen Through The Black Walls And Windows. A Special Perspective In Sri Lanka\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/interior-outside-background-2335544-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/interior-outside-background-2335544-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/interior-outside-background-2335544-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/interior-outside-background-2335544.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\n              <\/a>\n            <figcaption>\n                      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/LiChaoShu\/showcase?page=1\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"image-author\">\n              ChaoShu Li\n            <\/a><br>\n                          <\/figcaption>\n    <\/figure>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"block-fullscreen-image stocksy-image-full\" id=\"block_8696f003766082364ee0c4cd790cc66b\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/2558825\/veins-in-a-salt-lake\" target=\"_blank\">\n    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/pano-salt-background-2558825-1024x427.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"abstract and colorful formation from a salt lake in australia\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/pano-salt-background-2558825-1024x427.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/pano-salt-background-2558825-300x125.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/pano-salt-background-2558825-768x320.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/pano-salt-background-2558825-1536x640.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/pano-salt-background-2558825.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\n      <\/a>\n    <div class=\"container\">\n    <div class=\"featured-image-details\">\n        <div class=\"details-content\">\n                      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/Nox\/showcase?page=1\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"image-author\">\n              Akela &#8211; from alp to alp\n            <\/a><br>\n                            <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns stocksy-generic-text-image\" id=\"block_45bf81c154e0de5f219bd94aca6ff0cd\">\n\n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:24%\"><\/div>\n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:58%\">\n\n    \n              <p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/\">Stocksy<\/a> is a royalty-free stock media agency specialized in conceptual and authentic visuals that capture the modern world. We are committed to enabling the entire creative class to execute \u2014 without compromise \u2014 meaningful, forward-thinking work that drives social progress.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Originally written by Tara Campbell, edited and maintained by the Stocksy team.<\/em><\/p>\n\n      \n              \n        \n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"wp-block-column\"><\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1478,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13,14,16,15,28],"tags":[23,76,80,85],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.0 (Yoast SEO v23.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How memorable can a stock background photo be? - Stocksy Ideas<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/stock-backgrounds\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Stocksy Ideas - Stories for meaningful work\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Stories about progressive branding, visual media best practices, design inspiration, creative trends, and more. 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