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Wallpaper Images

I've been asked many times if there is central location for my wallpaper images. So, instead of posting them in individual blog entries, I've assembled the collection here. Each is available at 1920 x 1200 (16:10 aspect ratio, "widescreen") and 1600 x 1200 (4:3 aspect ratio, "standard"). If you'd like all of the images, you can download the widescreen (53.1MB) or standard (45.6MB) zip files.

I often receive queries about using these images for other purposes. All I usually ask for is a brief description about how you intend to use the image(s), a photo credit, and either a pointer to where the image is used or a physical sample of the materials that use it. If you're interested, please contact me for permission. Thank you in advance.

Last, I wrote an article called How I Make My Wallpaper Images describing how I create these images. This is in response to the many questions I receive via e-mail. I hope you enjoy it.

  • Added 16 new images on 6/2/2008: Flower 40, Flower 41, Flower 43, Flower 44, Flower 45, Grass 03, Leaf 54, Leaf 55, Leaf 56, Leaf 57, Leaf 58, Leaf 59, Leaf 60, Leaf 61, Leaf 62, Metal 03. Of this set, my favorite is definitely Leaf 62.

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Published Thursday, November 10, 2005 6:53 PM by mswanson

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Comments

# re: Wallpaper Images

dude! these images ROCK! very nice work.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005 2:15 PM by Daryll McDade

# re: Wallpaper Images

I love the photos, it brings a bit of nature onto my computer.
Thursday, November 17, 2005 1:16 PM by Great stuff..

# re: Wallpaper Images

Awesome pics - and great resolution too!

thx for sharing it Mike.
Saturday, November 19, 2005 2:35 PM by Pradeep U.N.

# re: Wallpaper Images

Great work, Mike, these are excellent images! Keep up the good work
Sunday, November 20, 2005 5:00 PM by Bozz

# re: Wallpaper Images

Thanks for the kinds words and encouragement, everyone. I really enjoy taking these photos, and now that others appreciate them too, I often look for situations that make "good wallpaper." If anyone has some suggestions, I'd be glad to try to incorporate them into future photos.
Sunday, November 20, 2005 10:56 PM by mswanson

# re: Wallpaper Images

I like the few that I see, but the zip widescreen link doesn't work. Got any other links so I can see the rest of them?

kjell
Thursday, November 24, 2005 2:05 PM by kjell @ creativethirst.net

# re: Wallpaper Images

Awesome work... These will look great on my 24" LCD. Thanks!
Thursday, November 24, 2005 2:06 PM by Reed

# re: Wallpaper Images

My screen only loaded one thumnail for some reason, but i didnt even bother to wait or try to refresh. I just clicked on the download all and nabbed them. You have an execelent eye for a great shot. I dont take them but my father is a shutter bug and I couldnt help but learn. Your work is amazing. Keep it up.
Thursday, November 24, 2005 4:42 PM by B.A.D.

# re: Wallpaper Images

Superb photos - they certainly put mine to shame!
Thursday, November 24, 2005 6:15 PM by Timmargh

# Camera?

I'm interested in what camera you used to take these photos -- I must buy one!
Thursday, November 24, 2005 7:14 PM by Rafael Rivera

# re: Camera?

My mom makes great lasagna. Should I get the same oven as her?

It's not the tool, it's the user. Great pix!!
Thursday, November 24, 2005 7:23 PM by Nick

# re: Wallpaper Images

Mike, Thanks for sharing. These are great pictures. Congratulations.
Thursday, November 24, 2005 8:59 PM by Nitin

# re: Camera

It's the tool who posts comments like that the makes trolling so much fun...
Thursday, November 24, 2005 11:10 PM by assim

# re: Wallpaper Images

Rafael: Although I generally agree with Nick, I have found that my Nikon COOLPIX 5700 (since replaced by the 8700/8800) takes fantastic macro photos. Almost all of the images on this page were taken with it. The swivel LCD screen allows me to hold the camera in very awkward and unique orientations that I would find difficult (if not impossible) to accomplish with my Canon Rebel XT.
Thursday, November 24, 2005 11:22 PM by mswanson

# re: Wallpaper Images

Beautiful! Thank you, Sir, for sharing! :D
Friday, November 25, 2005 2:24 AM by Carlo

# re: Wallpaper Images

Nice photos!

I really consider buying a macro lens for my Canon EOS 20D now :).

If anybody is interested in viewing wallapers I made from my photos, take a look at http://gallery.darkman.de/david
Friday, November 25, 2005 5:53 AM by David Humpohl

# re: Wallpaper Images

Just what I was looking for my widescreen notebook. Awesome!
Friday, November 25, 2005 8:42 AM by Kailash Nadh

# re: Wallpaper Images

Why don't you sell these photos...they are very good.
Monday, November 28, 2005 3:36 PM by david simpson

# re: Wallpaper Images

Hello! it;s useful and interesting site. Thanks!
Monday, December 12, 2005 3:38 AM by lamda

# re: Wallpaper Images

Ive donwloaded a couple of pics - they look so cool. Great shots, thank uuuuu
Thursday, December 15, 2005 12:28 PM by Little Maniac

# re: Wallpaper Images

Great pictures! Did you add any color to them electronically? Mine are always so dull and devoid of color :(.
Thursday, December 15, 2005 2:08 PM by Angelina

# re: Wallpaper Images

All of these photographs are extraordinary. With the amazing work that u do on these, have you ever thought of photographing spider webs or catapillars. If you could, thank would be greatly appreciated.
Saturday, December 17, 2005 11:16 PM by Paula

# re: Wallpaper Images

Great job! One of the best works I have seen! Congatutaltions!!!
Sunday, December 18, 2005 1:25 PM by George the Greek

# re: Wallpaper Images

Michael...cool pics...and would appreciate if you could add a "subscribe" button to your RSS..!
Saturday, December 24, 2005 6:24 AM by bala

# re: Wallpaper Images

A truly wonderful collection of macro photography you have here. Thanks for sharing the high resolution pictures so openly; these photographs have profoundly enriched my desktop.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006 2:17 AM by Bernard Yen

# re: Wallpaper Images

Very nice pics !!
two thumbs !
Friday, January 06, 2006 1:55 AM by Andy

# re: Wallpaper Images

Good job, keep it up !
Saturday, January 07, 2006 4:50 PM by Rakesh Raman

# re: Wallpaper Images

I think the walls are best...by far...
Tuesday, January 31, 2006 10:54 AM by sinusoid

# re: Wallpaper Images

Que fotos tan buenas, pero deberia de sacarle a viejas encueradas, con esa camara les veriamos hasta donde no nos imaginamos!!
Saturday, February 04, 2006 12:06 AM by Pedorro

# re: Wallpaper Images

best wallpapers on the net! i use them all the time! thanks!
Saturday, February 04, 2006 3:32 AM by nhg

# re: Wallpaper Images

Thank you SO much for posting these gorgeous images, and making them available in desktop resolutions. I especially like the Christmas ones. Unique perspective on those, and quite different from the usual Christmas walls you see.  Thank again!
Thursday, February 09, 2006 1:19 PM by Kira

# re: Wallpaper Images

great great update -thx :-))

they should be in vista ...
Sunday, February 12, 2006 2:43 AM by pete

# re: Wallpaper Images

Thanks for starting, Michael. After your post I made some wallpaper too.

http://blogs.msdn.com/mikhailarkhipov/archive/2006/02/14/532289.aspx
Wednesday, February 15, 2006 10:27 AM by Mikhail Arkhipov (MSFT)

# re: Wallpaper Images

So lovely man, perfect work!
Saturday, February 18, 2006 6:19 AM by Olivier Tristan

# re: Wallpaper Images

Great job A truly wonderful collection
Sunday, February 19, 2006 12:16 PM by butch123

# re: Wallpaper Images

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G !!

... simply A.M.A.Z.I.N.G !!
Tuesday, March 07, 2006 2:37 AM by vikivix

# My First Wallpaper Attempts...

In the spirit of Michael Swanson's Macro-Wallpapers, I took a couple pictures today while visiting my...
Sunday, March 12, 2006 3:02 AM by Jose Lema

# re: Wallpaper Images

WOW!

BOOKMARK!
Friday, March 17, 2006 4:31 AM by sillygirl

# re: Wallpaper Images

<a href="http://www.wallpapers.in.ua">Wallpapers in ua </a> - Fresh wallpapers
Wednesday, March 29, 2006 7:14 AM by Eugene

# re: Wallpaper Images

Nice wallpapers ! Thanks :)
Wednesday, March 29, 2006 2:05 PM by Dennis from Costa Rica

# re: Wallpaper Images

Spring is here! I've just added five new images: Flower 17, Flower 18, Leaf 27, Leaf 28, and Leaf 29. As I mentioned in the updated post above, Leaf 28 is a little too "busy" for my tastes, but others may like it.
Monday, April 03, 2006 2:29 AM by mswanson

# re: Wallpaper Images

Thank you so much for this pictures!  They are amazing!  I am heading to a windowless office here soon and I am turning my tablet pc into a "window".  These images will be used as a slideshow to keep me sane.  Thanks!
Thursday, April 06, 2006 6:10 PM by Jordan Isip

# re: Wallpaper Images

I just can't get enough!
Wednesday, April 19, 2006 8:25 AM by Magda

# re: Wallpaper Images

teşekkürler
Friday, April 21, 2006 6:38 AM by alperkayan@hotmail.com

# re: Wallpaper Images

woooooooow .. wonderful
Friday, April 21, 2006 1:25 PM by honey

# They are great

hi mike

your pictures are awesome, my 17" LCD got natural beauty with your wallpapers
keep working

yudy
Saturday, April 22, 2006 6:50 AM by yudy

# re: Absolutly stunning

I am starting with macro photography. You have shown me what true wonders are.

THX,
Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Sunday, April 23, 2006 2:26 AM by François

# re: Absolutly stunning

Hi Mike,

I am starting with macro photography. You have shown me what true wonders are.

THX,
Eindhoven, The Netherlands, Europe
Sunday, April 23, 2006 2:28 AM by Francois

# re: Wallpaper Images

wow.... it is Awesome..... no words can describe these amazing pix.....
Great job
Wednesday, April 26, 2006 2:11 PM by Nastarn

# re: Wallpaper Images

Hey! this is simply amazing. I just love your work, I think it's really nice that you want to share it with everyone. Please I would like you to let me know about any new work of yours. bye!! susypunk182@yahoo.com
Saturday, April 29, 2006 5:20 PM by Susana (Colombia)

# re: Wallpaper Images

Beatifull work, thanks for sharing it
Sunday, April 30, 2006 2:49 AM by Fernando

# re: Wallpaper Images

Hi,

I am really impressed by the amazing photos available here. Dude really I am hooked to the images in this site. I have already passed on the word abt this wallpaper available here. The moment I saw the quality of the images and above it is free to download, I was thrown of the feet.
Cool keep it up and I have taken some cues of the photos here.

Sunday, April 30, 2006 11:17 AM by Preetham

# re: Wallpaper Images

congratz . i see some of your amazing walls made it into vista :-)
Tuesday, May 09, 2006 7:05 PM by pete

# re: Wallpaper Images

Love the photos! please keep them coming!!!
Saturday, May 13, 2006 12:42 PM by Tim

# Very Good Photo

Your Photos very good good luck bye
Tuesday, May 16, 2006 12:07 PM by Eliza Lopez

# re: Wallpaper Images

Love your wallpapers. :)  Any chance of providing them in 2560x1600 resolution?
Tuesday, May 16, 2006 2:32 PM by Sparks

# re: Wallpaper Images

LOVE 'EM!
Thursday, May 18, 2006 3:50 PM by rachel