Trio of Friends Set Out to Recreate the macOS Big Sur Wallpaper

Last year, YouTuber and photographer Andrew Levitt teamed up with his friends Jacob Phillips and Taylor Gray to recreate all of Apple's default wallpapers included in macOS Catalina.

big sur recreate

Photo Credit: Jacob Phillips

Following Apple's unveiling of macOS Big Sur at the WWDC conference in June, they again set out to recreate Apple's newest default wallpaper, with no preparation, within just one week.

The task was even more challenging this time, however, as the default ‌macOS Big Sur wallpaper showcases the dramatic rugged mountainous area of California's Central Coast region from an elevated vantage point 4,000 feet over the ocean.

After doing some research, Levitt and his friends found out that a drone wouldn't be able to get the shot, and regardless, flying drones off the coast of Big Sur is against the law. So the team got in touch with a helicopter pilot, who coincidentally turned out to be the same pilot that flew out Apple's own photographer to get the original shot.


After having to deal with thick fog on the first attempt, the team headed out a second time and managed to get the same shot. Check out the original video for some dramatic footage captured on the Big Sur coastline.

Follow the creators on Instagram: Andrew Levitt, Jacob Phillips, and Taylor Gray.

Related Forum: macOS Big Sur

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Top Rated Comments

0128672 Avatar
65 months ago

But...why?

Exactly. Got nothing more productive to do I guess.
If adventurers and artists had to be concerned with productivity, the world would lose the great wealth of work created by asking "why not?"
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AngerDanger Avatar
65 months ago

But...why?

Exactly. Got nothing more productive to do I guess.
Fun.

Also, the challenge of seeing how closely they can recreate a shot.

Also also, they’ve got a YouTube channel and are probably make ad money off of their video about it.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
agffth Avatar
65 months ago

But...why?

Exactly. Got nothing more productive to do I guess.
It's more productive than making snarky comments on message boards.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Brent McCombs Avatar
65 months ago
Are we sure these aren’t just Samsung photographers?
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
phenste Avatar
65 months ago
The Catalina/general macOS wallpaper recreation was…already a year ago?

Current state of affairs really making time go by way faster than it should.

(note: this is fantastic, as have been all prior ones!)
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DinkThifferent Avatar
65 months ago
The youtube video's they make are really work of art! Great angles, shots, music and all in 4K!
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)