Geotagging Photos

[Casey]

Maybe some of you already do this, but I don't and plan on starting. What it takes is a gps recording your track while you're out wondering around, wasting megabytes on your memory cards.

I did this last night while snapping shots at the lake. When I got back, I searched for an application that would geotag for me (Microsoft Pro Photo Tools did the trick). I connected my gps to my computer, imported the track from the GPS and saved the file to my machine (gpx format). I opened Pro Photo Tools, brought in the photos and then placed them with the software by telling the software where the track file existed. The software marries the GPS coords to the photo by comparing the time on your track to the photo creation time. It places them on a map and edits the exif.

The information allows you to always know where you took the image. I wish I would have done this for my photos snagged in Oregon last summer. I'm kicking myself for not doing it.

There are many applications out there that will geotag photos. Microsofts did the trick for me. Here is the data from a geotagged image of mine.

[Image]
Image Description = Lonely Cypress
Make = Canon
Model = Canon EOS 20D
Orientation = top/left
X Resolution = 240
Y Resolution = 240
Resolution Unit = inch
Software = Microsoft Pro Photo Tools
Date Time = 2008-05-09 22:07:11
Artist = Casey Morris
Copyright = Copyright ©2008 by Casey Morris. All rights reserved
Exif IFD Pointer = Offset: 2418
GPS Info IFD Pointer = Offset: 4896
[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/250"
F Number = F5
Exposure Program = Aperture priority
ISO Speed Ratings = 400
Exif Version = Version 2.21
Date Time Original = 2008-05-09 19:52:30
Date Time Digitized = 2008-05-09 19:52:30
Shutter Speed Value = 7.97 TV
Aperture Value = 4.64 AV
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F2.8
Metering Mode = Pattern
Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length = 23mm
Color Space = Uncalibrated
Exif Image Width = 1200
Exif Image Height = 1680
Focal Plane X Resolution = 3959.322
Focal Plane Y Resolution = 3959.322
Focal Plane Resolution Unit = inch
Custom Rendered = Normal process
Exposure Mode = Auto exposure
White Balance = Auto white balance
Scene Capture Type = Normal
[GPS]
GPS Latitude Ref = North latitude
GPS Latitude = 30°1'20.2236"
GPS Longitude Ref = West longitude
GPS Longitude = 95°10'8.2872"
GPS Time Stamp = 19:52:30 UTC
GPS Date Stamp = 2008-05-09 UTC
[Thumbnail Info]
Compression = JPEG Compressed (Thumbnail)
X Resolution = 0.01
Y Resolution = 0.01
Resolution Unit = inch
JPEG Interchange Format = Offset: 5180
JPEG Interchange Format Length = Length: 5185
[Thumbnail]
Thumbnail = 114 x 160

[Gerald S]

I was just reading more on this last night. Seems that Sony and others make an inexpensive mini GPS that attaches to the hot shoe and automatically inputs the location to the meta file.

[Atfulldraw]

high

tech

redneck!

I like it.

[Gerald S]

Check this out.

[Casey]

Gerald that's pretty slick. I was reading on the Canon forums that it doesn't work all that well. I'd love to have something small like that, but for now I'm just going to use my Etrex to do the trick.

[Legdog]

slicker than owl poop

thanks for the info guys

[texag93]

I read something about this on the Costco link for the Nikon cameras. Don't even have my camera yet and already looking for more toys!!!

[Atfulldraw]

I read something about this on the Costco link for the Nikon cameras. Don't even have my camera yet and already looking for more toys!!!

and it only gets worse after you get it.....

[AggieHunter]

I'll try to find out more info for you/yall, but I want to say that there is a way to do this using Bluetooth. Somehow you link the gps and camera using bluetooth. I'll check into it to see if there is something special you have to buy or if you can use it as an attachment to you existing equipment.

[Shane]

There's an ad in the current Outdoor Photography magazine for a little bluetooth thing called Blue2CAN. You need a bluetooth GPS unit to go with it. The Blue2CAN then captures GPS info in the metadata when you take pics. Only works with Nikon DSLRs though. Maybe there's a similar product for Canon too?

Here it is.......

[Casey]

It is very painless to use your current GPS and one of the free software tools. The microsoft deal worked fine for me and I don't have to buy new hardware to tag my photos as I already had the GPS.