Revealing the Location of Your Photography Through GPS Coordinates & EXIF Metadata

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From time to time a lot of buzz will surface about GPS devices for photographers that will track, map and embed GPS coordinates in the EXIF metadata of captured images. I use a GPS in the field when I’m out in remote locations not just for safety but to mark locations I’ve either photographed or plan on revisiting. To date I can’t say that I’ve missed having this information embedded in my EXIF metadata. I suppose it would be of benefit so that I wouldn’t lose the information, but a good photographer is also a good note taker.

This weekend I started to ponder, assuming this information were more commonly embedded, would photographers really be open enough to reveal it on a regular basis for geotagging? I can’t talk for others, but I can talk for myself and I more than likely would not be an open book with this information. For obvious locations I wouldn’t have a problem in sharing the information, but for special areas I’ve spent a great deal of time researching and/or exploring to find I’d likely keep it to my private notes. There is always the possibility of exceptions and I might open up for some friends, but even still it wouldn’t be the general public. Of course I run the risk of playing my cards here and looking like a real hardcase, but I’m just telling the truth. The more effort I’d put forward to find a location the less likely I’d be willing to share it.

What about you?

{democracy:7}

Technorati Tags: photography, GPS, EXIF, metadata, geotagging, gadgets, philosophy

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Posted by Jim on 03.24.2008 at 6:30 am
Tagged: Camera, Philosophy, Photography, Software, Technology , Philosophy, Photography, Software, Technology

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Jim

@Brian crazies? Particularly when you're in Venice Beach as you've found :) I have selectively geotagged photos on Flickr as an experiment. I've yet to receive a comment that the information was of help to someone.

Brian Auer

I don't geotag my photos locally, but I do "Map" them in Flickr. I suppose it would be nice to have that information already available so I didn't need to take that extra step. I've often considered getting one of the GPS gizmos.

The only time I don't map my photos is when I've taken the shots at home or at a family member's home. People don't need to know my exact location -- there are too many crazies out there.

ramin

Geotagging images and such has always been mixed issue for me. The fact that most of the shots I publish are taken at or very near my home means that I'm not interested in publishing exact coordinates. But anyone can get the general location of where I live quite easily.

But when traveling or away from home (or others homes), I'm quite willing to share a location. Of course environmental and social impact is an issue of its own, but most locations that I shoot at aren't that sensitive.

So I voted yes, sometimes.

However, I do wonder if most people understand the privacy implications of automatic geotagging. While for photographers it isn't much of an issue, those who snap and post pictures of their life could be exposing a bit too much information.

Jim

I think the issue particularly from a nature/landscape photography perspective is indeed uncontrolled access. Many spots are often fragile or subject to closure if too much foot traffic occurs. For urban locations this becomes less of an issue. My concerns reflect this difference of urban and rural. I didn't quite specify that originally.

It's no real secret getting a shot of the Seattle skyline from Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill for example. Where as getting to a particular meadow in Grand Tetons National Park might have its own logistical challenges and environmental impact if visited too frequently.

I think for the later example its a matter of nature photographers knowing and understanding how to balance demand with access. The intent isn't to be as much secretive as it is respectful of the land and animals in the area.

Richard Wong

Nature photographers don't want their prime locations to be trampled on by others. When casual tourists start frequenting a place it becomes a zoo-like mentality with little regard to the environment as Anza Borrego has been lately.

For me personally I'm a rather private person and if someone needed to know that sort of info they could ask me personally. I don't need to broadcast exactly where my tripod holes are. My blog is close enough.

John

I probably voted too quickly, saying No, Never. When I first got a GPS unit and still had a regular web site, I always posted the coordinates of the location of the area, but never the coordinates of my tripod holes. Likewise, I like being told of good areas to look for subjects, but I have no use for exact instructions to reach a given viewpoint.

So with that said, I *still* say No, Never. ;)

I'm fine with supplying a general coordinate to, say, Shell Creek Road, but I wouldn't want the GPS data embedded in a given photo.

Eric

Personally, I make it a point to geotag all my photos, and I share the location of every single shot I've posted to Flickr.

The reasons I do this are many:

1. I think it's neat to be able to display the photos on a map.

2. It gives another way for people to *find* my photos.

3. Other than the extra manual labor of doing (at least till cameras have built in gps receivers), what's the reason not to?

I get the privacy implications, but I figure that anyone who really wanted to know where I lived could figure that out anyway. I'm not giving anyone that much more than what was already out there.

4. There's also a principle of reciprocity. I increasingly utilize Flickr's maps to find new places I'd like to try shooting, so this is how I give back to any other photographer doing the same.

I honestly don't see any reason to keep a location a secret. My reaction is exactly the opposite of yours: my desire to share a location increases with the effort I put into finding it or getting there. That some other photographer might want to shoot it later in no way detracts from my own work. In a way I'd actually take it as a compliment.