Geo-tagging photos - fixing the file date and time

I've now got a reasonable work flow. Ensure the GPS Logger is running, export the file to GPSX format, import the log and the photos into GPSPhotoLinker, apply the lat/long location data.

There is one thing that remains, and its bugged me in a more general sense for a while. If you do anything to the file eg adjust / change / update the EXIF data, rotate the image etc, you change the file and the file date & time now show when you changed the file, not when you took the photo.

One answer is to use 'jhead' to apply the EXIF date to the file date. Download the binary and put it someone handy. I usually create a folder for it, so its path becomes

/applications/jhead/jhead

Then ensure it is executable:

chmod +x jhead

then switch to where the photos are that need adjusting:

cd ~/pictures/GPS_logged

and then run the command

/applications/jhead/jhead -ft *.jpg

and

/applications/jhead/jhead -ft *.JPG

curiously I found that on single files it is not case sensitive, while doing '*' it is:

Error : No such file
in file '*.jpg'

It could be pointed out that using Apple Preview to rotate my photos is lossy... well if this proves a problem with a particular file I can always use the lossless rotation in GraphicConverter or go back to the raw file (the .NEF).

Geo-tagging photos with OSX and Android

Maybe you've read my previous adventures in geo-tagging photos. Previously I've focussed on how to geo-tag the photo using the Android's built in camera.

But what if you want to geo-tag your photos taken with a regular camera ie one that doesn't have GPS?

First you need a GPS data logger. These capture the GPS location at regular, typically 1 minute, intervals. Then you take the data, and import it into an application, along with your photos. And then apply the GPS data to your photos.

You can use your Android as your data logger. In Market look for an application called 'Active GPS Lite'. Run this, (don't forget to press Menu>Tracking>Start!) and do your activity. Then at the end go to Menu>Tracking>Stop, and export the track. This exports the track as a GPSX file. These are just text files with a standard structure XML type structure.

Transfer the GPSX file to your Mac, eg by USB.

Then you need a way to automatically apply the location data to your photos.

There are two applications to do this: HoudahGeo $25 and GPSPhotoLinker which is free. Both are fairly easy to use.

To use GPSPhotoLinker, start the application, and select Tracks>Load Tracks from File.


Load the GPSX file you copied over previously. The load your photos by going Photos>Load Photos.



make sure the 'Batch' button is selected


and press 'Batch save to photos' and the GPS data is added to your photos

You can then import the photo into iPhoto, upload into Picasa and have the location show automatically.

Picasa - geo-tagging photographs

For quite some time, and after much trial and error, I thought there wasn't a way to get your geo-tagged photos uploaded into Picasaweb Albums with the geo data intact. Well now I have a way.

Import the photo into iPhoto, and if you do Get Info (Apple-I), you see the geo-data. Part 1 complete!Next, use the Picasa uploader by exporting (File>Export).


and hey presto!

Android - Geo-tagging photos part 2

Previously I'd written about the challenges of having the geo-tagged photos taken with your Android uploaded to Picasa with the geo EXIF data. Basically they weren't.

But how do you know if at the time you taken the photo that the GPS has got you a location? Even if you select the option, there is nothing in the display to indicate it.

What you can do as a workaround is to use another GPS application, typically I use cardiotrainer or Google's own MyTracks. When they go into the background they keep the GPS up. So you can switch to the camera and be sure that the location will go into the EXIF data.

But a visual indication would be better.

Share Ethernet Internet Connection in OSX

In theory its quite easy to share an internet connection in OSX. In reality it doesn't work like Apple say.

Go into Preferences>Sharing, and click on Internet Sharing. You can share from any network connection to your choice.


The default is to share _from_ ethernet, but click in the drop box and you see all the options


Select where to want to share to, in this care Airport, and then click the Airport Options box

You need to call your ad-hoc wireless network something, and then unless you have a really good reason, enable encryption. Don't select 40-bit you may as well leave uencrypted for all the security you get. Give it a password, and click OK.

Back in the Internet Sharing panel click the box to the left of the words 'Internet Sharing' and you get the standard 'are you sure box'. Click start.


If its worked OK the usual Airport icon change from

to
However! This doesn't work for me. For some reason I have to create a wireless network first.

To do this click on the Airport fan and select 'Create Network'

In the dialog box, put in some details
and the click OK. The Airport fan changes to
then go back to the sharing panel and click to start Internet Sharing.

OSX - too many menu bar icons and items - SlimBatteryMonitor

If like me you have too many menu bar icons and items, you can save some space by using a 3rd party battery monitor. I like SlimMatteryMonitor, which is exactly that, a small battery monitor. Get it from http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/14083/slimbatterymonitor, and go from to