79.16 Photo Location Meta Data

20200411

Using exiftool, exiftool, exiftool your photos can be seen to identifying the meta data collected along with your photos. This can include the make and mode of the camera (usually a mobile phone) as well as the location the photo was taken. Of course the date and time of the photo is also recorded along with often over 120 other items of meta data.

Much of the data might be quite innocuous, such as the resolution of the photo, focal length, exposure time and F number. But other information, and particularly location, can be considered problematic, particularly when sharing photos.

Below is an edited listing from exiftool with many meta data entries removed for brevity.

$ exiftool myphoto.jpg
ExifTool Version Number         : 11.65
File Name                       : 20200218_092410_00.jpg
File Modification Date/Time     : 2020:02:18 09:24:14+11:00
File Access Date/Time           : 2020:04:11 09:00:31+10:00
File Inode Change Date/Time     : 2020:04:11 09:40:25+10:00
File Permissions                : rw-r-----
File Type                       : JPEG
File Type Extension             : jpg
MIME Type                       : image/jpeg
Make                            : Google
Camera Model Name               : Pixel 4
Orientation                     : Rotate 180
X Resolution                    : 72
Y Resolution                    : 72
Modify Date                     : 2020:02:18 09:24:10
Y Cb Cr Positioning             : Centered
Exposure Time                   : 1/24
F Number                        : 1.8
Exif Version                    : 0231
Date/Time Original              : 2020:02:18 09:24:10
Create Date                     : 2020:02:18 09:24:10
Offset Time                     : +11:00
Image Width                     : 4032
Image Height                    : 3024
GPS Altitude                    : 0 m Above Sea Level
GPS Date/Time                   : 2020:02:18 03:24:08Z
GPS Latitude                    : 27 deg 36' 42.90" N
GPS Longitude                   : 78 deg 3' 37.10" E
GPS Position                    : 27 deg 18' 42.63" N, 34 deg 0'
Megapixels                      : 12.2
Create Date                     : 2020:02:18 09:24:10.028893+11:00

Note that many photo sharing sites will strip location and other personal meta data from photos that are shared.

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