Geotagging Photographs
Comments(5) For the past four years, I have used a Sony GPS to geotag my photographs while shooting in remote locations. The unit was a gift from my son and works very well. I initially had issues with the unit being recognized by my Mac, but with my recent upgrade to Snow Leopard all is well. One simply offloads the files and then converts them using free software, most notably GPS Visualizer.
Three days ago I discovered that GPS Visualizer automatically will upload your GPS tracks to EveryTrail, a free web application that displays your tracks on a map and allows you to insert photographs at points on the track. One can email a link to the particular track so that others may view your trek. It is totally free and only requires registration.
Both applications are simply very well done, easy to use, and free. I am appreciative of both sites as they enable me to do stuff I never imagined possible.
Today I discovered that EveryTrail is available for the iPhone. WOW.
What is means is that I can turn on the iPhone application, begin recording my track, take photos along the way, then upload the track and the photos to EveryTrail wirelessly. So, I can see photos at each point along my trek and I can share it with anyone who is connected to the Internet. Amazing stuff.
And, it is completely free. That gets a five star rating from me.
BTW, the application is available for Windows Mobile, Blackberry, and Android phones. So, you don’t have to use an iPhone to accomplish the same objectives. Now that is amazing.
In addition, the folks at EveryTrail have another free application for the iPhone, it’s a bike computer!
Bike computers are expensive to buy, but this one is free if you have the phone to run the application. I had been thinking about buying one until now. With this free application I get just about all the information one could want while riding.
If interested, you can get the download links from EveryTrail at this web address.
I highly recommend both.
Course, what this means is that I will no longer be able to lie about how high the cliff was that I climbed, or how far I walked on a trail in Scotland. Grumble.
But, it will allow me to record treks across Tanzania, hopefully sometime early next year.
I am not sure about some treks though, I have the desire to visit Cuba. The Department of State won’t like that at all! 
Bill,
Goto Cuba now, if you don’t it may have changed by the time you do
We really enjoyed our trip there, met some wonderful people and drank some wonderful drinks.
Gotta get me one of these iPhone thingys…
Regards
N
Hi Neil,
Tell me more!
My son wants to join me.
I think I would love it.
Best regards,
Bill
I have an iPhone and utterly totally think it’s brilliant, especially for business but the little apps can be so useful as well.
I checked out the trail app but it requires you to turn off 3G and sleep modes which sort of screws up any other use of the phone I think when you are using it. Will also consume more juice of course because it is left on non stop. They advise turning the screen brightness right down but outdoors of course, this means the screen is VERY hard to see!
Maybe this is why hand held GPS plotters may still be best ? Thoughts ?
Best wishes
Hi Glyn,
I used EveryTrail yesterday on the iPhone and it works. Yes it eats up the battery but I managed to run it for nearly an hour with no issues.
If you want to save battery life, then just record a shot at a time and save the track. That way you can go through your shots one at a time when you are trying to fix the location. No need to run the software all the time.
Here is the result on using the software, photos are pants, but I have the track and can locate each shot specifically.
Best regards,
Bill
Nov 4 at EveryTrail
Map created by EveryTrail: Share GPS Tracks
I have not used EveryTrail but have used the PlaceTagger App for geotagging my photos. It is so easy to use. If you are a Mac User there is a free tagger software that can be downloaded from the vendor Website. Otherwise, you can export
The key to PlaceTagger’s accuracy to synch precise camera time to iPhone time. I turn it on when I start shooting and thurn it off when I finish. I can turn it on and off during the day, so I do not eat up the iPhone battery. You can listen to your music when PlaceTagger is working. Also andser the phone. The App will turn off and then turn back on after phone call.
Precision has been very accurate even in urban canyons such as Washington, DC. Also thee is no wait time for the App to start recording like regular GPS taggers.