Back to GeoTagging.. workflow improvements...

I've recently gone through and made my GeoTagging Workflow, but it looks like its time for revisions.

The main change is the order in which images are added to the library (Aperture in my case) and GPS info is attached.

Round tripping from Aperture, by opening the library projects from within HoudahGeo and posting the data back seems to be providing inconsistent results. Not all images are updated with the GPS data found within HoudahGeo.

The REVISED workflow is now:

Components:

1. Canon EOS D-SLR

2. Wintec WBT-201 G-Rays2 GPS logger

2.1 - a list of proven GPS devices for HoudahGeo can be found here.

3. HoudahGeo (Mac OSX Version 2.5.6)

4. Aperture3

5. Google Earth

Process:

1. PREPARE

Before beginning, some things need to be understood about the time zones, what is where and how they are to be logged and matched with the photos taken with the camera.

-Fully charge your logger so that it will last the day without the battery going out.

-Set the TIME ZONE in the Camera to Match the current Time Zone! (You will need this later)

2. SHOOT

-DO NOT CHANGE THE TIME in Camera once you have started shooting - otherwise, import the photos with the different TIME SETTINGS as SEPARATE projects into HoudahGeo !

-Keep the GPS logger close to you... in a pocket, not somewhere in a bag or car near by.

3. Launch HoudahGeo.

Create a New Project

4. Import the TRACKS

5. GEOTAG - import the images from mem card into HoudahGeo, and the GPS data should be automatically correlated with the images based in date/time. Use a fast card reader and save yourself some pain.

** You will be asked to confirm the time zone for the photos in this session. Make sure not to import photos with different timezones into one batch, or they will be mislabeled with the wrong coordinates!

5. Double check results:

In HoudahGeo, click on the GeoTag Google icon to open the link to Google Earth. Spot check or check all photos to make sure that the correct location is tagged. This should be fine if the clock settings were correct.

6. Export EXIF / Write metadata back to image files on mem card.

7. IMPORT images into library (Aperture, Lightroom, etc) tagging all of your MetaData as usual. Jason Linashke/ApertureExert has many a great tutorials on Metadata logging.

8. Open updated project in Aperture (or other) and check locations to confirm that all is good!

~ Finito !