Incredible photos are becoming more prevalent online thanks to the abundance of content, and you might be interested in learning more about them. The location information may occasionally not be posted by the original poster. You might not always have access to the original post containing that data. You’ll want to be able to learn more information in these situations.
Finding Out Where a Picture Was Taken
There are a number of ways to learn more about a picture if there is little to no information about it. You might not get the precise location information for a photo using these options. They can, however, offer additional context regarding the image’s subject.
Google Images
When looking for pictures online, Google Images is a valuable tool. Normally, a user would enter a keyword to find a particular image. To find similar images or the source of a known image, it is also possible to perform a reverse image search.
To search for an image on Google, follow these steps.
- Go to the image.
- Right-click and choose “Copy image address.”
- Visit Google Images and paste the image address in the search bar. Click the magnifying glass to search.
- Scroll through the results until you find one you like. Click it to see additional information.
- Click the “Visit” button to go to the originating webpage.
It’s not a given that you’ll be able to identify the location in the picture if you use a reverse image search. This approach depends on Google being able to search the post. For instance, Google Images might not be able to locate the content if it came from a social media account. Google will also display related images and the websites from which they came.
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EXIF Data
Smartphones automatically store certain information about the photos you take, such as the camera’s specifications, the date, the file size, and the location. These details are EXIF data, but when you upload a photo to a popular social media platform, these details are removed.
However, for posts made to blogs, websites, or other online locations, that data is preserved. On a Mac or Windows computer, you can find this information quickly, but if the photo’s owner removed the EXIF data, there is no way to get it back.
To examine EXIF data on a Mac, adhere to these instructions:
- Right-click the photo and select “Save Image As.”
- The photo may try to save to your downloads folder automatically. Select the folder you want to save to and name the picture. Click “Save.”
- Go to the photo on your computer.
- Right-click the image and select “Get Info.”
- Scroll down until you find the “More Info” section. Click the arrow to extend the information.
- Find latitude and longitude at the end of the section. Copy the coordinates.
- Paste these coordinates into an internet search and click “Search.”
The exact location of the coordinates will pop right up.
To find the photo information on Windows, follow these steps:
- Right-click the photo and select “Save Image As.” The photo may try to save to your downloads folder automatically. Select the folder you want to save to and name the picture.
- Click “Save.”
- Go to the photo on your computer.
- Right-click the image and select “Properties.”
- Go to the “Details” tab.
- You can find the latitude and longitude in the GPS sections. Copy both coordinates.
- Paste the coordinates in an internet search and click “Search.” The exact location will be the first result.
Remember that you can only see these coordinates if the image wasn’t previously stripped of the EXIF data.
How to Find Out Where a Picture Was Taken on Instagram
It can be difficult to pinpoint a picture’s location on Instagram. Instagram photos can be geotagged by the poster, but this is optional and self-reported. The correct name need not be entered in the location field. Users can tag their website as “My Hometown” or “My Favorite Place,” for instance.
Instead of using the location field, many Instagram users prefer to hashtag the place. This boosts engagement more than the location field on Instagram and helps with the algorithm.
It will be clear at the top of the post if a user chooses to share the location of a photo. Other Instagram pictures that have the same location-tagging can be seen by clicking the website.
Keep in mind that unless the poster makes that information available, it is impossible to determine where a photo was taken. Instagram added the security feature so that users’ whereabouts couldn’t be followed against their will. Instagram strips the image of any identifying GPS metadata before publishing it. Therefore, the location where the photo was taken is hidden from anyone who downloads it from a person’s profile.
How to Find Out Where a Picture Was Taken on Facebook
Like Instagram, Facebook allows users to add or remove a location to a photo. This “geotag” is the only way for you to find the site where the photo was taken. Also, the geotag is self-reported, which can lead to inaccuracies. For instance, users can use the location where the image was uploaded rather than where it was taken.
To see the location of a Facebook post photo:
- Go to the Facebook profile of the person who posted the photo.
- Navigate to “Photos” in their timeline.
- Select the image you wish to see and click “View Details.”
- Find “Location Information” and click on it.
- Any location data available will appear.
As mentioned before, this location data will either be where the photo was taken or uploaded. If it’s blank, the user chose not to provide any data when they posted.
How to Find Out Where a Picture Was Taken on Google Earth
There isn’t a simple way to determine the location of a photo taken from Google Earth. Typically, EXIF data is removed, making it impossible to simply download the image to your computer and access the data. Additionally, Google Earth does not allow image searches.
Reverse image searching is the best method for locating a Google Earth image.
- Right-click the image you wish to search and select “Copy image address.”
- Visit Google Images and click the camera icon on the search bar.
- Paste the image address into the search bar then click “Search” button.
- Scroll through the images until you find a result.
- Click the result to view a potential location.
Depending on whether the image was previously posted online outside of Google Earth or Google Maps, you might not find a result for your image. For instance, you probably won’t find anything if you try to find the location of a single, possibly obscure building.
Conclusion
You are not alone if you have ever admired a stunning landscape image and wondered where it was taken. The location of a photo can be determined in a variety of ways. Unfortunately, some methods are restricted to protect individuals’ privacy, but keep in mind that you can always get in touch with the location where you found the image and inquire about it.