I can understand very well, how this can happen quite easily @ErmesT. The title Update suggests the false impression to the user you may update a previously uploaded photo with a caption to earn 10 points.
Google Maps does not provide a user interface descriptive enough and - as far as I know - there is no warning that you create duplicates by using two are more of the following ways to upload the same photo:
via the Update section
attached to a review
directly to the place listing
as support for an edit, e.g. changing opening hours
as a response to Googleās suggestion to add more photos
Fully agree @WilfriedB , as the UI has never been very powerful in helping us to avoid mistakes. On the contrary, itās asking us to add photos that we already added.
This was the subject of one of my first interaction āin personā with the team, back on 2017, during my first LG Summit. Hopefully, 8 years later, they may want to develop something to help us.
But when this is systematic, as in the case of @giteshsharma , there is a profound lack of understanding not only of the rules but also of the purpose of Google Maps. Rules that we all have confirmed to have read, but that few have actually read. We feel cool, we score a lot of points by uploading the same photos two, three, sometimes even four times. Then one morning they wake us up and we are no longer Local Guides. So I think we should all ask ourselves a question: what is the purpose of our contributions, and are they really useful? Local Guides in The Mirror - How useful are our contributions?
This would avoid us making mistakes even if there were no rules.
I totally agreed with you sir @WilfriedB@ErmesT . Currently reading the article that you both shared and I will take care of next time. For now I am removing all images which duplicate on places.
Great, @giteshsharma , you are doing well
Understanding the scope of Google Maps will increase also your capacity to edit.
Just donāt forget to remove also all the redundant (very similar) photos.
According to maps redundancy is just a trick to increase your points without adding any additional information in Maps.
If you need some example please let me know
No, I donāt need any example, all the senior LGs like you should keep guiding me like this, everything will be fine. I am currently removing all the unwanted photos (similar or duplicate).
Interestingly I was reading this morning how schools in many places around the world are now locked with all reviews, photos and ratings being removed due to privacy complaints and mischief.