Uploading old photos to map ok or not?

[StevenBerlin]

@AdamGT @WilfriedB @abermans @tony_b

Hi all, tagged a few of the regulars. Just a question about uploading some older photos i took about 4 years ago. I recently removed these from maps since they had no location to them. So i still have them on my computer, and thought about re-uploading them. I noticed they have no geo-coords like most photos do on my cell. Thats probably because i saved and moved them to my pc years ago.

So, is it ok to upload these again to maps? Given they are 4 years old. Also no address if you scroll on the photo. But they do represent the place. It has not changed. Thoughts? Suggestions? I probably should tag Mort

@MortenCopenhagen

[SholaIB]

Hello @StevenBerlin

Normally any experienced local guides should be able to answer your question if possible and necessary. Some of the ones you tagged could be busy !!!

Anyway uploading a current photo of a place is your best bet as a local guide. 4 years is a long time. My candid advise would be don’t upload them. Especially if there has been changes made to the POI.

Although you claim the place hasn’t change yet,the beauty of the place can’t be the same now. It could be that the paint on the building is a bit faded now or washed out. Maybe some other details have either been improved or otherwise. If you can get back to the POI,do so and get a current photo of the place(s). Thank you for asking.

Happy guiding
Cheers

[abermans]

@StevenBerlin

As I was tagged, I will give an option and an answer.

Logically it should have been:
if you check the location and think your photo still has value for map users, then you should be allowed to upload it.
For example to a local location that still does not have good coverage.
Popular places like storefronts and restaurants are likely changing and 4 years is a long time, on the other hand castles or status are likely fine…

HOWEVER the answer is don’t and be careful!

My personal experience was:
I had pictures taken from business trips to Zurich and Stockholm during January and February 2024.
You may recall that in February we started to suffer from the “Great cures count refresh pains” before maps changed view count method.
While this happened, I kept those photos aside and slowed uploads.

About two months ago (a year late since visits), I decided to upload these on bulk (took several days).
I did not realize but somehow these were tagged as “invalid”. 100s and 100s of photos and videos…

Not sure what was the reason, but other media contributions from other locations and later dates were fine.
Cutting a short story long… I got banned (no formal explanation beyond invalidated policy) and was VERY lucky (after much begging) to get my local guide life back.

I don’t know what triggered the problem (could be something else but I suspect it was the dates).

We are not given specific instructions by maps but I now try and upload my contributions as fast as I can (tricky when you travel much and take many snaps but…)

IMO. Not worth the pain.

[StevenBerlin]

@SholaIB @abermans
Excellent explanations by both of u! I shall NOT upload them again, and if i make it back there, i will do some new photos. Thx again for the quick replies.

[tony_b]

@StevenBerlin I’m glad to read the responses and warnings by @SholaIB and @abermans. I was going to say the complete opposite, but they seem to be speaking from knowledge or experience.

I have a number of photos with zero views, all uploaded after the February 7th transition last year. My intention was to start deleting these and re-uploading them to Google Maps to see if I would get better results.

Now I’m not so sure. Will follow this thread with you to see what others have to say about it.

[BudionoS]

@StevenBerlin In my opinion, old photos, if the physical condition is still the same now, it’s okay to upload them. But if it’s very different, you should take a new photo to contribute to Google Maps. So that it’s more accurate and up to date

[WilfriedB]

@SholaIB

Some of the ones you tagged could be busy !!!

Or sleeping! Don’t ignore the different timezones @SholaIB

Anyway, an interesting discussion and I am not sure whether all “experienced local guides” would come to the same conclusion. In my opinion, the key point was not discussed yet:

@StevenBerlin

I noticed they have no geo-coords like most photos do on my cell.

To me, this would be the strongest reason for not to post again. How can Google tell, it is really that place?

Of course, the next question would be “Did the POI change?”. I could imagine situations where you are sure the place did not change, but you don’t have newer photos (no camera while re-visiting, bad quality, bad weather …).

Same as you @abermans, I don’t have clue, why you were banned, but one thing makes me suspicious: “… upload these on bulk (took several days). …” and “… 100s and 100s of photos and videos …” I cannot imagine uploading photo some months later to be a problem, I would never upload too many of them at once. … just my thought on this without having any evidence.

@tony_b

I was going to say the complete opposite,

I would agree with you @tony_b, except for my point for the missing geo tag tags, I mentioned above.

@tony_b

My intention was to start deleting these and re-uploading them to Google Maps to see if I would get better results.

I might be wrong, but I am convinced deleting and re-uploading doesn’t change anything. It seems to me, over time all my photos gain views, the question is only how long it will take, but worth a try, anyway.

@BudionoS

if the physical condition is still the same now, it’s okay to upload them.

I agree with you, as long as the photos a geo-tagged. Otherwise, no!

[tony_b]

@WilfriedB

I would agree with you @tony_b, except for my point for the missing geo tag tags, I mentioned above.

Wilfried, I’m puzzled by your comments on geo-tagging. I always thought this was an optional setting, and it was deliberately OFF on my old phone. Now learning my new phone, I struggled to find the setting but I see it is at ON. I would’ve switched it off now if it wasn’t for this discussion.

As for uploading photos later, what is a good time frame? Due to my relatively low volume of photography at home, I saved the photos from my last major overseas trip and uploaded a few each day over two months after I returned home. (Thousands of miles away, weeks after the fact, and no geotags).

[SamanthaSheehy]

Hello @tony_b l have the same question for @WilfriedB … I had always assumed that the lack of a location embedded in whatever photo I contribute, was not a necessary factor in getting a five-point contribution.

In the past, I’ve added many photos to Google maps that do not have a geolocation, but that I check a million times to ensure that it is, indeed is a photo of the correct place…

[WilfriedB]

@tony_b

Thousands of miles away, weeks after the fact, and no geotags

@SamanthaSheehy

I’ve added many photos to Google maps that do not have a geolocation

It seems, my assumption was wrong then.

[StevenBerlin]

@WilfriedB @SholaIB @tony_b

This might be a good test. I am going to share a photo i took and uploaded to maps. It was taken by a regular camera about 8 years ago and then uploaded about 5 years. Has no geo-coords. Let me know if its public or not. Interesting thread here.

Slide Rock State Park · Sedona, Arizona

[WilfriedB]

Yes, it is public @StevenBerlin!

[tony_b]

@StevenBerlin

Has no geo-coords. Let me know if its public or not.

Yes @StevenBerlin It is public. I can see your photo.

[TerryPG]

Call me stupid , but how or where do I find the geo location???

[abermans]

Camera setting on android.

[abermans]

@WilfriedB
I think you got my meaning wrong… by “bulk upload” I meant uploading many photos to many locations. Not uploading many similar photos to few.

With the exception of very LGs that keep selective contributions. Most of us, are what I call “bulk uploader” that photo most of what is in our path.

On distinct location contributions,we are doing well..

[tony_b]

@TerryPG

how or where do I find the geo location?

@TerryPG you can tap to open any of the photos on your phone, then tap Details. Scroll to the bottom of the Details pane and it will tell you exactly where you were when you took it.

Looking at the few photos I’ve taken with my new phone this week, I can see this, but that info is missing from the hundreds of older photos I have stored from my old phones.

[Ssiddharth2000]

Hi @StevenBerlin Thanks for asking this question, I’m sure many others might have the same confusion. My advice would be to not upload these pics. They’re 4 years old, and even though the place hasn’t changed but many times the aesthetic beauty, natural beauty of even the storefront design undergoes changes in 4 years. Hence, we sh avoid uploading old pictures. Hope this helps.

[WilfriedB]

Good morning @TerryPG!

@TerryPG

how or where do I find the geo location?

It seems the terminology got a bit confusing. What I meant are geo tags (in @abermans’ screenshot called location tags ), when geographic coordinates are embedded with the metadata of a photo.

I was assuming, the AI filter of Maps checks them after upload, but as it seems, I was wrong with that.

I also assumed, most camera apps of the smartphones add them by default, unless you purposely switch it off, but @tony_b suggested the opposite.

I geo tag all my photos since 15 years at least, for pictures taken with the DSLR i use an external tracker device. I even do it manually for scanned photos, provided I still know the place.

For existing photos, you find longitude/latitude under details of the photo in the gallery or other photo viewers, while Google Photos just shows the position on the map instead of the numeric coordinates. Also Windows explorer shows it under Details:

[WilfriedB]

Hello @StevenBerlin,
having said it is public, a question to you Steven:
Where did you take the link from? Was it from My Contributions->Photos or the place listing under By Me?

I have the impression, while it is public, it ended up being “semi hidden”. I scrolled down under the All tab in the listing and did not find it or did I overlook it? Obviously, Maps did consider the date and doesn’t show it under the Recent tab.