Why and how photographers should reveal additional picture information in the net – or not

When storing a photo in the Internet, mostly unnoticed various picture-related data will be stored too. These so-called metadata contain every now and then the settings and the GPS location of the admission as well as the names of the photographer. Facebook has extinguished these data with uploads up to now, but is not longer allowed after a court judgment. Are even more personal data stored now on social networks? Prophoto explains for what IPTC-and EXIF-Metadaten are actually good in pictures and how they can be quite simply removed from the image.

IPTC-metadatas make the originator visible

In the case of Facebook we talk about information after the IPTC standard which was released from the Internationally Press Telecommunications Council. This format was invented by newspaper associations and news agencies to simplify the passing on of pictures and the exchange of the works. It makes easier the work of the media if software from the image can automatically select the original caption, the location and the contact data. If Facebook extinguishes the infos, can be heavier understood who holds the rights in the photos. With this argument a photo journalist had complained against Facebook and from the district court of Hamburg had got right. Now the judgment from the 3rd of February, 2016 has become effective.

Professionals can play in her pictures comfortably in data banks thanks to IPTC data and examine after the licence sales what happens with the pictures. The infos help amateurs in the picture management. Who has taken photos, for example, with his Smartphone and has activated the GPS, profits from the fact that pictures can be automatically sorted according to admission place. Thus can be filtered out possibly on iPhone certain photos fast.

Who downloads a picture at the moment on Facebook and wants to see the metadatas, get small information about the dimension of the picture and the color profile. Even under the information „production date“ only the date of the download time is given, not, nevertheless, the real production date of the picture. This might change after the judgment of LG Hamburg in future.

Not every picture contains IPTC-metadatas, but everybody contained EXIF datas

No worry. IPTC data do not appear from Nothing. Who puts down with his picture software nothing on the respective fields, reveals with the passing on of the photo also none of these partly very private data.

However, instead, other data are often automatically raised. Beside the IPTC-Metadaten relevant in the Facebook judgment there is about even the Exchangeable image file format (EXIF). This format is used practically in all current cameras, whether with a DSLR, a Webcam or a Smartphone. In these data geo-information is beside information at the exposure time of the camera, focal length, the ISO value and flash information every now and then also. This is helpful if one liked to exchange himself with other photographers about advantageous admission settings. If one did not want, nevertheless that someone else can provide a movement profile of own photo tour, one should remove at least the place-related infos actively.

The judgment of the district court of Hamburg should provide, primarily, for the fact that the photographers who load her works in the social net do not lose her copyrights because the Metadaten from the picture were removed. Personal data of Facebook users are not primarily concerned. It is unclear still whether Facebook permits in future only for professional’s relevant IPTC data for Bild-Uploads, or whether also detailed EXIF-Metadaten become observabl.

See metadatas and work on them

Though Android users can work on none IPTC-, for it, however, EXIF-Metadaten with the free ext. photo exif editor directly on the Smartphone.

If one shoots with iPhone a photo and sends it to Mac, all EXIF-Metadaten about „preview“ can be indicated under „tools“ – „further information“. If the Smart phon-camera during the admission has access to the location, the rider indicates even the exact place GPS where the photo was shot – including map. The programme only indicates IPTC data when by hand about the rider „catchwords“ so-called day are inserted. Other IPTC data cannot be inserted with the preview programme. However, the location can be removed from the image by click below on the left. The EXIF data, how the used Smartphone, front camera or back camera, Winkel und Co. nevertheless, can not be removed here.

To work on all these data, external programmes must be downloaded. In Lightroom users find an overview all IPTC-and EXIF information in the library module in the rider „Metadaten“. In photo shop of element – to us the programme is given in version 13 – this occurs through a click on „file“ / „file information“. Here only the fields also let themselves for the IPTC data befüllen. To extinguish Metadaten of Smart phon-photos directly on the mobile phone, the free ext. photo exif editor is worthwhile under iOS the ext. liable for costs EXIF-fi (0.99 euros) or under Android.

To visualise the Metadaten of a picture under Windows, an image with the right mouse key must be clicked and be selected in the pop-up menu „qualities“ of the riders „details“. Here the picture qualities can be worked on individually and be extinguished even directly. Adobe photo shop is also suited under Windows well to see Metadaten of pictures and to work on.

Pictures and texts with friendly approval of Prophoto.