Almost automated geotagging workflow

There is something about seeing a map of my photos that floats my boat. If it floats yours too, and you want to know how I do it, you’re in luck!

1. you gotta grab that GPS data. I need a small device, reasonably durable, good battery life, and Mac compatible. Wintec WBT-201 fits that to a tee. You can see an earlier post on my one aborted attempt to look at a different device. The WBT-201 is so simple, this step is done. Turn it on. That’s it.
2. Take pictures. Keep in mind that you will be syncing the GPS and photos based on time. Make sure to set your camera clock accuratly. Instead of messing with timezones, I’ve taken to just setting the camera to GMT. When I don’t, for some reason I can NEVER get the GPS data and photos to line up.
3. Import and tag your photos.
   1. First use HoudahGPS to get the data off the WBT-201. Free, works over bluetooth perfectly.
   2. Merge the photos and GPS. I use ImageIngester, which also takes care of getting the files off the memory card. (If you import with some other tool, you can also use the excellent HoudahGeo.) In ImageIngester, go to tools->GPS, “read GPS data”, set timezone (London UTC 0 for me), check “enable GPS tagging”, and select close. The import, and it will merge in to any file – CR2 in my case
4. Upload to a site that supports geotagging, such as flickr or smugmug.

That’s it.  The trick, of course, is to remeber to BRING the damn GPS device, and TURN IT ON.  I’m not so good at that.