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Author Topic: Google maps, brilliant!  (Read 6035 times)

tom b

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Google maps, brilliant!
« on: January 13, 2011, 02:15:20 pm »

I'm just in the process of changing my workplace and I have just purchased an iPad as a substitute for the broadsheet I read every workday with a coffee. Why mention that, well it's because at present I'm on holidays and I've just come to realise how valuable google maps are for finding photography locations.

Just in the last two days I have found two locations that may have evaded me. The first was could have been found by trial and error. I drove past a sign with two destinations, I could have used trial and error and just taken the turn off. However by checking it up using Google maps I could see that the road ended up at a beach that was reasonably close.

The second location needed Google maps to find it. When I reached my destination I looked up Google maps to see what was in the area in terms of possible photography locations. At the street level I found a headland with a reserve and walking tracks. The site was unsignposted and it had a lighthouse and some decent walking tracks. I've driven past the road more than a dozen times without knowing it was there.

Any this was just a reminder that Google maps is so good for helping you find that next photographic destination that is not on a street sign. I'll certainly be using it for the rest of my holidays.

Cheers,
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Tom Brown

Lonnie Utah

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Re: Google maps, brilliant!
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2011, 02:52:30 pm »

Google earth is even better, as it can show not only sunrise and sunset times, but what areas illuminate at what times of the day.  It's pretty cool.
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Ken Bennett

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Re: Google maps, brilliant!
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2011, 09:28:16 pm »

Yup, and the satellite view often provides excellent aerial scouting for architectural photography.

Add The Photographer's Ephemeris and it provides even more information. Haven't tried the iPad version yet, but the Mac version is awesome.
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chrisn

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Re: Google maps, brilliant!
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2011, 11:07:17 pm »

Lonnie,

I've never noticed that Google Earth allows you to view how the light hits a landscape at different times of day. I just looked at it again now and can't see how to do that. Could you please tell me where to find that feature?

Best,
Chris
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Chris Nicholson
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Lonnie Utah

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Re: Google maps, brilliant!
« Reply #4 on: January 15, 2011, 10:00:37 am »

I don't have it on this computer so, I'm going from memory and if I'm wrong, forgive me.  There are several icons on the top tool bar.  One has a sun on it.  click that (I think).

Good luck,
L
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chrisn

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Re: Google maps, brilliant!
« Reply #5 on: January 15, 2011, 10:45:24 am »

Thank you for replying. Unfortunately I still don't see it. Maybe it's not available for every area on the map.
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Chris Nicholson
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wolfnowl

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Re: Google maps, brilliant!
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2011, 12:02:36 pm »

Chris:  This is what Lonnie is referring to.  Maybe you're using an earlier version of Google Earth.

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If your mind is attuned t

chrisn

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Re: Google maps, brilliant!
« Reply #7 on: January 15, 2011, 01:48:09 pm »

Ah, got it. The feature is in the desktop application, not in the browser app. I'll be playing with my new toy now, if anyone's looking for me...

Thank you.
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Chris Nicholson
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JTPhotographics

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Re: Google maps, brilliant!
« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2011, 04:51:00 pm »

I love google earth (and google maps) and also use it in conjunction with the Photographer's Ephemeris.

I also tend to use http://www.panoramio.com/ to see what other people have photographed in a location. This has helped me to discover loads of new places.
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tom b

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Re: Google maps, brilliant!
« Reply #9 on: January 15, 2011, 07:14:23 pm »

Cool, just looked up panoramio for Pedro Point, NSW and there was the rock that I had just taken a photograph of. Thanks, I'll have to check out some more areas.

Cheers,
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Tom Brown

tom b

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Re: Google maps, brilliant!
« Reply #10 on: January 18, 2011, 12:56:56 am »

I've just been given a reminder of the other great source of information on good locations. Local knowledge, my B&B owner just pointed me to a location that I wouldn't have thought about going to. Nice spot but the weather was a bit dull.

Cheers,
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Tom Brown

RichardArran

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Re: Google maps, brilliant!
« Reply #11 on: March 21, 2011, 08:41:00 am »

It is indeed a fantastic tool for research. I'm also integrating it onto my website so people can see where I took the shot.
Just working on my New Zealand photos at the moment, but doing it on all of them.

New Zealand Landscape Photos

feppe

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Re: Google maps, brilliant!
« Reply #12 on: March 21, 2011, 01:46:09 pm »

It is indeed a fantastic tool for research. I'm also integrating it onto my website so people can see where I took the shot.
Just working on my New Zealand photos at the moment, but doing it on all of them.

New Zealand Landscape Photos

That's a nice, clean use of the API. I'm using it on main page as a map. It has limited functionality due to the API's limitations on clustering - you have to zoom quite deeply in some places to see the photos. Also, photos taken in the same location don't show up unless I spread them around.

Here an article about clustering - I'm using markerclusterer.
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