Key Takeaways
What this is about
Exchangeable Image File Format (EXIF) data can hold a photo’s date, time, device details, and sometimes its Global Positioning System (GPS) location.
What a photo can and cannot prove
A photo can hint at a place by what it shows, but it cannot reliably give an exact place and time without saved EXIF details.
What often breaks the trail
Sharing a photo through apps or platforms can remove or change key details, including location data.
Story & Details
A quiet scene, a big question
In December 2025, a small canal-side moment drew a common, urgent question: where and when did it happen? The scene itself was calm. Greenish canal water moved in soft ripples. A brick-and-stone edge met the water. Small tufts of grass pushed up between the bricks. A mallard rested near the canal’s lip. Across the water sat a mossy wall, a short ladder down to the canal, and the tops of parked bicycles and cars.
What the eye can guess, and where it stops
Details like canals, bicycles, and brickwork can feel familiar in parts of the Netherlands (Europe) and Belgium (Europe). That kind of visual match can be useful as a clue, but it is not proof. Without a clear street sign, a unique building, or a readable marker, the scene stays unnamed. A sharper demand followed: investigate properly. The answer still stayed the same. A careful look can narrow possibilities, yet it cannot safely claim an exact address or a precise date.
Where “when” and “where” usually live
When a phone or camera takes a photo, it can also save a hidden label: EXIF data. This label may include the capture date and time, the camera model, and camera settings. If location services were on, it may also include GPS coordinates. If that label is missing, there may be nothing to retrieve, no matter how closely the photo is studied.
How people usually find the details
On iPhone, the Photos app can show a photo’s saved details by using the information view, which can display date, time, device details, and a map when location data exists. On Mac, Preview can show location details through its location tools, but only when GPS data is present. On Windows, photo file properties can show a Details area with EXIF fields when the file still contains them. On Android, Google Photos commonly shows key details by opening a photo and viewing its information panel; a recent redesign has made date, time, and location more prominent in the photo view.
A tiny Dutch pocket lesson
Sometimes the fastest way to move from guessing to knowing is simply asking the right question.
Here is a simple pair of Dutch lines used in everyday speech:
Waar is deze foto genomen?
Word-by-word: Waar = where; is = is; deze = this; foto = photo; genomen = taken.
Wanneer is deze foto genomen?
Word-by-word: Wanneer = when; is = is; deze = this; foto = photo; genomen = taken.
Tone and use: These are neutral and polite, suitable for friends, colleagues, or support chats. A natural, slightly more formal option is: Waar is deze foto gemaakt? and Wanneer is deze foto gemaakt? In daily Dutch, genomen and gemaakt both work here.
Conclusions
A photo can feel like a time machine, but it is often more like a postcard. It shows a moment. It suggests a mood. It may hint at a region. The exact where-and-when, when it exists at all, usually sits inside the photo’s EXIF label—quiet, technical, and easy to lose.
Selected References
[1] https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/see-photo-and-video-information-iph0edb9c18f/ios
[2] https://support.apple.com/guide/preview/see-where-a-photo-was-taken-prvw19865/mac
[3] https://support.apple.com/guide/personal-safety/manage-location-metadata-in-photos-ips0d7a5df82/web
[4] https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000618.shtml
[5] https://www.laptopmag.com/how-to/view-image-exif-data-in-windows
[6] https://9to5google.com/2022/07/20/google-photos-how-to-check-an-images-data/
[7] https://www.theverge.com/news/696480/google-photos-sees-several-app-improvements
[8] https://freedom.press/digisec/blog/metadata-101/
[9] https://proton.me/blog/exif-data
[10] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J94qL8Oi9A
Appendix
A1 level A very early stage of English reading and speaking, focused on short sentences, common words, and clear meaning.
Android A mobile operating system used on many phones, often paired with Google Photos for photo viewing and organization.
Belgium A country in Europe, known for cities with canals and historic brick architecture.
Exchangeable Image File Format (EXIF) A standard way for cameras and phones to store technical details inside a photo file, such as capture time, device model, and sometimes GPS location.
File Explorer The built-in Windows tool for browsing files, where photo properties can show EXIF details if the file still contains them.
Global Positioning System (GPS) A satellite-based system that can record a device’s location and, when enabled, can be saved into a photo’s EXIF data.
Google Photos A photo app and service that can display a photo’s date, time, and location details when the information exists in the file or account.
iPhone Photos Apple’s Photos app on iPhone, which can show saved photo details such as date, time, and location when available.
macOS Preview Apple’s built-in Mac app for viewing files, which can display a photo’s location details when GPS data is present.
Mallard A common duck species; the male typically has a green head.
Metadata Data about data; for photos, it means details stored with the file, such as time, device, and location.
The Netherlands A country in Europe, widely associated with canal cities and dense bicycle use in daily life.
WordPress A popular publishing platform that accepts Markdown-formatted text for articles and posts.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 