The Troubles of a Travel Photography Enthusiast
As a passionate travel photography enthusiast, I take a huge number of photos wherever I go. From magnificent natural landscapes to vibrant street life, from iconic landmarks to hidden gems, my camera and phone are always busy. Last year alone, I took over 15,000 travel photos!
However, the post-trip photo organization work has always been a nightmare for me. The traditional way of organizing photos is nothing more than creating folders by date and location, but this method has many problems:
- Separation of photos and geographical locations: Although I know where the photos were taken, I can’t intuitively see their locations on the map
- Memories are not vivid enough: Simply browsing photos cannot evoke complete travel memories
- Sharing is not intuitive: When sharing travel experiences with friends, I need to constantly switch between photos and maps
- Difficulty finding specific photos: To find photos of a certain attraction or moment, I need to rummage through a large number of folders
I’ve always dreamed of a way to make my travel photos “return” to their shooting locations, allowing me to relive my travel experiences as if “flying” on a map.
Discovering a Treasure Tool: Photos to Google Earth
By chance, I saw someone recommending the “Photos to Google Earth/Ovi Maps” software on a photography forum. With a try-and-see attitude, I visited the official website (https://s.wtsolutions.cn/gps.html) and started my geographical album journey.
First-time Usage Experience
For my first test, I selected over 500 photos taken during my trip to Yunnan last year. The software operation is extremely simple:
- Open the software and select Chinese as the language
- Directly drag the photos to the software interface
- The software automatically reads the GPS information in the photos
- Click the “Export to KMZ” button
- Import the generated KMZ file into Google Earth
When I opened the generated KMZ file in Google Earth, I was shocked by what I saw! All photos were accurately marked at their shooting locations. I could use Google Earth’s flight feature to start from Kunming, follow my travel route, and view photos from Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La in sequence. Each photo seemed to take me back to the moment it was taken, and that immersive feeling is incomparable to traditional photo albums.
Creating My Geographical Album
1. Categorize by Travel Themes
Now, I create a separate KMZ file for each trip, such as “2025 Yunnan Journey”, “2024 Europe Trip”, “2023 Tibet Road Trip”, etc. This way, I can open the KMZ file of a specific trip at any time to relive that travel memory.
2. Combine with Map Storytelling
Through Google Earth, I can see the distribution of photos on the map, which allows me to better tell travel stories. For example, in my Yunnan trip, I can start from Kunming and go west along the Yunnan-Tibet line, telling my experiences and feelings at each location. This way is more vivid and interesting than simply displaying photos.
3. Share My Travel Experiences
In the past, when sharing travel photos with friends, I always had to show them one by one or send a long photo link. Now, I just need to share the generated KMZ file with them, and they can “explore” my travel route and view photos they are interested in on Google Earth. This interactive sharing method is deeply loved by my friends.
4. Discover Unexpected Travel Gains
Through the geographical album, I discovered some unexpected gains from my travels. For example, during my Europe trip, I found that my photos taken in Paris were mainly concentrated in famous attractions like the Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum, while ignoring some hidden alleys and cafes. This made me realize that I should pay more attention to local life details during my next trip.
Software Usage Tips
1. Ensure Photos Contain GPS Information
The software needs to read GPS information from photos to mark locations on the map. Most smartphones and modern cameras support automatic GPS information addition, but some cameras require manual activation of this function. Before traveling, be sure to check if your device has GPS positioning function enabled.
2. Reasonably Use Different Export Formats
The software supports exporting three formats:
- KMZ format: Used for viewing in Google Earth and Ovi Maps
- CSV format: Used for creating detailed travel logs and statistical data
- GeoJSON format: Used for integration with other GIS software
I usually export KMZ format for daily viewing and CSV format for creating travel blogs and journals.
3. Upgrade to Professional Version
The free version can only process up to 6 photos at most, which is obviously not enough for travel enthusiasts. I didn’t hesitate to purchase the professional version (perpetual license, only 6.99 USD), so I can process thousands of photos at once and use all advanced features permanently.
4. Use Desktop Offline Version
Although the software provides an online version, I recommend using the desktop offline version more. The desktop version has faster processing speed and can be used without a network connection, protecting photo privacy.
The New Future of Travel Photos
Photos to Google Earth software has brought new vitality to my travel photos. It has turned my photos from isolated images into “memory points” on the map. Through Google Earth, I can “fly” back to those beautiful travel moments at any time, reliving the mood and feelings of that time.
For travel photography enthusiasts, this software is undoubtedly a treasure tool. It not only solves the problem of photo organization but also provides a new way to preserve and share travel memories. If you are also a travel and photography lover, you might as well try Photos to Google Earth software to create your own geographical album!
Visit the official website now: https://s.wtsolutions.cn/gps.html, and start your geographical album journey!