where-was-this-taken

Geolocate and authenticate photos and videos using metadata, reverse image search, and shadow analysis.

38|2|Updated Aug 2, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/UseOSINT/Skills --skill where-was-this-taken-useosint
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: where-was-this-taken
Source: https://github.com/UseOSINT/Skills/tree/main/skills/where-was-this-taken
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/UseOSINT/Skills --skill where-was-this-taken-useosint

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Verifying where and when a photo or video was captured — and whether it is authentic — requires chaining many fragile techniques in the right order, and doing them wrong destroys evidence or produces confident but false findings. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Evidence-safe workflow: Enforces evidentiary handling first — hashing originals, working on copies, extracting EXIF metadata before any transformation destroys it. - Multi-technique verification: Orchestrates metadata extraction, reverse image search for provenance, visual geolocation from pixels, chronolocation from shadows, and manipulation checks. - Graded findings: Produces a location with a confidence radius, a time window, and an authenticity assessment, each graded (Confirmed, Probable, Region only, Excluded, Unresolved) with its evidence chain. - Use Case: Given a photo claimed to show an event at a specific place and date, run the workflow to independently confirm or refute the claim, ending in a sourced report suitable for litigation, insurance, or disinformation analysis. ## Quick Start Verify where this attached photo was taken and whether it is authentic, then give me a graded location finding with a confidence radius.

Frequently Asked Questions about where-was-this-taken

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I find out where a photo was taken?▼

Extract EXIF metadata first for GPS coordinates, then run reverse image searches to find earlier captioned copies, and geolocate visually from clues like signage, plates, and terrain. Confirm candidates against satellite and street-level imagery before grading the finding.

How to verify if a photo is real or manipulated?▼

Check physical consistency: shadow convergence across objects, reflection geometry, and perspective and scale. Compare the embedded thumbnail against the main image and inspect the software chain in metadata for editing artifacts.

Can I determine the date a photo was taken from shadows?▼

Yes, chronolocation uses shadow azimuth for the sun's bearing and shadow-length ratio for elevation, solved against a sun-position calculator for the confirmed location. Expect two possible date bands, broken by foliage, snow, or dated objects in frame.

Does EXIF GPS data prove where a photo was taken?▼

No, GPS coordinates in EXIF are a writable field and count as a lead, not an answer. Verify them independently through visual geolocation, using GPSImgDirection to check that the camera bearing matches the view.

Why should metadata be extracted before editing an image?▼

Cropping, rotating, upscaling, or even opening a file in some editors rewrites or strips EXIF tags. Hash the original, set it read-only, and run metadata extraction on a copy before any transformation.