Description of need:
Adding an ability for identifiers to rotate an image on-the-fly (without actually modifying the image), will make it easier to identify images that have been uploaded sideways. We already can adjust brightness.
Feature request details: When using the Identify feature on desktop, when identifiers click on an observation, a modal opens. The image pane is on the left. Currently, identifiers are able to change the brightness of an image (without modifying the original image), or open an image in a new window. Iād like to be able to rotate an image on the fly this way as well - where the image rotation is done client-side, without modifying the original image. Rotating at 90 degrees would be nice, although other options might also be helpful. The screenshot presents a use case where this would be handy.
Great idea. iNat regularly rotates images incorrectly when uploading them. They appear correctly rotated on my phone and computer but iNat decides to turn them seemingly at random regardless. I am sure many others encounter this and have given up manually rotating the images as they upload observations. This will allow all identifiers to make the image suitable for their needs.
I like this idea. I started seeing this more often within the last year and I think I read that the latest OS for Android was the problem, so having this ability on iNat would solve this now and if it occurs again in the future.
The current rotation issue so far seems to have stemmed from the way some newer Samsung devices (or newer Samsung operating systems) store metadata. The next Android release should fix this. I agree that looking at these improperly-rotated photos is frustrating when identifying, but if that fix basically reduces these to zero in the future, do you think this would still be a useful function? Just trying to gauge its usefulness outside of this case.
I think itās worthwhile because 1. not everyone will update their software to get rid of the bug (esp since I most frequently see it in what seems to be new users taking photos of cultivated plants) and 2. a similar bug may arise in the future, so I donāt like the idea of leaving no resiliency here
For me, yes. I like to look at grasses and those tend to get uploaded in all sorts of funny ways. Some people take āupside downā shots looking down at the panicle, or intentional sideways shots to show the length along their arm - Iāve done both of these myself because sometimes thatās the easiest way to capture something that shows relative size or form.
Sometimes it might be helpful to tilt a photo just a bit when itās not needing to be rotated, but could benefit from something more minor likeā¦ letās say 23 degree rotation.
Itās a good question, as itās hard to get a sense of how many of the sideways photos Iāve noticed are from the bug.
Examining this with further thought, after letting it sit - still I land on āyes.ā
The photo that I used as an example here is not one that was rotated due to a phone bug - but rather, one where the plant is at an awkward angle and the ground slightly rotated.
Running through IDs recently, I have come across several dozen from the same person that undoubtedly were caused by the bug. Those would be, of course, great to flip to view better - and then there are others that just a slight rotation would make it easier to see things more clearly - phyllaries facing up, etc.
I know it would clutter the UI. Technically I think itās one that would be on the easier end to implement when compared to some items I see in the feature request - so I suspect it comes down to cost / benefit of UI clutter. Maybe a general on-the-fly image editing UI could be one way this could be done - Iām curious how often those bright / darken buttons get used, and if they might be nestable within something that allows for client-side āeditingā - a suite of options to brighten, darken, rotate, etc.
Yes, I can definitely see a scenario where someone is holding their phone at an odd angle that causes the image to come out rotated wrong. Iāve had this issue taking photos of my food, etc. It would be irritating if it happened with plants and other organisms.
I would say Iāve seen at least occasional mis-rotated photos for as long as Iāve been around. Iāve even uploaded some because my phone isnāt the best at getting the angle right and I sometimes forget to rotate - and at least as far as Iām concerned, rotating on iNat doesnāt seem to be working (I tried again to rotate photos yesterday but it doesnāt work), which leaves the only option being to reupload. So yes, I think it would be worthwhile, though Iād like whatever bug stops photo rotation from working fixed too.
