Date and Time on Images

This is a strange questions, but I actually need the date and time on my images! I have a Canon 5D Mark II and have never ever desired the date and time on my images, but I have a need for it and for the life of me, cannot figure out how, if it's even possible, to get that function on my camera. I know the date and time is digitally stored within the image, but I need it on the image for viewing. Any help is appreciated.

AndrewCarlton wrote in post #17514874
This is a strange questions, but I actually need the date and time on my images! I have a Canon 5D Mark II and have never ever desired the date and time on my images, but I have a need for it and for the life of me, cannot figure out how, if it's even possible, to get that function on my camera. I know the date and time is digitally stored within the image, but I need it on the image for viewing. Any help is appreciated.

Don't know about your camera, but on mine I see it on the LCD screen

sorry, forgot yo attach the image

No, I am talking about when you print the image. I need it on the print. This is for court purposes.

Do you have LR? If so there is a way to print EXIF data of your choosing below the image.

In the Print Module, go down to the Photo Info,

Hmm ok. I am curious if the courts would consider that manual manipulation of the image. That's what I'm concerned about.

Ok, well you probably will have to testify. Part of that testimony will be to certify the date and time information printed is the same and comes directly from the Meta data. This is done by the software, and you do not type that onto the prints. LR being a DAM / Database program, utilizes fields, just like any database program. The only input you had was to select the appropriate fields from the meta data. The meta data is something that is generated by the camera, not you. Simple question, Did you alter the meta data? Nope. Is it possible with LR, I don't think so, without leaving some sort of record of that occurring. If the court would like, they can compare the printed date and time, with that of the original digital files.

Even if you can find a program that will print (burn) that info onto the front, you will still have to certify/authenticate it via testimony.

How are you manipultaing the image? You are just changing print options. The file does not get changed.

Willie wrote in post #17516683
How are you manipultaing the image? You are just changing print options. The file does not get changed.

Exactly. The opposition (Defendant or Plaintiff) would question IF it was possible to alter that information. Like I stated earlier, LR does not provide that option to alter that Meta Data.

Also it is extremely critical to maintain the integrity of the original files. I would suggest that any media, CF, SD, cards be secured. Nothing removed or added to those cards. It can be an argument, and possibly lead to the prints being not admitted, if the original media can be shown to have been altered. I hope the OP did not transfer the files to his computer then format the cards the images were captured to. If so the OP may have a very long day on the witness stand. Andrew, you do have the training and experience to testify as an expert, don't you?

EDITED
Oops, I did finally find where the Meta Data, Date and Time can be changed.

AndrewCarlton wrote in post #17515184
No, I am talking about when you print the image. I need it on the print. This is for court purposes.

Did the court tell you that they need it? It is information added to the image after the fact. It doesn't prove anything, you could add any date.

I believe that most court require the photographer to provide a sworn affidavit that the image were taken at the time and in the place stated. That is going to do a lot more to convince a court than a date added to the image.

Dan Marchant wrote in post #17516770
Did the court tell you that they need it? It is information added to the image after the fact. It doesn't prove anything, you could add any date.

I believe that most court require the photographer to provide a sworn affidavit that the image were taken at the time and in the place stated. That is going to do a lot more to convince a court than a date added to the image.

THIS^

FWIW, I Changed the Date/Time on an image, went to the print module and the new date and time was shown on the print. LR does show in the Meta Data Panel, this change. Showing the Original "Capture Time" and the changed time.

Taking this one step further, I opened the Raw file that I had changed, in another program (Corel PSP X6), and found the Meta Data reflected the original Capture date/time, not the changed one. However PSP allows changing that information too. So I'm now thinking that most programs that have the ability to do Raw conversions, also allow the altering/changing of Meta Data.

So simply burning and/or printing that on a photo is not going to be sufficient. It's you swearing that you have not altered it.

Just a little side note, I'm not an attorney, and this should be addressed by an attorney, not an internet web board. However I was a LEO for a couple of decades, and during that time was an evidence custodian for a department. Back then the digital cameras were just coming on the scene. We used Sony Digital Mavica, used floppy disks. The disks were turned into the evidence facility, and held until the case was disposed of.

There's a reason why this kit exists...

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com/c/product/319787​-REG/

Dan Marchant wrote in post #17516770
Did the court tell you that they need it? It is information added to the image after the fact. It doesn't prove anything, you could add any date.

I believe that most court require the photographer to provide a sworn affidavit that the image were taken at the time and in the place stated. That is going to do a lot more to convince a court than a date added to the image.

I agree with you. I haven't done any legal work in the digital era but did a lot back in the film days. A few cases involved fatalities and millions of dollars. I had a rubber stamp that certified that the photograph was taken by me and was true and correct. I stamped the back of each print with that and a date stamp and signed each print. Never had a problem with the other side, they agreed to stipulate the pictures and no judge ever had problem with it either. This was all in civil courts.

BTW: I was called to court several times but never had to testify.

There was someone on here a couple years ago with the same type of situation. It happens that the court did not say that they needed the date and time on the printed images - the photographer just assumed he would need that. Don't sweat this unless the court itself tells you that it is necessary.

By the way, anyone can put any date they want into the original EXIF information. How? Just change the date & time in your menu options, then snap away! I don't think any court officials/lawyers in their right mind would accept EXIF data as absolute, indisputable "proof" about anything - it is too easy to make it say anything you want.

mclaren777 wrote in post #17516900
There's a reason why this kit exists...

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com/c/product/319787​-REG/

Holy hell, that's expensive. Never knew it existed on the consumer market. Thanks for the link.