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Google Image Search Find Your Photos Fast

Updated on April 25, 2021
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Michael is interested in life's little oddities and finds writing helps him to understand the world around him.

Google Image Search

Have you ever wondered, where all of those photos that you uploaded to the web have ended up.

They may have been on Facebook to start with, but they do get shared around and can end up in the most unlikely places.

In some cases they are used by commercial companies to sell products. Wouldn't it be great, if we could find where they all are.

What if someone is using your photos without your permission? Wouldn't you want to know.

Find your photos by using Google Picture Search.

You put in your photo and off it goes; to find every example of that photo on the web.

This information can be very helpful in copyright disputes.

Image search works on both Google Chrome and Mozilla's Firefox browsers.

Molometer's YouTube Channel

Molometer's YouTube Channel
Molometer's YouTube Channel | Source

Alternative Text

Why use alternative text tags on your photos.

When writing a description for your photos, it is useful to bear in mind that many people have visual problems and may rely on the text accompanying the photo.

It serves two purposes. When someone hovers their mouse over the photo, the Alt text appears and can be vocalized by programs such as Microsoft's Narrator.

This text may describe the contents on the photo and give further information on the topic.

It also acts as Meta data that the search engines can use to identify the photo more accurately.

This can be very helpful, if you want your work to be found of course.

The photo on my computer has a number, this matches the copy of the photo on the web.

Now every instance of that photo/number combination will be searched for.

That's just the start of what this tool can do.

Find Your Photos

The old saying, that. 'A picture paints a 1000 words' should be updated to 'An alt tagged picture, can save 1,000's of words.

The image search program in the example below, is associating a picture of an Owl, with sleep disorders, as that is where the picture was used, and where it primarily resides.


Image search

Firstly it searches the web and returns all incidences of that photo so you can see where it is being used.
Firstly it searches the web and returns all incidences of that photo so you can see where it is being used. | Source

Try It Out

Be careful when using the same image on multiply posts. It may be detrimental unless they are closely related.

Let's give it a whirl.

Click on the link below or open another browser window, and type Google image search into your browser.

Then follow the steps replacing my photo selections for your own photos.

Simple User Interface

Click here to upload or paste in an image.  Courtesy of ©Google
Click here to upload or paste in an image. Courtesy of ©Google | Source
 I chose a picture of two owls from my picture files on my home computer..It uploads and then comes the clever bit.
I chose a picture of two owls from my picture files on my home computer..It uploads and then comes the clever bit. | Source

Find Photos

You can see that it appears, that several hubs have used my Owl image. Don't panic! This is not the case.

The reason they 'appear' to be on other hubs, is because we have used similar keywords, or commented on each others hubs, there is a connection between us, and the image.

Secondly the hubpages carousel at the bottom is showing related hubs, that may be referencing my hub, or showing the picture from my hub on another carousel. As seen below.

This is all perfectly normal.

Image Search Engine is Working it all out

Finding the photos on other hub Carousel's shows the Image search engine at work
Finding the photos on other hub Carousel's shows the Image search engine at work | Source

Key Word Associations

So far so good. We have searched the web and found several instances, where this photo has been used.

These picture searches are looking pretty important and not just to Google either.

Hub associated photos. This hub shows another association on the keyword 'Sleep disorders'. These search associations are deep indeed.

No need to back-link at all, just use good keywords, and Alt Tags.

Organic growth will take care of the rest. It may take a little longer but it frees up time.

Owls Appearing on other hubbers Carousel's This appeared here because the Owl picture was used on a hub with the key word Sleep apnea.
Owls Appearing on other hubbers Carousel's This appeared here because the Owl picture was used on a hub with the key word Sleep apnea. | Source

Strawberries Health Benefits

Correct webpage interlinking can help your work rise in search rankings. Don't just link to anything. It must be related and relevant
Correct webpage interlinking can help your work rise in search rankings. Don't just link to anything. It must be related and relevant | Source

Found my Photos of Strawberries

Image search engine did well here. This hub was only published a few days before.
Image search engine did well here. This hub was only published a few days before. | Source

Find New Photos

My next photo search was for my photo of strawberries.

The interesting thing is that at the time of writing, the strawberry article was only 2 weeks old, but it has been on page 2 of Google from the second day of publication.

This result tells us, that it has already been properly identified, assimilated and recognized as a photo of strawberries..

The Google algorithm and picture search functions have fully associated it, with other photographic examples of strawberries content.

It is Google's algorithm doing this associating. Trying to second guess Google is fruitless. Excuse the pun.

Kings College Chapel Cambridge

This iconic image is available as a poster, mug or greetings card.
This iconic image is available as a poster, mug or greetings card. | Source

Image Search on Buildings

Lets try another picture and see what we get. Now this is an interesting result.

New search on King's College Chapel, Cambridge

Here is a photo of the world famous iconic King's College Chapel of Cambridge.

It was just a numbered picture and was not labeled (Alt tagged) as being an image of King's. (it is now)

It has returned 73 instances of the photo. Not all mine, but it has correctly identified the building. Which is pretty amazing.

Google picture search has accurately identified the image, as that of King's college. Which is pretty remarkable in itself.


Punting in Cambridge

Punting in Cambridge
Punting in Cambridge | Source

Find Your Photos

Hope you found this helpful. It is another very impressive tool.

Good hunting and let me know when, where and if, you find your photos in weird places.

Good for spotting copies of your work on the web. It is an amazing time saver.

Thanks for reading see you next time.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

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