img_exif_date_fixer.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
#
# gexiv2 image Exif date fixer.
# Corey Goldberg, 2014


"""Recursively scan a directory tree, fixing dates
on all jpg/png image files.

Each file's Exif metadata and atime/mtime are all
set to the file's ctime.

Modifications are done in-place.

Requires: gexiv2
"""


import os
import time

# GObject-based wrapper around the Exiv2 library.
# sudo apt-get install gir1.2-gexiv2-0.4
from gi.repository import GExiv2


def fix_image_dates(img_path):
    t = os.path.getctime(img_path)
    ctime = time.strftime('%Y:%m:%d %H:%M:%S', time.localtime(t))
    exif = GExiv2.Metadata(img_path)
    exif['Exif.Image.DateTime'] = ctime
    exif['Exif.Photo.DateTimeDigitized'] = ctime
    exif['Exif.Photo.DateTimeOriginal'] = ctime
    exif.save_file()
    os.utime(img_path, (t, t))


if __name__ == '__main__':
    dir = '.'
    for root, dirs, file_names in os.walk(dir):
        for file_name in file_names:
            if file_name.lower().endswith(('jpg', 'png')):
                img_path = os.path.join(root, file_name)
                fix_image_dates(img_path)

It'll be useful with my photo library.

TODO, add more metada.