Keeping my earlier commitment to release interesting code created for the project I can now present you with my next piece of code. I’ve had problems with finding a good class to read EXIF-information from images that isn’t written in VB.Net, really poorly written or licensed under GPL so I decided I had to write my own. After looking into the subject I found that it would be quite easy to implement this as extension methods on the regular Image class. I’ve decided to release the code under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike license to allow people to use it anywhere as long as they can admit that they are using it.

/*
 * Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
 * You are free:
 *   to Share — to copy, distribute and transmit the work
 *   to Remix — to adapt the work
 *
 * Under the following conditions:
 *   Attribution — You must attribute the work in the manner
 *   specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way
 *   that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).
 *
 *   Share Alike — If you alter, transform, or build upon this work,
 *   you may distribute the resulting work only under the same, similar
 *   or a compatible license.
 *
 * For more information, see http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
 */
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Drawing.Imaging;
using System.Text;
using System.Drawing;

/*
 * This class is completely based on the documentation
 * of the EXIF format found here: http://www.exif.org/Exif2-2.PDF
 */

namespace CrazyBeavers.Extensions
{
    public static partial class ImageExtensions
    {
        #region Enumerations
        #pragma warning disable 1591

        private enum PropertyType
        {
            ByteArray = 1,
            AsciiString = 2,
            UnsignedShort = 3,
            UnsignedLong = 4,
            UnsignedLongPair = 5,
            Any = 6,
            SignedLongArray = 7,
            UnsignedLongPairArray = 10
        }

        public enum PropertyTag
        {
            ImageWidth = 0x100,
            ImageLength = 0x101,
            NBitsPerSample = 0x102,
            Compression = 0x103,
            PhotometricInterpretation = 0x106,
            Orientation = 0x112,
            SamplesPerPixel = 0x115,
            PlanarConfiguration = 0x11C,
            YCbCrSubSampling = 0x212,
            YCbCrPositioning = 0x213,
            XResolution = 0x11A,
            YResolution = 0x11B,
            ResolutionUnit = 0x128,
            StripOffsets = 0x111,
            RowsPerStrip = 0x116,
            StripByteCounts = 0x117,
            JPEGInterchangeFormat = 0x201,
            JPEGInterchangeFormatLength = 0x202,
            TransferFunction = 0x12D,
            WhitePoint = 0x13E,
            PrimaryChromaticities = 0x13F,
            YCbCrCoefficients = 0x211,
            ReferenceBlackWhite = 0x214,
            DateTime = 0x132,
            ImageDescription = 0x10E,
            Make = 0x10F,
            Model = 0x110,
            Software = 0x131,
            Artist = 0x13B,
            Copyright = 0x8298,
            ExifVersion = 0x9000,
            FlashpixVersion = 0xA000,
            ColorSpace = 0xA001,
            ComponentsConfiguration = 0x9101,
            CompressedBitsPerPixel = 0x9102,
            PixelXDimension = 0xA002,
            PixelYDimension = 0xA003,
            MakerNote = 0x927C,
            UserComment = 0x9286,
            RelatedSoundFile = 0xA004,
            DateTimeOriginal = 0x9003,
            DateTimeDigitized = 0x9004,
            SubSecTime = 0x9290,
            SubSecTimeOriginal = 0x9291,
            SubSecTimeDigitized = 0x9292,
            ImageUniqueID = 0xA420,
            ExposureTime = 0x829A,
            FNumber = 0x829D,
            ExposureProgram = 0x8822,
            SpectralSensitivity = 0x8824,
            ISOSpeedRatings = 0x8827,
            OECF = 0x8828,
            ShutterSpeedValue = 0x9201,
            ApertureValue = 0x9202,
            BrightnessValue = 0x9203,
            ExposureBiasValue = 0x9204,
            MaxApertureValue = 0x9205,
            SubjectDistance = 0x9206,
            MeteringMode = 0x9207,
            LightSource = 0x9208,
            Flash = 0x9209,
            FocalLength = 0x920A,
            SubjectArea = 0x9214,
            FlashEnergy = 0xA20B,
            SpatialFrequencyResponse = 0xA20C,
            FocalPlaneXResolution = 0xA20E,
            FocalPlaneYResolution = 0xA20F,
            FocalPlaneResolutionUnit = 0xA210,
            SubjectLocation = 0xA214,
            ExposureIndex = 0xA215,
            SensingMethod = 0xA217,
            FileSource = 0xA300,
            SceneType = 0xA301,
            CFAPattern = 0xA302,
            CustomRendered = 0xA401,
            ExposureMode = 0xA402,
            WhiteBalance = 0xA403,
            DigitalZoomRatio = 0xA404,
            FocalLengthIn35mmFilm = 0xA405,
            SceneCaptureType = 0xA406,
            GainControl = 0xA407,
            Contrast = 0xA408,
            Saturation = 0xA409,
            Sharpness = 0xA40A,
            DeviceSettingDescription = 0xA40B,
            SubjectDistanceRange = 0xA40C
        }

        public enum Compression
        {
            NotSpecified = 0,
            Uncompressed = 1,
            JpegCompression = 6
        }

        public enum PhotometricInterpretation
        {
            RGB = 2,
            YCbCr = 6
        }

        public enum Orientation
        {
            TopLeft = 1,
            TopRight = 2,
            BottomRight = 3,
            BottomLeft = 4,
            LeftTop = 5,
            RightTop = 6,
            RightBottom = 7,
            LeftBottom = 8
        }

        public enum ExposureMode
        {
            AutoExposure = 0,
            ManualExposure = 1,
            AutoBracket = 2
        }

        public enum ExposureProgram
        {
            Undefined = 0,
            Manual = 1,
            Normal = 2,
            AperturePriority = 3,
            ShutterPriority = 4,
            CreativeProgram = 5,
            ActionProgram = 6,
            PortraitMode = 7,
            LandscapeMode = 8
        }

        public enum MeteringMode
        {
            Unknown = 0,
            Average = 1,
            CenterWeightedAverage = 2,
            Spot = 3,
            MultiSpot = 4,
            Pattern = 5,
            Partial = 6,
            Other = 255
        }

        public enum Flash
        {
            FlashDidNotFire = 0x0000,
            FlashFired = 0x0001,
            StrobeReturnNotDetected = 0x0005,
            StrobeReturnDetected = 0x0007,
            FlashFiredCompulsoryMode = 0x0009,
            FlashFiredCompulsoryModeStrobeReturnNotDetected = 0x000D,
            FlashFiredCompulsoryModeStrobeReturnDetected = 0x000F,
            FlashDidNotFireCompulsoryMode = 0x0010,
            FlashDidNotFireAutoMode = 0x0018,
            FlashFiredAutoMode = 0x00019,
            FlashFiredAutoModeStrobeReturnNotDetected = 0x001D,
            FlashFiredAutoModeStrobeReturnDetected = 0x001F,
            NoFlash = 0x0020,
            FlashFiredRedEyeReduction = 0x0041,
            FlashFiredRedEyeReductionStrobeReturnNotDetected = 0x0045,
            FlashFiredRedEyeReductionStrobeReturnDetected = 0x0047,
            FlashFiredCompulsoryModeRedEyeReduction = 0x0049,
            FlashFiredCompulsoryModeRedEyeReductionStrobeReturnNotDetected = 0x004D,
            FlashFiredCompulsoryModeRedEyeReductionStrobeReturnDetected = 0x004F,
            FlashFiredAutoModeRedEyeReduction = 0x0059,
            FlashFiredAutoModeRedEyeReductionStrobeReturnNotDetected = 0x005D,
            FlashFiredAutoModeRedEyeReductionStrobeReturnDetected = 0x005F
        }

        public enum WhiteBalance
        {
            Auto = 0,
            Manual = 1
        }

        public enum SceneCaptureType
        {
            Standard = 0,
            Landscape = 1,
            Portrait = 2,
            NightScene = 3
        }

        public enum LightSource
        {
            Unkown = 0,
            Daylight = 1,
            Fluorescent = 2,
            Tungsten = 3,
            Flash = 4,
            FineWeather = 9,
            CloudyWeather = 10,
            Shade = 11,
            DaylightFluorescent = 12,
            DayWhiteFluorescent = 13,
            CoolWhiteFluorescent = 14,
            WhiteFluorescent = 15,
            StandardLightA = 17,
            StandardLightB = 18,
            StandardLightC = 19,
            D55 = 20,
            D65 = 21,
            D75 = 22,
            D50 = 23,
            ISOStudioTungsten = 24,
            OtherLightSource = 255
        }

        public enum GainControl
        {
            None = 0,
            LowGainUp = 1,
            HighGainUp = 2,
            LowGainDown = 3,
            HighGainDown = 4
        }

        public enum Contrast
        {
            Normal = 0,
            Soft = 1,
            Hard = 2
        }

        public enum Saturation
        {
            Normal = 0,
            LowSaturation = 1,
            HighSaturation = 2
        }

        public enum Sharpness
        {
            Normal = 0,
            Soft = 1,
            Hard = 2
        }

        public enum SubjectDistanceRange
        {
            Unknown = 0,
            Macro = 1,
            CloseView = 2,
            DistantView = 3
        }

        #pragma warning restore 1591
        #endregion

        #region Properties

        public static DateTime ExifDateTime(this Image image)
        {
            return GetPropertyDateTime(image, PropertyTag.DateTime);
        }

        public static DateTime ExifDateTimeDigitized(this Image image)
        {
            return GetPropertyDateTime(image, PropertyTag.DateTimeDigitized);
        }

        public static DateTime ExifDateTimeOriginal(this Image image)
        {
            return GetPropertyDateTime(image, PropertyTag.DateTimeOriginal);
        }

        public static string ExifMake(this Image image)
        {
            return GetPropertyString(image, PropertyTag.Make);
        }

        public static string ExifModel(this Image image)
        {
            return GetPropertyString(image, PropertyTag.Model);
        }

        public static string ExifImageDescription(this Image image)
        {
            return GetPropertyString(image, PropertyTag.ImageDescription);
        }

        public static string ExifSoftware(this Image image)
        {
            return GetPropertyString(image, PropertyTag.Software);
        }

        public static string ExifArtist(this Image image)
        {
            return GetPropertyString(image, PropertyTag.Artist);
        }

        public static Orientation ExifOrientation(this Image image)
        {
            return (Orientation)GetPropertyUInt16(image, PropertyTag.Orientation);
        }

        public static Flash ExifFlash(this Image image)
        {
            return (Flash)GetPropertyUInt16(image, PropertyTag.Flash);
        }

        public static SceneCaptureType ExifSceneCaptureType(this Image image)
        {
            return (SceneCaptureType)GetPropertyUInt16(image, PropertyTag.SceneCaptureType);
        }

        public static WhiteBalance ExifWhiteBalance(this Image image)
        {
            return (WhiteBalance)GetPropertyUInt16(image, PropertyTag.WhiteBalance);
        }

        public static MeteringMode ExifMeteringMode(this Image image)
        {
            return (MeteringMode)GetPropertyUInt16(image, PropertyTag.MeteringMode);
        }

        public static Compression ExifCompression(this Image image)
        {
            return (Compression)GetPropertyUInt16(image, PropertyTag.Compression);
        }

        public static ExposureMode ExifExposureMode(this Image image)
        {
            return (ExposureMode)GetPropertyUInt16(image, PropertyTag.ExposureMode);
        }

        public static ExposureProgram ExifExposureProgram(this Image image)
        {
            return (ExposureProgram)GetPropertyUInt16(image, PropertyTag.ExposureProgram);
        }

        public static PhotometricInterpretation ExifPhotometricInterpretation(this Image image)
        {
            return (PhotometricInterpretation)GetPropertyUInt16(image, PropertyTag.PhotometricInterpretation);
        }

        public static LightSource ExifLightSource(this Image image)
        {
            return (LightSource)GetPropertyUInt16(image, PropertyTag.LightSource);
        }

        public static GainControl ExifGainControl(this Image image)
        {
            return (GainControl)GetPropertyUInt16(image, PropertyTag.GainControl);
        }

        public static Contrast ExifLightContrast(this Image image)
        {
            return (Contrast)GetPropertyUInt16(image, PropertyTag.Contrast);
        }

        public static Saturation ExifSaturation(this Image image)
        {
            return (Saturation)GetPropertyUInt16(image, PropertyTag.Saturation);
        }

        public static Sharpness ExifSharpness(this Image image)
        {
            return (Sharpness)GetPropertyUInt16(image, PropertyTag.Sharpness);
        }

        public static SubjectDistanceRange ExifSubjectDistanceRange(this Image image)
        {
            return (SubjectDistanceRange)GetPropertyUInt16(image, PropertyTag.SubjectDistanceRange);
        }

        public static Rational ExifExposureTime(this Image image)
        {
            return GetPropertyRational(image, PropertyTag.ExposureTime);
        }

        public static double ExifFNumber(this Image image)
        {
            return GetPropertyRational(image, PropertyTag.FNumber).ToDouble();
        }

        public static double ExifAperture(this Image image)
        {
            return GetPropertyRational(image, PropertyTag.ApertureValue).ToDouble();
        }

        public static Rational ExifSubjectDistance(this Image image)
        {
            return GetPropertyRational(image, PropertyTag.SubjectDistance);
        }

        public static double ExifFocalLength(this Image image)
        {
            return GetPropertyRational(image, PropertyTag.FocalLength).ToDouble();
        }

        public static UInt16 ExifISOSpeedRating(this Image image)
        {
            return GetPropertyUInt16(image, PropertyTag.ISOSpeedRatings);
        }

        public static Rational ExifDigitalZoomRatio(this Image image)
        {
            return GetPropertyRational(image, PropertyTag.DigitalZoomRatio);
        }

        #endregion

        public static bool HasProperty(this Image image, PropertyTag property)
        {
            return Array.IndexOf(image.PropertyIdList, (Int32)property) > -1;
        }

        public static DateTime GetPropertyDateTime(this Image image, PropertyTag property)
        {
            if (!image.HasProperty(property))
                return DateTime.MinValue;

            string value = GetPropertyString(image, property);

            // If first char is blank or string is empty no DateTime is present
            if (value == string.Empty || value[0] == ' ')
                return DateTime.MinValue;

            // DateTime is written as YYYY:MM:DD HH:MM:SS
            // and needs to be converted to YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS
            // to be convertable to a .Net DateTime
            string datePart = value.Substring(0, 10).Replace(':', '-');
            string timePart = value.Substring(11);
            return Convert.ToDateTime(datePart + ' ' + timePart);
        }

        public static string GetPropertyString(this Image image, PropertyTag property)
        {
            if (!image.HasProperty(property))
                return string.Empty;

            PropertyItem item = image.GetPropertyItem((Int32)property);
            if (item.Type != (short)PropertyType.AsciiString)
                return string.Empty;

            byte[] buffer = item.Value;
            return Encoding.ASCII.GetString(buffer).Trim('\0');
        }

        public static UInt32 GetPropertyUInt32(this Image image, PropertyTag property)
        {
            if (!image.HasProperty(property))
                return 0;

            PropertyItem item = image.GetPropertyItem((Int32)property);
            if (item.Type != (short)PropertyType.UnsignedLong)
                return 0;

            byte[] buffer = item.Value;
            return BitConverter.ToUInt32(buffer, 0);
        }

        public static UInt16 GetPropertyUInt16(this Image image, PropertyTag property)
        {
            if (!image.HasProperty(property))
                return 0;

            PropertyItem item = image.GetPropertyItem((Int32)property);
            if (item.Type != (short)PropertyType.UnsignedShort)
                return 0;

            byte[] buffer = item.Value;
            return BitConverter.ToUInt16(buffer, 0);
        }

        public static Rational GetPropertyRational(this Image image, PropertyTag property)
        {
            if (!image.HasProperty(property))
                return Rational.Zero;

            PropertyItem item = image.GetPropertyItem((Int32)property);
            if (item.Type != (short)PropertyType.UnsignedLongPair)
                return Rational.Zero;

            byte[] buffer = item.Value;
            Int32 numerator = BitConverter.ToInt32(buffer, 0);
            Int32 denominator = BitConverter.ToInt32(buffer, 4);

            Rational rational = new Rational(numerator, denominator);
            return rational;
        }
    }

    public struct Rational
    {
        private Int32 _numerator;
        public Int32 Numerator
        {
            get
            {
                return _numerator;
            }
            set
            {
                _numerator = value;
            }
        }

        private Int32 _denominator;
        public Int32 Denominator
        {
            get
            {
                return _denominator;
            }
            set
            {
                if (value == 0)
                    throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException("Denominator", 0, "Denominator can't be zero.");

                _denominator = value;
            }
        }

        public static Rational Zero
        {
            get
            {
                return new Rational(0, 1);
            }
        }

        public Rational(Int32 numerator, Int32 denominator)
        {
            _numerator = 0;
            _denominator = 1;
            Numerator = numerator;
            Denominator = denominator;
        }

        public override string ToString()
        {
            return string.Format("{0}/{1}", Numerator, Denominator);
        }

        public double ToDouble()
        {
            return (double)Numerator / Denominator;
        }
    }
}

This introduces several new methods to the Image class starting with “Exif” such as ExifDateTime, ExifMake and ExifExposureTime. The Rational class was inserted into the same code block in this sample, in the main project it has it’s own file under CrazyBeavers.Math. Hope you enjoy this piece of code!

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;
using System.Web.UI;

/// <summary>
/// Holderclass for extension methods
/// </summary>
public static class ExtensionMethods
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Recursively searchs for all instances of a specified control type.
    /// </summary>
    /// <typeparam name="T">The type of control to search for.</typeparam>
    /// <param name="control">The control to search from.</param>
    /// <returns>A List<> with the found controls.</returns>
    public static List<T> FindControls<T>(this Control control) where T : Control
    {
        List<T> myList = new List<t>();
        FindControls</t><t>(control, ref myList);
        return myList;
    }

    private static void FindControls<T>(Control control, ref List<T> controlList) where T : Control
    {
        for (int i = 0; i < control.Controls.Count; i++)
        {
            Control currentControl = control.Controls[i];
            if (currentControl is T)
            {
                T typedControl = control.Controls[i] as T;
                controlList.Add(typedControl);
            }

            FindControls<T>(currentControl, ref controlList);
        }

    }
}

To call it you just invoke FindControls<Control>() on any object that derives from Control (i.e. Page, Label, Calendar, the list can go on forever), see the sample below. Hope you find some use for it!

List<HtmlMeta> meta = Page.FindControls<HtmlMeta>();