When I transfer photos from my camera (Canon EOS 6D) to MacOS, the Finder columns DATE CREATED and DATE MODIFIED will be from the exact time the photo was taken.
When I convert these photos via Adobe Bridge > Right click an image > Export to > Custom Export and make sure to set metadata export to ALL, then MacOS Finder columns DATE CREATED and DATE MODIFIED will show the converted photos as having been taken froim the time when I CONVERTED to photos.
Then, in Apple Photos, on my Mac (version 15.5), I import the converted photos, Apple Photos will show the DATE CREATED and DATE MODIFIED from the time, when the photos were taken.
What I’m trying to say is that I’m SUPER puzzled why MacOS shows the converted photos DATE CREATED and DATE MODIFIED as from being from the time I converted the photos, and NOT from when I took the photos.
Maybe macOS Finder uses filesystem metadata (creation date/time of a new file containing the converted photo) and Apple Photos uses EXIF metadata (the date/time you took the photo)?
Are you converting the file type in your custom export from Adobe Bridge? For instance, if you are shooting in Canon’s RAW format and export to JPG or similar in your export. In that case, the exported file is a new file to the file system, and it is being CREATED at the time of export.
I believe @Rob is onto something in that Finder isn’t too conserned with the EXIF data, but Photos reads and uses it on import. You can probably see this if you open the file in “Preview” too and look at the EXIF data there (Cmd-I brings up the inspector window).
Update:
I was looking at an old image on my NAS and found that it had a CREATED date 20 months after it’s UPDATE date. Probably due to the fact that I copied the file over to the NAS at that time, but quite a confusing piece of information logically. Also, as it was shot on and iPhone 11, there was no date/time information in the EXIF field. It was however date/time information in the TIFF section and date (without time) in the GPS section. Looks like we’re having plenty of ways to attach meta-data to photos, and that different cameras use it in different ways.
The first observation indicates that exporting a photo via Adobe Bridge is equivalent to creating a new file at the Finder level. Correspondingly, the second observation is that metadata for the photo is properly retained during the export process.
In summary, the confusion should not be why the Finder shows what it shows. The investigation should focus on why the export process in Adobe Bridge generates the equivalent of a new file.
Finder’s timestamps are file timestamps. If Bridge is doing its job, it will maintain the copious metadata inside the file, which is where you will find capture date, along with, possibly, other dates,
I’d wager Photos will also show you other information taken from your camera, such as the camera and lens info and, if present, location.
You used to be able to get Finder to show some other metadata but I don’t think you can see the capture date. Third party Finder replacements may be able to.
