Photographing apparatus and photographing method for displaying combined avatar and map information related to a subject

A method for displaying information related to a photographed subject, the method comprising:

• displaying an image including the photographed subject, on a display section of a photographing apparatus;
• retrieving map information recorded in a database system based on both (1) a position of the photographing apparatus at the time the image including the photographed subject was captured and (2) an orientation of the photographing apparatus at the time the image including the photographed subject was captured;
• forming an avatar image by at least one of (A) extracting characteristics of the photographed subject, (B) simplifying contours of the photographed subject, and (C) combining face parts of the photographed subject;
• and
• displaying the avatar image on the display section by superimposing the avatar image on the retrieved map information.

Photographing apparatus for displaying information related to a photographed subject, the apparatus comprising:

• a display section configured to display an image including the photographed subject;
• a communications section adapted to
• 1) retrieve map information recorded in a database system based on both (1) a position of the photographing apparatus at the time the image including the photographed subject was captured and (2) an orientation of the photographing apparatus at the time the image including the photographed subject was captured, and
• 2) retrieve avatar information from the database system using object recognition on the photographed subject;
• and
• a display control section adapted to display the retrieved avatar information on the display section by superimposing the retrieved avatar information on the retrieved map information.