def _to_degrees(value):
    """
    Helper function to convert the GPS coordinates stored in the EXIF to 
    degrees in float format
    """
    degrees, minutes, seconds = value
    d = float(degrees[0]) / float(degrees[1])
    m = float(minutes[0]) / float(minutes[1])
    s = float(seconds[0]) / float(seconds[1])
    return d + m / 60.0 + s / 3600.0
