Index: trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/tools/ExifReader.java
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/tools/ExifReader.java	(revision 12984)
+++ trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/tools/ExifReader.java	(revision 12985)
@@ -231,5 +231,6 @@
             value = Double.isNaN(deg) ? 0 : deg + (Double.isNaN(min) ? 0 : (min / 60)) + (Double.isNaN(sec) ? 0 : (sec / 3600));
 
-            if (dirGps.getString(gpsTagRef).charAt(0) == cRef) {
+            String s = dirGps.getString(gpsTagRef);
+            if (s != null && s.charAt(0) == cRef) {
                 value = -value;
             }