Getting a Direct Image From Address With Google Street View Image API - google-maps

Question

I am using the static image API (where you pass a URL to Google and it returns an image). My issue is the images google is returning are sometimes not straight-on/clear view of the address. I am looking to get the same image as what the Google Maps search feature comes up with as a thumbnail.
I have read the Google Documentation for this API. An example URL is: https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/streetview?parameters&size=640x640&fov=50&location=4113+Hartford+Dr+Garland+TX
If I put this same address (4113 Hartford Dr, Garland, TX) directly into Google Maps, I get a much cleaner image.
I have experimented with changing the FOV value. My only other idea is to use heading, but I am unsure about this.
The end implementation is in Excel using VBA.
Let me know if you need any additional information.

Answer 1

You are going to have to compute the heading. I don't have the raw math for that, but here is an example using the JS API, if that's an option.
function getStreetView(lat, lng) {
let panorama = new google.maps.StreetViewPanorama(
document.getElementById('panorama'), {
position: {lat: lat, lng: lng}
})
let service = new google.maps.StreetViewService
service.getPanoramaByLocation(panorama.getPosition(), 50, function(panoData) {
if (panoData) {
let panoCenter = panoData.location.latLng
let heading = google.maps.geometry.spherical.computeHeading(panoCenter, {lat: lat, lng: lng})
let pov = panorama.getPov()
pov.heading = heading
panorama.setPov(pov)
} else {
alert('no streetview found')
}
})
map.setStreetView(panorama) // set dude on map
}