A method of modifying the geometric orientation of a digital image in an image acquisition apparatus adapted to acquire an image in one amongst several different orientations and to store said image in the form of a compressed file, comprises the steps of acquiring an image in a chosen orientation; identifying the chosen orientation; converting said image into a digital image; spectral transformation (E10) of the digital image, determination (E12-E15) of a geometric transformation to be applied to the image acquired as a function of the chosen orientation; application (E16-E18) of the geometric transformation determined to symbols associated with spectral coefficients issuing from the spectral transformation; recording (E20), in the compressed file, two indicators representing a normal or reverse order of the symbols respectively in two directions of the digital image; and coding (E21) of the digital image in the compressed file. Use notably in a digital photographic apparatus.