diff --git a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/nearby/DirectUpload.java b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/nearby/DirectUpload.java
index d9d945792..6d3f8bd48 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/nearby/DirectUpload.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/nearby/DirectUpload.java
@@ -3,13 +3,22 @@ package fr.free.nrw.commons.nearby;
 import android.app.Activity;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.SharedPreferences;
+import android.os.Build;
+import android.support.v4.content.ContextCompat;
+import android.support.v7.app.AlertDialog;
 
+import fr.free.nrw.commons.R;
+import fr.free.nrw.commons.contributions.ContributionController;
 import timber.log.Timber;
 
+import static android.Manifest.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE;
+import static android.content.pm.PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED;
+
 class DirectUpload {
 
     private String title;
     private String desc;
+    private ContributionController controller;
 
     DirectUpload(String title, String desc) {
         this.title = title;
@@ -33,4 +42,35 @@ class DirectUpload {
 
         Timber.d("After shared prefs, image title: " + imageTitle + " Image desc: " + imageDesc);
     }
+
+    void initiateUpload(Context context) {
+        Activity activity = (Activity) context;
+
+        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.M) {
+            if (ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(activity, READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE)
+                    != PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
+                if (activity.shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale(READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE)) {
+                    new AlertDialog.Builder(activity)
+                            .setMessage(activity.getString(R.string.read_storage_permission_rationale))
+                            .setPositiveButton("OK", (dialog, which) -> {
+                                activity.requestPermissions(new String[]{READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE}, 1);
+                                dialog.dismiss();
+                            })
+                            .setNegativeButton("Cancel", null)
+                            .create()
+                            .show();
+                } else {
+                    activity.requestPermissions(new String[]{READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE},
+                            1);
+
+                    // MY_PERMISSIONS_REQUEST_READ_CONTACTS is an
+                    // app-defined int constant. The callback method gets the
+                    // result of the request.
+                }
+            }
+                else {
+                    controller.startGalleryPick();
+                    return true;
+                }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/nearby/NearbyMapFragment.java b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/nearby/NearbyMapFragment.java
index 52a3b688a..f43c10286 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/nearby/NearbyMapFragment.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/nearby/NearbyMapFragment.java
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ public class NearbyMapFragment extends android.support.v4.app.Fragment {
 
             DirectUpload directUpload = new DirectUpload(place.getName(), place.getLongDescription());
             directUpload.storeSharedPrefs(getActivity());
-            
+
         });
 
         fabGallery.setOnClickListener(view -> {