Download photos from icloud to save to hard drive but original photo details (date taken etc) gone

Hello: It was suggested that I download photos that I I don't need on icloud but want to retain to a separate hard drive. However, when I tested the download (using "retain original format"), the photos details (date taken, etc) was changed to show the date of the down. I opened the photo in Preview. Is there a way to prevent this information change as I want the original photo with the original information saved to the hard drive. Thank you.