I figured it out. It was a series of silly mistakes, really. $args1 should be ‘post_status’ => ‘publish’, [not ‘published’]. $args for $query should include ‘post_status’ => array( ‘publish’, ‘inherit’ ).
Probably your best bet is to flip the images outside of WordPress: download via FTP, flip, upload. You can batch flip images in OSX easily: http://osxdaily.com/2012/05/11/batch-rotate-a-group-of-images-with-preview-for-mac-os-x
I found a plugin called Add from server that I used to pull in the images. It doesn’t feel rock solid but I think it worked.
Uploads folder only showing files up to the letter “P”
How to handle a lot of media files in the uploads folder? (+10.000)
My plugin Gravity Forms Media Library provides this functionality for Gravity Forms: https://gravitywiz.com/documentation/gravity-forms-media-library/
WordPress Media Uploader : How to add custom button on featured image tab
How to make the media library searchable by image title
Why does media_handle_sideload upload to last month’s folder?
Media not displaying other users uploads – WordPress 4.9.2