Meandering
Photo Lines

Fluid Multiscale Exploration of Photographic Archives

Abstract

We introduce a visualization that interweaves spatial and temporal structures of photo collections into explorable pathways. Existing photo browsing interfaces typically use space and time separately for sorting, filtering, or mapping photos. What remains missing is an integrated visual form that represents the photographic journey itself. This is particularly relevant for the individual photographer's archive, where their unique lifeline is written into the collection, and it is this spatiotemporal trajectory that gives necessary context and meaning to the work. Inspired by the winding nature of rivers and fluid interaction, Meandering Photo Lines visualize adjustable pathways through a photo collection across space, time, and topics. Two complementary views enable visual exploration at different scales: A grid-based arrangement of photo clusters offers a more analytical overview, while meandering spatiotemporal curves facilitate more serendipitous and reflective exploration. Animated transformations connect these two views seamlessly for multiscale navigation from spatiotemporal cluster signatures down to chronological photo series and individual photographs. We demonstrate our approach through two case studies: an archive of approximately 100,000 photographs documenting Jewish diaspora life worldwide since 1978 and a personal smartphone collection of around 20,000 pictures. Qualitative feedback from a think-aloud study indicates that our approach supports both analytical examination and curiosity-driven engagement.

Will be added for IEEE VIS 2026.
Will be added for IEEE VIS 2026.

Read the Paper

Preview of the Meandering Photo Lines paper

Meandering Photo Lines: Fluid Multiscale Exploration of Photographic Archives

Mark-Jan Bludau, Christian Tominski & Marian Dörk · IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics · 2027

Video demo

Case Studies

We examine the applicability of our approach through two case studies that differ in archive type, scale, and data characteristics. The first case study involves the previously mentioned professional photographer’s archive, which informed the design process. The second follows an autobiographical design approach by visualizing the personal smartphone photo collection of one of the authors.

Case Study 1: Professional Photographer’s Archive (Frédéric Brenner Archive)

Onboarding start screen of Meandering Photo Lines.
Onboarding start screen of Meandering Photo Lines. (CC BY 4.0)
Basic »aligned grid« arrangement, showcasing journey fragments as circular miniature maps clustered by trips (spatial and temporal proximity).
Basic »aligned grid« arrangement, showcasing journey fragments as circular miniature maps clustered by trips (spatial and temporal proximity). (CC BY 4.0)
Hovering over a map in the grid arrangement displays preview images in the background and shows location labels.
Hovering over a map in the grid arrangement displays preview images in the background and shows location labels. (CC BY 4.0)
Grid arrangement with image backgrounds instead of maps.
Grid arrangement with image backgrounds instead of maps. (CC BY 4.0)
Grid arrangement with more fragments per row, showing less detail.
Grid arrangement with more fragments per row, showing less detail. (CC BY 4.0)
Fully zoomed-out grid showing only the signatures.
Fully zoomed-out grid showing only the signatures. (CC BY 4.0)
Grid arrangement clustered by one year.
Grid arrangement clustered by one year. (CC BY 4.0)
Grid arrangement clustered by five years with one fragment hovered.
Grid arrangement clustered by five years with one fragment hovered. (CC BY 4.0)
Grid arrangement with the filter navigation opened.
Grid arrangement with the filter navigation opened. (CC BY 4.0)
Grid arrangement with the »animal« filter activated, eight fragments per row, and image backgrounds, highlighting only fragments and places associated with the keyword “animal”.
Grid arrangement with the »animal« filter activated, eight fragments per row, and image backgrounds, highlighting only fragments and places associated with the keyword »animal«. (CC BY 4.0)
Transition between the »aligned grid« and »meandering path« arrangements.
Transition between the »aligned grid« and »meandering path« arrangements. (CC BY 4.0)
Basic view of the »meandering path« arrangement.
Basic view of the »meandering path« arrangement. (CC BY 4.0)
Hovering over a place in the path arrangement.
Hovering over a place in the path arrangement. (CC BY 4.0)
Enlarged miniature map follower in the path arrangement.
Enlarged miniature map follower in the path arrangement. (CC BY 4.0)
Path arrangement clustered by five years, showing denser paths as well as a denser image and keyword stream.
Path arrangement clustered by five years, showing denser paths as well as a denser image and keyword stream. (CC BY 4.0)
Path unfolded within the path arrangement, showing image series with one series fanned out on hover.
Path unfolded within the path arrangement, showing image series with one series fanned out on hover. (CC BY 4.0)
Another view of an unfolded path within the path arrangement.
Another view of an unfolded path within the path arrangement. (CC BY 4.0)
Detail view of an image.
Detail view of an image. (CC BY 4.0)
Path arrangement with the »animal« filter activated, displaying a newly constructed path based on images associated with the keyword “animal”.
Path arrangement with the »animal« filter activated, displaying a newly constructed path based on images associated with the keyword »animal«. (CC BY 4.0)
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Case Study 2: Personal Smartphone Photo Collection

Basic »aligned grid« arrangement of the personal photo collection (second case study).
Basic »aligned grid« arrangement of the personal photo collection (second case study). (CC BY 4.0)
Basic »meandering path« arrangement of the personal photo collection (second case study).
Basic »meandering path« arrangement of the personal photo collection (second case study). (CC BY 4.0)
Unfolded path in the »aligned grid« arrangement of the personal photo collection (second case study).
Unfolded path in the »aligned grid« arrangement of the personal photo collection (second case study). (CC BY 4.0)
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How to cite

Bludau, M.-J., Tominski, C., and Dörk, M. (accepted at IEEE VIS 2026). Meandering Photo Lines: Fluid Multiscale Exploration of Photographic Archives. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics.